SMALLHOLDERS FARM CARBON FOOTPRINT REDUCED BY AGRO ECOLOGICAL PRACTICES(HIGHLANDS & EAST COAST, MADAGASCAR)

a*Rakotovao Narindra, aRazakaratrimo Joyce, aRazafimbelo Tantely, bDeffontaines Sylvain, bRakotosamimanana Stéphan, c,dJahiel Michel, eAlbrecht Alain

aLaboratoire des Radioisotopes, Université d’Antananarivo, BP 3383, Antananarivo, MadagascarbAgrisud International, Lot VL32M Androndra, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar

cCentre Technique Horticole de Tamatave, BP 11, Tamatave, MadagascardCirad UR HortSys, BP 11, Tamatave Madagascar eInstitut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR Eco&Sols, 34060 Montpellier, France

*Courriel: n.rakotovao@yahoo.fr

Carbon footprint (CF) calculation is being more and more used to assess the contribution of activities to greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. This work aims to determine the impact of farm activitiesand agricultural practices including agro ecological practices (AE) to farm carbon footprint in two regions of Madagascar: Central Highlands and East Coast LowlandsTwenty (20) smallholder farms were studied (tab1). Farm resource flow maps were developed in order to represent all of the structures and characteristics of each farm (fig1, fig2). Emission factorsadapted to each zone were selected form the literature and a farm carbon footprint calculator was developed (fig3).

EAST COAST LOWLANDS

Hot and humid climate (T°= 24°C, Rainfall = 2500 mm)Soil type dominated by ferralsols and hydromorphic soil (Analanjirofo region)

Figure 1: An example of farm resource flow map in the central Highlands of Madagascar

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

High altitude tropical climate (T°=17°C,Rainfall= 1150mm)Soil type dominated by ferralsols andandosols (Itasy region)

CGHG

GHG

GHG

GHG

GHG

GHG

Figure 2: An example of farm resource flow map in the East coast of Madagascar

Central Highlands East Coast Lowlands

N farms 12 8

Type of farms

6 based on tradi-tionalpractices

6 based on agro ecological practices

Using traditional twice-a-year rice cropping

4 based on simple specieagro-forestry

4 based on multiplespeciesagro-forestry

Total area (ha)

72 12

Main crops

Rice, maize, bean, cassava

Rice, clove, lychee, cassava

The traditional twice-a-year rice cropping contributes up to 90% of the increase of the farms carbon footprint in the east Coast.

The intensified rice system alternating flood and drought reduces the emission of methane from rice field in the Central Highlands.Composting and returning organic residues to the soils improve carbon storage in soils and reduce farm carbon footprintPlanting fruit trees improves carbon storage in woody biomass and contributes up to 40% to farm carbon footprint reduction.

Agroforestry reduces up to 38% the farm carbon footprint

Agro Ecology practices

Conclusion: To improve the carbon footprint of farms , we recommend the adoption of intensified rice system in the East Coast Lowlands and planting multiple tree species in the Central Highlands of Madagascar.

Agro Ecology practices

Tab 1: Description of farms

Figure 3: Farm carbon footprint calculator

Figure 4: Farm carbon footprint in the Central Highlands Figure 5: Farm carbon footprint in the East Coast

Farms in the East Coast showed higher carbon footprint than those in the central Highlands because of the traditional twice-a-year rice cropping system (fig 4, fig 5, fig6)

Figure 6: Contribution of agricultural practices to farm carbon footprint