Farming systems analysis
in Africa RISING Jeroen Groot (Wageningen University)
with IITA, ICRISAT, MSU, CIMMYT
Africa RISING Monitoring and Evaluation Meeting Arusha, Tanzania, 13-14 November 2014
Survey
Rapid characteriz.
Detailed description
Exploration innovations
Functional typology
Structural typology
Systems (re)design
Extrapolation
Farm diagnoses
Tradeoff analysis
Farm innovations
Potential impact
Tanzania: Babati, Kongwa & Kiteto, 240 (15) HHs
Malawi: Dedza, Ntcheu, 80 (12) HHs
Zambia: Chipata, Katete, Lundazi, 800 (15) HHs
Ghana: Upper East, Upper West, Northern, 160 HHs
Mali: Bougouni, Koutiala, 530 HHs
Locations
Low productivity, food availability and returns to labor
Underrepresentation of women in decision making
Limited or untimely resources like seeds and fertilizers
Strong seasonality
Problems with pest and weed control
Poor management of crop residues (mulch, feed)
Suboptimal feeding of livestock
Limited access to training and advice
Farmers challenged by climatic conditions
Critical points (program wide)
Crop diversification, intercropping, rotations
Water management
Strengthen seed systems and selection
Management of organic resources: residues and manures
Improved livestock feeding and management
New strategies for pest and weed management
More education and training
Institutional arrangements, community-based organizations
Entry points (program wide)
Rapid characterization Zambia
• Cultivated area (ha)
• Tropical Livestock Units (TLU)
• Total labor inputs (days/year)
• Off-farm income ($)
• Costs for hired labor ($)
• Proportions of labor used for land preparation and weeding
• Proportion of area used for legume cultivation
• Legume experience (years)
• Legume score
Combination of structural and functional variables Functional typologies for farm selection and targeting
Detailed description Zambia
Detailed description Zambia
Type 1 (LRE) Type 5 (HRE)
Detailed description Zambia
Type 1 (LRE) Type 5 (HRE)
Farmer perceptions Zambia
• Try new crops, animals and practices, e.g. CA, manure storage, intercrops • Better yields, grow more food
• Expand farm area
• Acquire more knowledge, advice
• Availability of inputs (seeds), and financial means (credit)
• Sickness; high cost of labor
• Cattle of neighbors grazing
• Lack of tools, equipment
• Lack of residues
• Animal disease and death
Objectives Challenges
Baskets of technologies Zambia
A range of new crops and animal types that could be included, and new ways to cultivate/manage Zambia (specific for SIMLEZA focus): • Intercrop of maize and cowpea • Growing maize after soybean or cowpea • Using crop residues as soil amendment (mulch)
Exploration of tradeoffs
Exploration of tradeoffs
Tradeoff analysis
Selection and fine-tuning
To be selected in interaction with farmers and researchers from the sets of options generated in the tradeoff analysis New cycles of refinement of the farm-specific objectives and constraints are probably needed Selected options should be further fine-tuned to the context of the farm
Conclusions
A wide range of critical points was identified, but also various entry points In most regions an initial assessment of a basket of selected technologies was performed Strong tradeoffs between some indicators were found, but were dependent on the farm type
Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation
africa-rising.net
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Thank You
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