a multi-discipline effort to provide options for sustainable intensification of African

smallholder farming systems

Ben Lukuyu2, Adebayo Abass1, Mateete Bekunda1

1- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture 2-International Livestock Research Institute

Speed Dating Presentation, CGIAR Consortium Board MeetingDar es Salaam. 18 March 2014.

A Program of the Feed the Future InitiativeGoal:

• Create pathways out of hunger and poverty for smallholder families through sustainably intensified farming systems

Three Research Themes:

• Advance the production frontier• Improve nutrition and food safety• Transform key production systems

Sudano-Sahelian Systems in WA (Ghana, Mali) Ethiopian

Highlands

Maize& Livestock mixed Systems in ESA (TanzaniaMalawi, Zambia)

…is in line with Humidtropics CRPAfrica RISING Outputs

Humidtropics Strategic research themes

Selected tools and methods common to both programmes

RO1. Situation analysis and program-wide synthesis

SRT1. Systems Analysis and Synthesis (includes M&E)

Random selection of action and control sitesAction area characterisation and critical entry pointsVisioning the outcomes of the R4D platformsBase, mid and end line surveys

RO2. Integrated systems improvement

SRT2. Integrated Systems Improvement

Trade-off analyses and typologingOn-farm multi-location research campaignsValue addition and market integrationAgroecological intensification (GxExMxM1 framework)

RO3. Scaling and delivery

SRT3. Scaling and Institutional Innovation

Econometric and meta-modelingCrop growth simulation modelsCosted templates for scaling by development investors Validate scaling approaches for integrated systems

RO4. Monitoring and Evaluation

Validation of indicators and impact pathwaysEx-ante assessment of outcomes, impacts, spilloversAssessment of nutrition and gender outcomesTarget adoption and impact studies

What problems are we addressing?Situation analysis revealed several indicators to low smallholder productivity:• Poor agronomic practices (planting periods, spacing,

weeding, IPM, crop mixtures, pre-harvest technologies)• Variable and high crop yield gaps (average 30% of potential yield)

• Poor post-harvest management (value addition, storage & utilization, agro-processing)

• Very high harvest product losses (up to 40%)• Poor conservation of natural resources

• High resource degradation• Low use of external inputs (as low as 3% fertilizer usage)

What problems are we addressing?Situation analysis revealed several indicators to low smallholder productivity:• Lack of appropriate seed (crops and forages):-tolerant to

draught, pests, diseases; variety diversification• Livestock management (knowledge gaps, inadequate

feeds (quantity and quality), poor feed processing)• Under fed livestock (only 65% of the feed needs met under best conditions)

and seasonal feed variations• Poor market access: organizational, opportunities, niches• Lack of capacity building, information and communication• Institutions: innovation platforms, farmer organizations,

networks

How are we solving these problem?

WP Linking farmers to markets

RO1 Characterization and synthesis

WP Crop management

WP Livestock and land management

WP Mycotoxin management

WP Post-harvest handling

WP Vegetable integration

WP Poultry husbandry

RO3 Scaling

Development partners, R4D

platforms, farmer groups

Markets

Farm

RCTs

Integration

Babati concept of integration

Random testing of farmer-prioritised technologies to assess HH typology-based adaption and aggregated impact

Multi-stakeholder engagement as a means of scaling and adoption

Transmit the lessons learned by the project to the wider research and development community

Current activities and next steps

Crop-Soil-Livestock integration in Babati district: A n example of fodder and feed – led SI research

Objectives:

• Utilize the introduction of exotic diary fodder and feed crops as drivers of sustainable intensification of crop livestock systems.

• Enhance the recycling of crop residues through feed processing technologies

Situation analysis using FEAST Prioritisation of Entry points based on ability to:o Increase feed quantity and qualityo Increase soil fertility through BNFoMinimise degradation – reduce soil loss

Validate prioritised technologies (research outputs) Plan scaling (outcomes)

Research Sequencing

Achievements to date: Results from situation analysis1. The systems are dominated by crop production

Contribution to livelihood

Area committed to forage production is on average 0.04 ha per household only

2. The cattle are hungry and the land is degrading The cattle are underfed most of the time

(40% wet season; 80% dry season) There is poor storage, processing and

utilization of crop residues There is some fodder trading especially

of crop residues happening at small scale There is lack of information about

fodder, feeds and feeding There is evidence of land degradation

due to overgrazing of community and public land.

Prioritized intervention nichesPotential niches Rationale

1. Fodder banks • Demonstrate the impact of committing planted fodder to livestock (farmers can realize benefits quickly)

2. Planting fodder on field boundaries and soil conservation structures

• This intervention suits farmers who face land and water constraints. Maximizes land use, strengthens soil against erosion and retains sub surface water for crops (efficient water use).

3. Intercropping cereals with forages (Cereals/forage legumes or planted fodder/forage legumes) that add nitrogen to the soil.

• Where land is scarce intercropping option is one way of spatially integrating fodder into intensive farming systems. Is an entry point of introducing forages into existing systems and forms a basis of studying potential benefits of introducing forages on land management

4. Community fodder nurseries• For sustainable adoption of the technologies enhancing

access to forage seed through establishment of community forage nurseries is essential.

5. Introduction of feed processing

• Increase the feed value of crop residues and eventual return to the soil as quality manure

Bulking plots for planting materials set up at LITA, Tengeru, Arusha. (16 different species of improved fodder (grasses and legumes)

Participatory action research trial designs representing these forage species and niches have been installed on 9 farms in 3 villages of Babati district.

Three community fodder nurseries have been set up in each of the three villages and will double up as a learning platform for farmers

Small scale mobile forage choppers purchased for feed processing trials after harvest

Validation of technologies

At least two forage ‘best fit’ species suitable for target niches identified in different farming systems

A package for integrating forages in existing system formulated and delivered to farmers and extensionists

A package for processing and utilizing crop residues described and delivered to farmers and extensionists

A verified impact of these trials on soil, water and nutrient cycles on farmers fields

Expected outputs

Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation

africa-rising.net

Thank you