LANDS OF OPPORTUNITYRESTORE PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY IN AFRICA’S DRYLANDS BY BUILDING ON SUCCESSES

CHALLENGE: INCREASE HOUSEHOLD FOOD PRODUCTION, STABILIZE HH ACCESS TO FOOD AND INCREASE WATER AVAILABILITY

THE CONVENTIONAL AGRICULTURAL MODERNISATIONPARADIGM IN ACTIONHOW SUSTAINABLE, IF IMPROVING SOIL ORGANIC MATTER IS THE KEY TO SUSTAINING CROP YIELDS?I

STUDY AREAS LONG TERM TRENDSIN AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT

TREND 1

FARMERS INVEST IN AGROFORESTRY:MILLIONS OF HA OF NEW AF PARKLANDS)

TREND 2

REHABILITATION OF BARREN LAND USING WATER HARVESTING TECHNIQUES(500,000 ha in Niger and Burkina Faso)

Vegetation in Galma in 1975 and 2003 Vegetation in Galma in 1975 and 2003 (before and after)(before and after)

1975 2003

Improved soil fertility, fodder production,shade is « turning down the heat »

SHADE MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE, CROPS AND LIVESTOCK

BAOBABS DOMINATE REGENERATIONIN PARTS MIRRIAH DEPARTMENT(NIGER)

The annual value of the leaves of one mature baobab varies from 28 $ – 70 US $

This can buy 70 – 175 kg of grain on the market

Source: Yamba and Sambo (2012)

Farmer-managed re-greening in Farmer-managed re-greening in NigerNiger

5,000,000 ha re-greened in 20 years 5,000,000 ha re-greened in 20 years (no recurrent costs to governments)(no recurrent costs to governments)

200 million new trees (not planted)200 million new trees (not planted) additional cereal production/year: additional cereal production/year:

500,000 ton500,000 ton 2.5 million people fed2.5 million people fed 1.25 million farm households involved1.25 million farm households involved

Grain surplus Kantché Department Grain surplus Kantché Department (Zinder/Niger). 350,000 inhabitants; high (Zinder/Niger). 350,000 inhabitants; high on-farm tree densityon-farm tree density

20072007+ 21,230 ton+ 21,230 ton 20082008+ 36,838 ton+ 36,838 ton 20092009+ 28,122 ton+ 28,122 ton 20102010+ 64,208 ton+ 64,208 ton 20112011+ 13,818 ton+ 13,818 ton

Source: National Committee for the Prevention and Management of Food Crises and FEWSQuoted by: Yamba and sambo (2012)

YOUNG COMBRETUM GLUTINOSUM PRODUCES TONS OF LITTER : NO TRANSPORT AND SOMESHADE TO CROPS

1990

WATER HARVESTING AND AGROFORESTRY

2004

Demi lunes

Combretum glutinosum

Zaï

Simple techniques

Piliostigma reticulatum

Important impacts

ZAI HELP CROPS GET THROUGH DRY SPELLS

Internal rates of return to investments in:

Zaï (planting pits) 82%

Half moons 37%

Agroforestry 31%

Source: Abdoulaye and Ibro (2006)

October 1988 (water harvesting techniques introduced on barren land in 1985)

SAME FIELD IN OCTOBER 2008

WATER HARVESTING TECHNIQUES CONTRIBUTE TO LOCAL GROUNDWATER RECHARGE

Water levels in wells increased by 14 m in 10 years (1994 – 2004) (picture Nov. 2004)

Water levels still high in January 2012 and number of gardens incrased from: 0 in 1994 4 in 2004 10 in 2012

MORINGA: AN UNDERUTILIZED SPECIES WITH HIGH IMPACT ON NUTRITION IS EXPANDING RAPIDLY IN NIGER

AGROFORESTRY IS THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE IN DRYLANDS AND SUB-HUMID REGIONS NO RECURRENT COSTS TO GOVERNMENTS

Water harvesting

Agroforestry Micro-dosing

+ +

CROP YIELDS CAN BE DOUBLED BY INTEGRATING A SET OF PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES

APPROACH: MOBILIZE MILLIONS OF FARMERS TO INVEST IN TREES, MICRO DOSING, WATER HARVESTING AND IMPROVED SEEDS

Some lessonsSome lessons

Since the 1980s, a growing number of Since the 1980s, a growing number of farmers practise Climate Smart Agriculture farmers practise Climate Smart Agriculture

Farmers invest in trees if they have clearly Farmers invest in trees if they have clearly defined user rightsdefined user rights

Governments need to develop supportive Governments need to develop supportive policies and legislationpolicies and legislation

Much has been achieved, much more Much has been achieved, much more remains to be done, and we know what and remains to be done, and we know what and how to do ithow to do it

IT IS POSSIBLE TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS OF MILLIONS OF SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS IN AFRICA THROUGH RE-GREENING

Chris ReijSenior FellowWorld Resources Institute

chris.reij@wri.orgc.p.reij@vu.nl

www.africa-regreening.blogspot.com