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Conservation Agriculture: An Overview
Global Conservation Agriculture Program (GCAP)International Maize & Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT)
Land degradationLand degradation-- A Global ProblemA Global Problem
Global land degradationGlobal land degradation
Water erosionWater erosion--1100 m ha 1100 m ha
Wind erosionWind erosion-- 550 m ha550 m ha
Mainly taking place on agricultural lands
� 74% in Central America
� 65% in Africa
� 45% in South America
� 38% in Asia
Source: Pandya-Lorch (2000), Paroda (2009)
Source: Scholze et al. (2006)
Blue- tendency to increase, Red- tendency to decrease
Availability of Irrigation WaterAvailability of Irrigation Water
Biomass BurningBiomass Burning
Emitting 3.7 Pg Emitting 3.7 Pg C/year in the C/year in the
TropicsTropics
Source: Lal (2008)
Evolution of the yield of crops with time (years of soil use) under conventional tillage (sandy soil), in small farmer production systems Department of San Pedro, Paraguay
(Florentín, et al., 2001)
Yield decline
42%
47%
51%54%
Annual growth rate (%) for major crop yields in Asia
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
1961-70 1971-80 1981-1990 1991-2000 2001-2005
Rice Wheat Maize
Sorghum Chickpea Potato
Source: FAOSTAT (2007), http://faostat.fao.org
Annual Growth Rate (%)
Challenges Ahead
Global food demand Global food demand -- growing dramatically growing dramatically
as population and incomes riseas population and incomes rise
The Challenges!
Global food price - no longer tally with buying capacity of resource poor in developing countries
The Challenges!
The Challenges!
Vulnerability to climate change
(Asian Development Bank, 2009)
The Challenges summarized-For food prices to remain constant, annual yield gains would have to increase
• From 1.2% to 1.7% for maize
• From 0.8% to 1.2% for rice
• From 1.1% to 1.7% for wheat
On essentially the same land area, with
less water, nutrients, fossil fuel,
labor and as climates change
Diseases
Climate change
BreedingAgronomy
Projected demand by 2050 (FAO)
World-wide average yield
(tons ha-1)
Linear extrapolations of current trends
Water, nutrient & energy scarcity
Potential effect of climate-change-induced heat stress on today’s cultivars (intermediate CO2 emission scenario)
Year
The more we delay investments, the steeper the challenge!
Science, policy makers, regulators must provide solutions!
Three principal indicators of non-sustainability of agricultural systems
• Soil erosion
• Soil organic matter
decline
• Salinization
These problems are mainly caused by:
• Tillage • Soil Organic matter decline
• Soil structural degradation
• Water and wind erosion
• Reduced water infiltration rates
• Surface sealing and crusting
• Soil compaction
• Insufficient return of organic material
• Mono cropping
There are other factors that currently affect the sustainability of agricultural systems
• Changing climates
• Decreasing supply of labourfor agriculture
• Decreasing water supply for agriculture
• Decreasing farm size and the need for intensification
• Finite supply of sources of inorganic fertilizers (except N)
CA results if we remove these Negative Components
We need to stop doing the unsustainable parts of conventional agriculture:
• Ploughing/tilling the soil
• Removing all organic material
• Monoculture
CA includes all of the other principles of sound crop management – we just need to
remove the ills of the past
Minimum mechanical
soil disturbance
(the minimum soil
disturbance necessary to
sow the seed)
1111
CA is based on three principles applied simultaneously (FAO, 2009)
Permanent organic
soil cover
(retention of adequate
levels of crop residues on
the soil surface)
2222
Diversified crop rotations
including cover crops
(to help moderate possible weed,
disease and pest problems)
3333
Co
nse
rva
tio
n a
gri
cult
ure
sy
stem
s
Unsustainable to Sustainable AgricultureWhat components needs shift?
Unsustainable Agriculture
Sustainable Agriculture
Ploughing/tilling the soil
Minimum soil disturbance- No-till/minimum till
Removing all organic material
Rational soil cover-Residue management
Monoculture Efficient crop rotations-Crop diversification
CA includes all of the other principles of sound crop management –we just need to remove the ills of the past
A Short History of CA
• Ancient civilizations used direct seeding
• Feasibility in modern agriculture shown in the UK in the 1940’s
• First no-till farmer was Harry Young in Kentucky, USA, Mid-1960s
• No-tillage was pushed in the 1970’s by ICI in order to sell Paraquat
Global Overview of the Spread of
Conservation Agriculture
100100
DustbowlDustbowl
19301930 2000200019501950
US
Soil
Co
nse
rvati
on
Ser
vic
e
con
serv
ati
on
til
lag
e
US
Soil
Co
nse
rvati
on
Ser
vic
e
con
serv
ati
on
til
lag
e
du
stb
ow
l
Sib
eria
/US
SR
du
stb
ow
l
Sib
eria
/US
SR
Fa
ulk
ner
(U
S)
–F
uk
uo
ka
(J
ap
an
)F
au
lkn
er (
US
) –
Fu
ku
ok
a (
Jap
an
)
com
mer
cial
no-t
ill/
US
com
mer
cial
no-t
ill/
US
firs
t n
o-t
ill
dem
on
stra
tion
in
Bra
zil
firs
t n
o-t
ill
dem
on
stra
tion
in
Bra
zil
Old
riev
e/Z
imb
ab
we
Old
riev
e/Z
imb
ab
we
ad
op
tion
Bra
zil
pla
nti
od
iret
on
ap
alh
a
ad
op
tion
Bra
zil
pla
nti
od
iret
on
ap
alh
a
exp
erim
ents
in
Ch
ina, In
dogan
get
icP
lain
sex
per
imen
ts i
n C
hin
a, In
dogan
get
icP
lain
s
New
boost
: C
an
ad
a, A
ust
rali
a,
Kaza
kh
stan
,
Ru
ssia
, C
hin
a, F
inla
nd
...;
Afr
ica
New
boost
: C
an
ad
a, A
ust
rali
a,
Kaza
kh
stan
,
Ru
ssia
, C
hin
a, F
inla
nd
...;
Afr
ica
Arg
enti
na, P
ara
gu
ay;
Arg
enti
na, P
ara
gu
ay;
19801980 19901990
Fir
st n
o-t
ill
in t
he
US
Fir
st n
o-t
ill
in t
he
US
IIT
A n
o-t
ill
rese
arc
hII
TA
no-t
ill
rese
arc
h
5050
Mil
l. h
aM
ill.
ha
History and Adoption of CAHistory and Adoption of CA
19701970 20102010
124 mill ha
124 mill ha
Source: Friedrich et al (2011)
CIM
MY
T, M
exic
oC
IMM
YT
, M
exic
o
CA systems have worked in all kind of environments/ecologies
• From the Equator, e.g. Kenya, Uganda to 50ºS, e.g. Argentina, to 65º N, e.g. Finland
• From sea level to 3000 m, e.g. Bolivia,
• Soils from 90% Sand, e.g. Australia, Brazil, to 85% clay, e.g. Brazil (Oxisols, Alfisols)
• From 250 mm of rain, e.g. Western Australia to 2000 mm, e.g. Brazil, or 3000 mm Chile
Source: Derpsch & Friedrich, (2008)
Global Overview of the Spread of
Conservation Agriculture
• On large mechanized farms
• In rainfed systems
• In maize, wheat and soybean systems
• CA is mainly a farmer led process
• It represents a shift in production paradigm
• It is increasingly catching the attention of governments and NGOs
• There is no official data available –the data are estimates from local organizations
Conservation Agriculture is spreading:
ContinentArea (000 ha)
Percent of
global Total
Percent of
Arable crop land
South America 55630 47.6 57.5
North America 39981 34.1 15.4
Australia & NL 17162 14.7 69
Asia 2630 2.2 0.5
Europe 1150 1.0 0.4
Africa 368 0.3 0.1
Global Total 116921 100 8.5
Source: Friedrich et al (2011)
Global Adoption of CA
Adoption by continent (2011)
109 Mha
150 Mha
Trends in global adoption of NT/CA
Adoption of CA in Brazil
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07
Are
a o
f No
-Til
lage
(mil
lio
ns
of h
a)
Year
11
( AAPRESID, 2002; Derpsch & Friedrich, 2009; Friedrick et al 2011
Growth in No-Till/CA Acreage in Argentina
Proportion of Farmers Using CA in Western Australia
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
NT
farm
er ad
op
tio
n (%
)
Global Overview of the Spread of
Conservation Agriculture
slide 2/x
CA Adoption in Europe
Global Overview of the Spread of
Conservation Agriculture
slide 2/x
CA adoption (2011) in Sub Saharan Africa
– CA can reverse the rampant soil degradation
– CA is a sustainable way of farming in the long-run
– CA can be adopted by and benefits smallholder farmers
– Investment in inputs (herbicides and equipments) challenging to small farmers : Initial support necessary
– Capacity building
– Local innovation networks
– Knowledge sharing
– Crop-Livestock competition for residues
– Policy support for CA
CA in East Africa: Lessons learnt
Source: CIMMYT-East Africa program
Asia: Iraq and SyriaIncreases in ZT farmers, area and seeders
06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11
Iraq Farmers 12 16 18 31 ≈50
Area (ha) 52 252 492 1806 ≈6000
Seeders Manufactured 3 India 2 Iraq 4 Syria 1 Iraq, 14 Syria
Farmer modified 1 2 18
Syria Farmers 3 6 43 119 ≈350
Area (ha) 15 30 2075 4918 ≈15,000
Seeders Man. for ICARDA 1 India 3 Syria 6 Syria 2 Syria
Man. for farmers 2 Syria 4 Syria ≈20 Syria
Farmer modified 2 3
($60000) ($2500) $1400-2500 (Piggins et al 2011)
The Conservation Agriculture Network for South East Asia (CANSEA)
An initiative to Develop and Disseminate CA in SEA and To do together what can’t be done alone
CA in South East Asia
Official creation (MoU) on September 30th, 2009
• Cambodia: the Ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries (MAFF)
• China: the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (YAAS)• Indonesia: the Indonesian Agency for Agriculture Research and Development (IAARD)
• Laos: the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI)
• Thailand: the University of Kasetsart (KU)• Vietnam: the Northern Mountainous Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (NOMAFSI) and the Soils and Fertilizers Research Institute (SFRI)
• Le Centre de Coopération Internationale en RechercheAgronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), which cooperates with all the partners of South East Asia
Adoption of CA based crop management technologies in South Asia
Country Area (ha)
Pakistan 15470
India 2000902
Nepal 809
Bangladesh 329211
Total 2346392
• Since 1998, over 75 modifications/ refinement in first Pant Nagar zero-till drill developed way back in 1990’s
• Prototypes are multi-purpose and for multi-crop planting systems
• New version of turbo seeder-PCR planter are able to drill/plant directly in full residue retention
CA Machinery Prototype Development-India serves whole region
CA machinery development/refinement in close collaboration with NARS and manufacturers
• Improved Laser land leveler scrapper bucket
• Hydraulic straw management system (spreader) for combines
• Improved version of Turbo seeder/planter-PCR (light weight & multi-crop)
• Low cost axle-less high clearance multi-nozzle boom sprayer for small farmers
• Off-Barring cum fertilizer placement device in Cane ratoon (allows inter cropping of wheat and other crops in rations simultaneously with off-barring)
• 2WT Relay planter for wheat / other crops in standing cotton
• High clearance tractor
• 2WT multi-crop planter
• 2WT laser land leveler for small farmers
Technologies Net gain (USD/ha)
Laser leveling 150-250Residue mgt (Turbo) 150-170DSR 100-145Unpuddled TPR 100-250Relay wheat in cotton 250-350Dual wheat 200-250Intercrops in Sc 500-2500ZTW (East) 200-250ZTW (NW) 100-150Mechanical seeding of Jute 500
Mustard+T.Aman (Relay) 600
Bed planting (B’desh) 250-300
Conservation Agriculture: Economic Benefits of different CA technologies
Source: Jat et al (2010)
Impact of CA Program
• In a recent Review of the CGIAR Impact, Renkow and
Byerlee (2010) have reported that Indian CA program
has saved USD 164 million with an investment of only
USD 3.5 million with internal rate of return of 66%
highest amongst all the CG program
(Food Policy, 35 (2010), 391–402)
• Laser land leveling- 1.5 M ha
• Direct Seeded Rice technology fine-tuned and
demonstrated on ~30000 ha
• Bed planting for intensification-intercropping in
sugarcane systems, high value vegetables, legumes,
maize
Hubs: New concept for technology adaptation and scaling out
• Benchmark sites for research on the impacts of CA
• Focal point for regional (agro-ecological) capacity-building and scaling out of research and innovation systems
• Regional CA networks are established to facilitate and foment research and extension of CA innovation systems and technologies
1. CSISA in South Asia2. MasAgro in Mexico3. SIMLESA in Africa
Major Initiatives with hub concept
Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA)
Funded by BMGF, USAID
Led by IRRICIMMYT, IFPRI, ILRI
NEW HUB IN ORISSA-June-2012
Worldwide
Latin America
Mexico
Worldwide
Latin America
Mexico
The MasAgro Initiative- CIMMYT Mexico
Basic research
Long and mid term
impacts
Applied research
Field level impact
Short and mid term
impacts
Agroindustria & Agricultores
TTF is the umbrella• SAGARPA• Monsanto project• Small projects
Take To Farmers (TTF)
4500
5000
5500
6000
6500
7000
7500
8000
8500
1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007
Year of Harvest
Gra
in Y
ield
(kg
/ha)
Conventional
till beds -
residues
incorporated
Permanent
beds -
residues
burned
Permanent
beds - 70%
residues
removed
Permanent
beds -
residues
retained
Effect of tillage and residue practices combined with optimum crop
management and application of 300 kg N/ha at 1st node over fifteen years on
wheat grain yields with optimum management in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora,
Mexico
Results from a LT Trial in NW Mexico
Source: Ken Sayre et al, CIMMYT
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77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98
010
0020
0030
0040
0050
0060
0070
0080
0090
00
1000
0
Year
kg/ha
Soya
Maize
30% less fert.
50% less fert.
4 t/ha
8 t/ha
2,2 t/ha
3,6 t/ha
Growth in Yield under No-Till
(Dijkstra, 1997)
Common Scale for Conservation Agriculture in the USA, Canada, South America and Australia
Three Main Constraints to the Adoption of Conservation Agriculture-based Crop Management by Farmers in Developing Countries
First Constraint - Lack of appropriate seeders, especially for small and medium-scale
farmers
Developing Countries/Small Scale farmers
Solution: CA-based Seeders in India
Original Widely Used Zero Till drill Multi-Crop Zero Till Drill
Zero Till Seeder for High Residues Levels Planter for Permanent Raised Beds
Solution: CA-based Planters in China
Solution – CA-based Seeders for Use by Small Scale Farmers in Bangladesh
Raised Bed Seeder PTOs Seeder as Strip Till Seeder
Zero Till Seeder Strip Till Seeder
Small-Scale CA-based Seeders
Second Constraint – Ability to Retain Adequate Crop Residues on the Soil Surface Due to Competing Residue Uses
• The widespread use of crop residues by many farmers for fodder/pasture associated with integrated crop-livestock systems
• The use of crop residues for fuel, paper etc
• The burning of crop residues (Farmer feels easiest management option)
The Crop Residue Management Quandary
• In many rainfed crop production systems, low yields result in TOO LITTLE RESIDUE to satisfy all demands
• Many irrigated crop production systems, however, generate TOO MUCH RESIDUE to readily manage when is all retained on the surface of the field
• Solution –I: For low crop residue situations, balance the retention of some residue for the soil with the rest used for livestock feed
• Solution-II: For High Residue Production Situations, Find Alternative, Economic Uses for Residues and/or Develop CA-based Seeders for High Levels of Crop Residues (ex. Happy seeder)
Synthesized by Jat2 , CIMMYT Long-term trial, Bihar India
There is no conflict between CA and Livestock: Both can have their share-an example
Third Constraint – Need to Change Mind Set of Farmers, Scientists and Policy Makers
• Most of crop management experiences and education are based on conventional tillage based production systems
• Changing minds to accept crop management practices based on the principles of Conservation Agriculture is perhaps the biggest constraint
• Many times, farmers are more ready to change their mind set than scientists
The principles of conservation agriculture appear to have extremely wide application
The actual formulae and technologies for applying these principles are very site-
specific
Agriculture based on the Principles of Conservation Agriculture is the best option
we have today for the Sustainable Production of Field Crops
We need to learn how to adapt and apply the principles to farmer conditions and circumstances
“There are a lot of changes necessary to adopt conservation agriculture, but the biggest change is in the mind”
Franke Dijkstra
Pioneer Brazilian zero tillage farmer. Started 30 years ago
Key Messages !
--The sun shines everywhere but, crops grows only where farmers has worked hard
--Opportunities are everywhere but, result comes only where people have worked hard
--God is everywhere but, his grace is felt one who serves with noble heart
CA, the Agriculture of the Future
– the Future of Agriculture
