Beating Famine in Southern Africa Conference

Scaling up Conservation Agriculture in Southern Africa Side event

Mbuna Room 1:30 – 15:00, 14 April 2015

Objectives of the session

1. Identify interventions and actions needed to facilitate faster and more sustainable up-scaling of CA.

2. Discuss and agree on how to link current CA initiatives with other continental activities (eg Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance).

3. Explore opportunities to make CA more efficient and effective by integrating it with some of the technologies and interventions showcased here (eg FMNR)..

Process steps 1. Welcome and objectives of the session2. Recap of CA parallel session 3.1 and some

sessions showcasing related technologies and interventions

3. Discussions guided by task questions4. Wayforward and contribution to resolution

Highlights, insightsWorking definition of CA generally agreedCA is characterized by three principles which are

linked to each other, namely:• Continuous minimum mechanical soil disturbance.• Permanent organic soil cover.• Diversified crop rotations in the case of annual

crops or plant associations in case of perennial crops.

Some debate on the feasibility of the three princinples implemented together

Some insights• Benefits (biophysical and socio-economic) are known and

documentented – CA is climate smate and can contribute significantly to beating famine

• Integration of CA with Faidherbia albida demostrated to improve crop performance and resiliance to drought

• CA is a knowledge intensive technology – learning by doing is required.

• Adoption of CA is low due to several challenges including high labour demands for weeding .

• Farmers have abondoned CA if it is not “supported“ and monitored.

• Appropriate extension and subsidy policy inreased adoption of CA. To get feedback from participants on the workshop process and contents

Discussion task 1

Reflect on the presentations from rappoutors and your own experiences

What still needs clarification for a concerted promotion of wide adoption of CA in Southern Africa by ALL to contribute more to beating famine?

Discussion task 2

Reflect on the presentations from rappoutors and your own experiences

What interventions and actions are needed to facilitate faster and more sustainable up-scaling of CA?

Discuss with your neighbour share in plenary

Discussion task 4

Reflect on the presentations from rappoutors and your own experiences

What opportunities are there to link current CA initiatives with other continental activities (eg Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance).

Discuss with your neighbour and share in plenary

Discussion task 5

Reflect on the presentations from rappoutors and your own experiences

1. What technologies and interventions showcased here can CA integrate with?

2. How can CA integrate with these technologies and interventions showcased here?

Discuss with your neighbour and share in plenary