eco-efficient agriculture & central america

Eco-Efficient Agriculture for the poor 1

Eco-Efficient Agriculture &Central America

The field lab where you really want to be?

A. Schmidt et al. 20/05/2009


Content

The challenges

The demand from the region

Current activities (highlights)

Some additional issues

Conclusions

Eco-Efficient Agriculture for the poor

The challenges

Poorest region of the hemisphere Continuing decrease of agriculture

production vs. population growth High degree of vulnerability to inevitably

upcoming changes Resource degradation

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Central America is a hot spot of land degradation, affects 75% of agricultural land

Source: UNEP-ISRIC, 1990

Very SevereSevere

Degradation


The challenges (2)

Poorest region of the hemisphere Continuing decrease of agriculture

production vs. population growth High degree of vulnerability to inevitably

upcoming changes Resource degradation Deforestation /agriculture frontier Water deficit (human/production) Energy crisis

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The challenges (3)

Instability of the coffee sector Increased inequity Migration / brain drain Weak human resources and

national systems (ASTI-IFPRI/IICA 2008)

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The “good” news

Developing domestic markets Advances in CA integration (CA4) Free Trade Agreements: CAFTA, EU Growing interest of food processing

industry to produce near sourcing base “The horticulture revolution” Changing consumer preferences /

demands …

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Demand from the region

Improved water use & management Soil fertility management Value chain development and market

connection Seed supply systems Capacity building (research and

technology transfer)

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Content

The challenges

The demand from the region

Current activities (highlights)

Shortfalls and opportunities

Conclusions


Improved water use & management

CFC-FLAR water harvesting project

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When there is water, there is no light

and

when there is light, there is no water


RADIACIÓN SOLAR EN NICARAGUA

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Improved water use & management

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Soil fertility management in mixed systems

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Soil fertility management in mixed systems

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Canavalia brasiliensis is drought resistant,

increases milk yield in the dry season, fixes up to 70 kg N/ha, reduces mineral fertilizer input Trade offs between forage use and

soil improvement – danger of N depletion?


Soil fertility management

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Variables Location 1 (SV) Location 2 (ITC)

NuMaSS

Farmer NuMaSS Farmer

Fertilizer (kg/ha) 90 300 141 300

Yield (kg/ha) 2.7 1.23 3.0 1.7

Net gain (US$/ha)

511 85 575 191

NuMaSS on-farm validation results

Effect of NuMaSS recommendations on maize production profitability at two locations in Honduras Candelaria , Lempira


Agroforestry System Quezungual

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Planting of crops into mulch under trees



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Results: Improved food security No fuel wood shortages Increased water availability on landscape

level Limited production potential How to improve productivity?

Diversification? Danger of livestock introduction

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Soil fertility / water management & markets

RED SICTA Diversification project: Diversification of traditional maize

bean systems based on market information

Crop specific fertilizer and water management

Simple protection measures Strong training component

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Value chains / markets

Markets are the driving forces for production and decisions on the use of available resources

Huge opportunities for income generation

Market information to avoid waste of resources

Markets may even push for ecoeff.ag.

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Decision support for value chains

PPP project Café Direct (Fair Trade) Project Partners: GTZ, CATIE, farmer

organizations Nicaragua, Mexico, Peru Impact of climate change on a fair trade value

chain Where will coffee cultivation still be possible in

2050? What are the environmental variables that

drive the suitability of an area to grow coffee?

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Seed Supply Systems


Seed Supply System

Decentralized seed production Biofortified crops 32 partners in CA Strong training component

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Seed Supply System

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EMPRASEFOR


Capacity building

Eco-efficient agriculture is based on information and knowledge

Knowledge transfer is needed New models necessary? Regional capacity building platform ?

IICA, CATIE, EMBRAPA, CG, Zamorano …

Knowledge management of former programs/projects

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Other issues

Management is key to the concept of eco-efficiency – we have to reengage

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4.4

5.5

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9.9

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Yie

ld t

/ha

Summary of results obtained by FLAR in Nicaragua 2004

Average national yield

Yield with conventional management 2001-2003

Farmer yield with semi-improved

management 2004

Best management

2004


Other issues

Management is key to the concept of eco-efficiency – we have to reengage

In order to confront the challenges in the region, alliances are necessary to access multiple capacities

CIAT should take advantage of his unique infrastructure and legal status in the region and host “The CG Consortium” in CA

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Conclusions The region is characterized by a number

of serious challenges but provides opportunities to work on eco-efficient agriculture technologies and management systems for the poor

“We do already eco-efficient agriculture” But capacity upgrades / reengagement in

some areas are necessary (e.g. water use, knowledge transfer, management)

Regional capacity building platform CG Consortium Hub

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Conclusions (2) Central America has all the conditions to

be used as a field lab for research on eco-efficient agriculture and it is an important impact zone for the new strategic directions of CIAT

We have to be involved on the ground with others, building and leading new networks and alliances; this is not possible by remote control

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Welcome to Central America

“ … The place to be!”


Welcome to Central America

“ … is STILLthe place to be!”

Thank you

eco-efficient agriculture & central america

Technology

haecoefficient agriculture

agriculture production

water availability

value chains markets

challenges poorest region

fair trade value chain

forage use

waste of resources markets