Farming systems analysis

in Africa RISING Jeroen Groot (Wageningen University)

with IITA, ICRISAT, MSU, CIMMYT

Africa RISING Monitoring and Evaluation Meeting Arusha, Tanzania, 13-14 November 2014

Survey

Rapid characteriz.

Detailed description

Exploration innovations

Functional typology

Structural typology

Systems (re)design

Extrapolation

Farm diagnoses

Tradeoff analysis

Farm innovations

Potential impact

Tanzania: Babati, Kongwa & Kiteto, 240 (15) HHs

Malawi: Dedza, Ntcheu, 80 (12) HHs

Zambia: Chipata, Katete, Lundazi, 800 (15) HHs

Ghana: Upper East, Upper West, Northern, 160 HHs

Mali: Bougouni, Koutiala, 530 HHs

Locations

Low productivity, food availability and returns to labor

Underrepresentation of women in decision making

Limited or untimely resources like seeds and fertilizers

Strong seasonality

Problems with pest and weed control

Poor management of crop residues (mulch, feed)

Suboptimal feeding of livestock

Limited access to training and advice

Farmers challenged by climatic conditions

Critical points (program wide)

Crop diversification, intercropping, rotations

Water management

Strengthen seed systems and selection

Management of organic resources: residues and manures

Improved livestock feeding and management

New strategies for pest and weed management

More education and training

Institutional arrangements, community-based organizations

Entry points (program wide)

Rapid characterization Zambia

• Cultivated area (ha)

• Tropical Livestock Units (TLU)

• Total labor inputs (days/year)

• Off-farm income ($)

• Costs for hired labor ($)

• Proportions of labor used for land preparation and weeding

• Proportion of area used for legume cultivation

• Legume experience (years)

• Legume score

Combination of structural and functional variables Functional typologies for farm selection and targeting

Detailed description Zambia

Detailed description Zambia

Type 1 (LRE) Type 5 (HRE)

Detailed description Zambia

Type 1 (LRE) Type 5 (HRE)

Farmer perceptions Zambia

• Try new crops, animals and practices, e.g. CA, manure storage, intercrops • Better yields, grow more food

• Expand farm area

• Acquire more knowledge, advice

• Availability of inputs (seeds), and financial means (credit)

• Sickness; high cost of labor

• Cattle of neighbors grazing

• Lack of tools, equipment

• Lack of residues

• Animal disease and death

Objectives Challenges

Baskets of technologies Zambia

A range of new crops and animal types that could be included, and new ways to cultivate/manage Zambia (specific for SIMLEZA focus): • Intercrop of maize and cowpea • Growing maize after soybean or cowpea • Using crop residues as soil amendment (mulch)

Exploration of tradeoffs

Exploration of tradeoffs

Tradeoff analysis

Selection and fine-tuning

To be selected in interaction with farmers and researchers from the sets of options generated in the tradeoff analysis New cycles of refinement of the farm-specific objectives and constraints are probably needed Selected options should be further fine-tuned to the context of the farm

Conclusions

A wide range of critical points was identified, but also various entry points In most regions an initial assessment of a basket of selected technologies was performed Strong tradeoffs between some indicators were found, but were dependent on the farm type

Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation

africa-rising.net

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