Farming Systems Approaches for Sustainable IntensificationScience and Policy Implications

Dennis Garrity

16 July 2013, AASW6, Accra, Ghana

Approach: why a farming systems lens?

• Low productivity and rural food insecurity and poverty persist after many years of interventions

• Strong diversity and complexity of farming systems and farm-households’ potentials and needs

• Understanding farm household decision-making is essential for fostering innovation and accelerating adoption

Farm household decision-making: Connecting resources, production, consumption and investment

Three scales of knowledge that can help decision-makers

• 1st, the larger trends and drivers that are in motion at the continental level,

providing a backdrop at the macro level.

• 2nd, the level of the farming system and subsystems, where the drivers play out in unique ways in the local context. And

• 3rd, the household level, and how it responds to internal and external forces, including policy interventions.

The drivers of farming systems change

• population, hunger and poverty• natural resources degradation and climate change• markets and trade• technology and science• energy • information and human capital• institutions and policies

Background on classification approach• Farm systems classified on broadly similar

patterns of livelihood and consumption patterns, as well as constraints and opportunities

• Policy-making relevance: Similar development strategies and interventions apply.

• Classification based on: – Agroecology (LGP), production constraints– Key commodities– Socio-economic parameters (demography,

market access, etc)

The farming systems of Africa

The density of undernourished people by farming system

Land degradation: Trend in biomass productivity by farming system

The soil fertility conundrumEstimated marginal value product of nitrogen fertilizer

(Kshs/kg N) is dependent on soil carbon content

Sustainable intensification through EverGreen Agriculture. Niger.

Tree cover on agricultural land by farming system

Highland Perennial farming system and subsystems  Central Highlands Western HighlandsPopulation density +++ ++++Farm size +++ ++Market infrastructure ++ +Poverty 30% poor >60% poorCrop area 

35% maize17% tea

17% coffeeMore high value crops

42% maize8% tea

10% coffee

% of improved cattle 95%22% of crop area in fodder

Zero-grazing increasing

67%11% in fodder

Value of production 102K KSh/household 44K KSh/household

Use of fertilizers 122 kg/ha74 manure bags

51 kg/ha26 manure bags

SYSTEM LEVELHigh population densityHigh agricultural potentialPermanently cultivated systemsMarket-orientation as a way to intensify systems

SUBSYSTEM LEVELNeed for differentiated interventions

Cereal-Root Crop Mixed Farming Systems: Africa’s Future Breadbasket?

Five main strategies to improve farm household livelihoods

• intensification of existing production patterns• diversification of production and processing• expansion of farm or herd size• increased off-farm income• exit from agricultural production.

Conclusions & Policy Implications

1. Rural populations have now reached critical levels

• Highland perennial systems: Strong rural-urban labour market integration occurring in some subsystems. This can be accelerated through education, business development, and education

• Agropastoral systems have strong labour migration, which can be strengthened by improving labour market information and education.

Conclusions & Policy Implications 2. Tackling the decline in soil fertility

Governments can pursue a number of paths to support land regeneration:• Maize-mixed systems: In high-population subsystems target fertilizer subsidies

transitioning to tree biofertilisers; in low population density subsystems expand area farmed through more efficient tillage and conservation agriculture on smallholdings.

• Agropastoral: Continue regreening with massive upscaling of farmer-managed natural regeneration along with fertilizer microdosing and more efficient fertilizer input markets.

Conclusions & Policy Implications 3. Agricultural trade and markets

The key growth potential in lies at home, in the expanding domestic and regional markets within Africa, where demand in some areas already far exceeds supply. Enhancing these markets, improving infrastructure, removing barriers and reducing transactions costs.

Market development is important in all systems, but a priority in systems with strong agricultural potential but poor market access (e.g. Cereal root and tuber systems).

“The work on the Farming Systems of Africa provides concrete substance that can be streamlined into the CAADP work.

“The Dublin process can pick up and use the Farming Systems work in a continuing process.

“The work can start by developing guidelines to use the FS materials. CAADP can collaborate in developing and implementing an action plan in that area.”

-- Martin Bwalya

NEPAD Coordinating & Planning Agency

Way Forward• Institutionalization of the farming systems knowledge and

approach into regional and national policy making and planning

• Building of systems research capacity in research, extension and policy making to complement existing disciplinary expertise

• National efforts to apply farming systems analysis through the CAADP process

• Reinvigorate education and training in farming systems approaches throughout Africa