institute for agricultural policy and marketing research, justus-liebig university,...
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Institute for Agricultural policy and Marketing Research, Justus-Liebig University,Senckenbergstrasse.3, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
Crop-livestock Integration and Food Security among Resource-poor Rural Farmers in North-western Nigeria- An Empirical Study from Zamfara state
Omolehin Ajayi Raphael, Jörg Steinbach and Irene Hoffmann
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Figure 5 shows farm where there was no manure application and since this farmer cannot afford fertilizer, he planted his crop without soil fertility maintenance. It could be seen that the crop is poorly developed and total crop failure may occur here resulting in no harvest realised by the farmer.
4. ConclusionsThe study has shown that:The crop-livestock interaction has helped the farmers in the area to manage their soils better by use of livestock manure.The integrated farms have better crop growth and yields, and consequently better income.The crop residues from such farm has helped as feed at critical periods of the year when there are no pastures.Animals from such farms are sold to generate additional income for family use.The farmers involved in integration have more food than the non-integrated farmers.
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Figure 9 a, b and c show the graphical presentation of the food crop grown and the amount that was consumed in the house. The two groups with integrated systems had marketable surpluses while the non integrated croppers have no marketable surpluses. One can infer that the integrated farmers are more food secured than the non-integrated farmers in the area
Figure 2 shows farmer taking advantage of draft animals in an integrated farm to plough his field. Since labour is one of the limiting factors in farm business, the use of draft animals help to ensure timeliness of farm operations and reduces drudgery. It also increases the ability to expand production.
Figure 3 shows manure from own animals spread on the field for the purpose of fertilising the soil thereby facilitating good crop production . Replenishing the soil nutrients in this manner has helped to ensure sustainability of crop production over the years.
Figure 4 shows farm that had enough manure applied to it in an integrated farming system. The crop growth was very good and good harvest could be expected from such farm at harvest. The manure from the farmer livestock has been applied and mixed with the soil before the crop was planted.
1. Introduction:
Land degradation and soil fertility depletion has been identified as a major inhibitor of food security among the resource-poor farmers in West Africa. With poor economic background and help coming from no where, these farmers have devised local innovations that have helped them to remain in production and better able to feed their families and also earn a modest income for family financial needs.
Figure 1 shows highly degraded soil no longer good for either crop and animal production. With coordinated management of crop and animal production, the two enterprises could be made to contribute to soil fertility and consequently support further production..
2 Study Hypotheses:
The crop-livestock integrated farms have better incomes and more food in the study area than their non-integrated counterparts
3. Materials and Methods
The study was carried out in Zamfara Reserve between December 2001 and August 2002 using structured questionnaires. Information was collected on farmers‘ demographical characteristics, production practices, inputs used, output realised as well as the households consumption. Photographs showing various interaction of crop and livestock beneficial effects were also taken. The Gross Margin Analysis Model was used to compare incomes from various farmer groups in the study area.
4. Results and Discussions.
The study results are as presented in photographs and graphs as shown below. The highlight the advantages of integration in productivity enhancement in the study area and show that the farmers under these production practices are better off as compared to non-integrated farmers.
Figure 6 shows crop residues from integrated farm being fed to livestock at off-season when there are no more pastures for animals to graze on and the crops are harvested. Animals from such farming systems are able to maintain fairly stable weight at off-season and grow better during the normal season when there is normal pasture for animals to graze on.
Figure 7 shows farmers selling some of their small ruminants to generate money for family expenses. Such money are very important when there are no more crops to sell to raise money. Sales from such animals have placed the crop-livestock integrated farmers economically above the other group of farmers.
Figure 8 shows the income from the three groups of farmers in the study area. It could be seen that the income of farmers with both crop and livestock was far better followed by farmers that were involved in manure contract to get manure to fertilise their soils. The farmers with the least income were the one without any interaction with livestock system in the area.
Graph showing crop yields and quantity comsumed at home
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Graph showing yields of crops and quantity consumed at home
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Graph showing crops yields and quantity consumed in the study area
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Figure 8 Net revenues profile of various categories of farmers1
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1=Agropastoralists, 2=croppers with contract, 3= croppers with no contract.
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