Nhamo

Chapter Five - Exploring Options for Lowland Rice Intensification under Rain-fed and Irrigated Ecologies in East and Southern Africa: The Potential Application of Integrated Soil Fertility Management Principles

Abstract Increased rice production in East and Southern Africa explains the crucial role rice plays in household food and income security. However, in last three decades, rice productivity per unit area has stagnated due to abiotic and biotic factors, hence the need for the application of Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) principles. Farmyard manure, crop residues are central to improving soil fertility in rice systems. Compared to mineral fertilizer, organic manure use results in higher rice yield gains. Symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by grain legumes has been successfully applied to improve rice yields. However, only a few legumes are suitable for use under flooded conditions. Application of Azolla sp. improves rice yields though drought and the need for inoculum limit widespread adoption. Poor quality organic fertilizers limit their effectiveness as macronutrient sources. Where soils are P deficient, BNF and animal manure technologies seem to be of little value. In conclusion, combinations of mineral fertilizers, farmyard manure, and short seasoned legumes have the potential of improving rice yields. Further research on the application of ecology specific ISFM technologies is required in view of land degradation and climate variability. Research is needed on suitable legumes, fertilizer equivalency values of organics, fortification of organic fertilizers, and effectiveness of combinations of mineral and organic fertility inputs. We propose a step-by-step innovative approach to improving rice productivity by incorporating the components of ISFM at different stages. Decision guides essential to improved adoption and increased investment on rice production systems are required.

Models Supporting the Engagement of the Youth in Smart Agricultural Enterprises

Youth unemployment is a challenge threatening the economic performance of many countries. Youths face a myriad of challenges in finding employment opportunities and competing with more experienced adults. A combination of limited youth involvement in agriculture and an aging farmer community presents a huge risk to the future of food production systems in southern Africa. The aim of this chapter is to discuss youth development in relation to employment creation and entrepreneurship in agriculture. Opportunities for youth engagement and employment in agricultural value chains were evaluated and an engagement model was proposed. Civic engagement and youth service programs have been popularized since the 1960s in southern Africa. Similarly, agricultural and educational policies were developed. However, neither youth service programs nor the agricultural education curriculum has matched the skill requirements for the employment markets. Although civic service and volunteer programs are important, the current form did not support entrepreneurship and innovation and hence contributed insignificantly to youth development. Agricultural technologies present opportunities for innovation and participation in agribusiness along crop value chains, thereby generating decent youth employment. However, this requires investment by governments and development partners. Youth engagement in agriculture supported by youth-friendly policies and smart agricultural technologies has the potential to significantly contribute to socioeconomic development. Future contribution of youths to both agricultural development and demographic dividend needs urgent action to reduce youth unemployment. Regional inclusive investments in curving niches that will engage and retain youths in agriculture are needed.

Delivering Integrated Climate-Smart Agricultural Technologies for Wider Utilization in Southern Africa

Smart agricultural technologies are required to advance the development, productivity, and sustainability of the crop and livestock value chains. Several steps are required to fully deploy novel agricultural technologies to millions of smallholder farmers and assist countries in southern Africa to attain the United Nation sustainable development goals on combating climate change and its impacts through climate smart solutions (Goal 13), eradication of poverty and hunger (Goal 1 and 2), creation of decent jobs (Goal 8), environmental protection (Goal 6 and 12), and provision of health (Goal 3) through agricultural enterprises. In reaching out to farmers with suitable technical agricultural interventions we advocate for the integration of knowledge on improved practices, bringing together a suite of technologies, effective institutional rearrangements of stakeholders on value chains, improved information management, and dissemination techniques. Proper targeting of marginalized groups with potential for growth, use of decision support tools to maintain the farm yield projections, and lobbying for a policy framework that is supportive of all the facets are imminent. Climate smart technologies will play a critical role in guiding the trajectory of cropping systems productivity, increasing sustainability, and reducing the risk of widespread hunger in most countries in southern Africa.

Advancing Key Technical Interventions Through Targeted Investment

Agricultural improvement in Africa is largely related to the development, availability, and deployment of the technical interventions in advancing a range of value chains. Similar to the green revolution of the 1970s, the developments have been in the area of improved germplasm and management of plant nutrition, weeds and pests, soil moisture and timely application of these technologies. Key among the set of interventions that has been developed in the last three decades is integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) approaches. The relationship between ISFM and climate adaptation and mitigation puts organic matter management and conservation at the center of discussion. Equally important is the application of judicious combinations of mineral fertilizers and organic materials. In further developing the arguments on mitigation measures, the pillars of ISFM have remained important indicators of progress in translating the practices of ISFM into climate-smart ventures useful for farmers at different scales. There is need to advance the key aspects of ISFM interventions and identify investment strategies in further developing climate-smart agricultural technologies.

Taking to Scale Adaptable Climate Smart Technologies

Abstract The strength of an innovation systems approach for Integrated Agriculture Research for Development (IAR4D) is based on a wide involvement of stakeholders, capacity building, planned progression of involvement of different actors, and the voluntary nature of participation. In this chapter, this concept is taken further showing that successful pilot initiatives can be taken to scale using and building on the same principles embedded in IAR4D. This requires an understanding of research and development scaling pathways and the use of participatory research and extension approaches in preference to the traditional and linear approaches used in the past. Looking to the future involvement of a wide range of actors from both the agriculture sector and beyond is essential for building a sustainable innovation system. At the same time increasing use of Internet and mobile networks provide opportunity for improving access to knowledge that can speed the scaling process. Included in the chapter are sections on the meaning and understanding of scaling; research and development scaling pathways, the evolution of extension approaches, key principles of participatory research and extension, working with local communities and their networks, strengthening innovation systems, increasing use of mobile phone networks, and conclusions for successful scaling.

Adaptive Livestock Production Models for Rural Livelihoods Transformation

Abstract Over 60% of land in southern Africa is suitable for livestock production and the contribution to gross domestic product is about 36%. Livestock play important roles in rural livelihood systems including food provision like meat and milk, services like draught power and transport, nutrient supply through manure, and key sociocultural roles like bride price and household firm. However, climate change threatens livestock industry through loss of feed-base, increased disease incidences, and increased global footprint for greenhouse gas production, more restrictive livestock production polices. More difficulties in livestock industry would lead to low supply of livestock products, low off-take, under developed marketing infrastructure, and poor market access leading to increased poverty in rural households. The main objective of this chapter is to explore opportunities for livestock production and marketing systems that can transform the livestock industry and help to build resilience through climate-smart technologies. Livestock is a form of wealth, source of draught power and manure; however, the livestock contributes to greenhouse gases through belching and manure mineralization. Production systems should take into account increased productivity with reduced environmental pollution.

The Use of Integrated Research for Development in Promoting Climate Smart Technologies, the Process and Practice

Abstract Integrated Agriculture Research for Development (IAR4D), based on the use of participatory research and extension and innovation system approaches, represents an action research process in support of development activities. This is a major shift from the traditional way of undertaking research, where researchers conceptualized and developed technologies and then passed them on to extension, who were then expected to take new technologies to farmers. Instead, innovation system approaches involving multiple stakeholders are encouraged to build partnerships for dialog finding solutions to existing challenges or seeking new opportunities, often within a commodity value chain. The strengths of an innovation system approach are its wide base in terms of stakeholders, capacity building, planned progression of involvement of different actors, and the voluntary nature of participation, which can reduce hidden costs and involve committed actors. There is untapped potential for participation and hence institutionalization of technologies with information and development networks. This is much higher within an innovation platform than using conventional linear approaches. However, there are challenges associated with engaging stakeholders in the agriculture sector, which provide both learning opportunities and future research questions. In this chapter, key issues for linking stakeholders in innovation platforms are addressed. This includes, deciding on focus, identifying challenges and opportunities, testing and modifying solutions, developing capacity, analyzing, learning, and scaling up to effectively deliver new technologies for wide use. The chapter is organized as follows: what is IAR4D; its components using participatory research and extension approaches; partnerships and innovation platforms for commodity value chains; implementing IAR4D; case studies of establishing cassava innovation platforms in Zambia and Malawi; and benefits, challenges, and lessons for scaling up.

Opportunities for Smallholder Farmers to Benefit From Conservation Agricultural Practices

Abstract Conservation agriculture (CA) practices combine the use of soil cover, crop combinations, and reduced tillage. There has been widespread promotion of CA practices in southern Africa. The aim of this chapter is to take stock of the advances in understanding the CA systems and to define the benefits of CA to smallholder farmers and where it can best be applied. Research results have shown an improved understanding of how the systems impact production potential and an indicative direction of where the systems may work and where challenges lie. Given the changes in climate and the challenges with soils that may not respond to soil amendments, it is important to define boundary conditions under which CA techniques will deliver on improving production and at the same time mitigate the effects of climate change through improved resource use efficiency. CA has the potential to improve crop yields, soil organic matter content, soil infiltration rates, and microsites for proliferation of beneficial soil organisms. However, smallholder farmers require financial resource to expand the area under CA beyond the small trial plots for benefits to accrue over a wider area, invest into new equipment, and effectively use agrochemicals. Farmers living in dire poverty may not be able to adopt CA effectively. More data is required to characterize the farmer typology which can effectively apply CA as a climate smart technology.