In Kenya, the CGIAR Agroecology Initiative (AE-I) has two agroecological living landscapes (ALLs), one in Kiambu County and a second in Makueni County. Work package 1 (WP1) of the AE-I entailed two key components: ALL establishment, and innovation co-design. In line with broader agroecology approaches and ontologies, both were to be achieved through transdisciplinary co-design processes. This report provides an overview of the innovation co-design process, its results, the scientific performance of co-designed practices and related reflections. First, the report introduces the three-pronged co-design approach, which included a preparatory phase, a co-design phase, and a trial phase; and outlines the many different steps involved in the process. It then provides details of the specific practices co-designed across the three identified focus areas in which most attention was required: soil management, water management, and integrated pest management. The respective practices for the Kiambu ALL included the use of compost manure, mulch, and chili-based biopesticides, and farmyard manure, planted terraces, and neem-based biopesticides in Makueni. In the first cycle of trials, each of these practices was put under trial on 10 farmers’ fields. The experimental design included on 5×6 m controlled test trial plot, and a second 5×6 m “uncontrolled” control plot. While the inputs used (including seeds, seedlings, and treatments) were centrally provided, and kept constant, the trial participants used their conventional practice in the control plots. With a few exceptions, this conventional practice is largely organic in Kiambu, and followed permaculture principles in Makueni. Third, the agronomic assessment of two consecutive experimentation cycles (October 2023-March 2024; May 2024-September 2024) revealed generally positive performance of the co-designed practices. A preliminary contextual climate analysis showed that both areas received excessive rainfall in the second cycle, with more than twice the long-term average in April and May. Experienced flooding and water logging considerably influenced agricultural production during that cycle. Considering gross productivity, yields only significantly improved in the Makueni ALL, while differences in Kiambu ALL were not significant. In Makueni, only farmyard manure had a significant effect on maize yields, while all three practices significantly improved bean yields. Considering pest and disease pressure, pests were significantly lower for cabbages in the IPM trials in Kiambu, but not for compost or mulch. In Makueni, pests were significantly lower for both maize and beans in the IPM trial, as well as for beans in the manure trial. Despite experiencing difficulties related to planting timing, the climatic conditions, the quality of the inputs used, and market constraints, the participating farmers evaluated the practices and their participation in the trials very positively. In the last two sections, the report discussed adoption and scaling approaches, and broader reflections on successes and challenges with the co-design process, and recommends a continuation of highly methodical and structured transdisciplinary innovation co-design. This report complements the detailed co-design report prepared by the WP1 Kenya team in 2023 (Fuchs et al., 2023b).
Tag: agronomy
Integrating molecular genetics with plant breeding to deliver impact
The appropriate use of molecular genetic approaches to reach impact in plant breeding is not straightforward. Here, we consider theory and realized application and explore key issues that early-career plant molecular genetic researchers especially should consider as they establish their careers, particularly in relation to opportunities in plant breeding that span academia and the private sector. Useful entry points for these researchers are an understanding of the plant breeding cycle and the breeder’s equation. Becoming familiar with success and failure factors in the application of molecular genetics to practical plant breeding, including in relation to quantitative genetic principles, is also important. Other framing issues are scenario modeling for choosing between breeding scheme options, how agronomy and plant breeding interrelate, and the needs of future food production systems. We also recommend that early-career plant molecular genetic researchers look at whether pathways have been mapped out for how research will lead to impact at field level, whether stakeholders’ perspectives have been accounted for, and whether the effectiveness of molecular genetic versus alternative interventions have been costed. Early-career researchers should also consider if effective systems are in place to monitor the values of molecular interventions and whether the necessary multidisciplinary teams are involved in crop development and deployment. We believe that through building a cadre of well-informed and well-connected early-career plant molecular genetic researchers, transformational change in the applications of molecular genetics to practical plant breeding will be enhanced.
Households’ aspirations for rural development through agriculture
In sub-Saharan Africa, rural households are the focus of many development efforts and the transformation of smallholder agriculture is one entry point for this process. Understanding farming households’ technology choices remains one of the most critical aspects of agricultural research in rural areas. However, many technologies that are known to be effective and potentially highly beneficial have remained widely unused. One reason is that predicting farmers’ decisions concerning agricultural technologies using conventional economic theories is flawed. In this article, we suggest that human aspirations have a much greater influence on technology choices than hitherto believed. We further argue that a better understanding of aspirations will improve the targeting of technology development by researchers. We propose distributed ethnography to empirically test the influence of human aspirations on technology choice. From such insight, we anticipate better research priority setting as well as more effective rural development strategies in general.
Accounting for correlation among environmental covariates improves delineation of extrapolation suitability index for agronomic technological packages
This paper generates an extrapolation suitability index (ESI) to guide scaling-out of improved maize varieties and inorganic fertilizers. The best-bet technology packages were selected based on yield gap data from trial sites in Tanzania. A modified extrapolation detection algorithm was used to generate maps on two types of dissimilarities between environmental conditions at the reference sites and the outlying projection domain. The two dissimilarity maps were intersected to generate ESI. Accounting for correlation structure among covariates improved estimate of risk of extrapolating technologies. The covariate that highly limited the suitability of specific technology package in each pixel was identified. The impact based spatial targeting index (IBSTI) identified zones that should be prioritized to maximize the potential impacts of scaling-out technology packages. The proposed indices will guide extension agencies in targeting technology packages to suitable environments with high potential impact to increase probability of adoption and reduce risk of failure.
Loading the dice in favour of the farmer: reducing the risk of adopting agronomic innovations
Agricultural development projects frequently promote new crop production technologies for adoption at scale on the basis of research and pilot studies in a limited number of contexts. The performance of these production technologies is often variable and dependent on context. Using an example from the Agroforestry for Food Security Project in Malawi, that promoted agroforestry technologies for soil fertility enhancement, we explore the nature and implications of variation in performance across farmers. Mean effects of these technologies, measured by differences in maize yield between agroforestry and sole maize plots, were modest but positive. However, there was large variation in those differences, some explained by altitude, plot management and fertilizer use but with much unexplained. This represents risk to farmers. Those communicating with farmers need to be honest and clear about this risk. It can be reduced by explanation in terms of contextual factors. This should be an aim of research that can often be embedded in scaling up the promotion of agronomic innovations.
Compatibility of Ten Elite Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Clones
One way of boosting cocoa productivity which has plummeted over the last decade in Côte d’Ivoire is to introduce high performing clones. Preliminary observations have indicated that these new clones have differing growth patterns and agronomic traits in the field. Assessing their compatibility is of paramount importance since these clones will be made available to the farmers in the near future. This study was conducted in Soubré, southwest of Côte d’Ivoire, to evaluate the compatibility of ten new cocoa clones (coded as C1, C8, C9, C14, C15, C16, C17, C18, C20, and C21). A half diallel design consisting of 10 self-pollinations and 45 inter-crosses, replicated three times, was used. Results showed significant differences among clones for pollination success. Out of the ten clones evaluated, six (C1, C8, C9, C15, C17 and C21) were self-compatible. With a 39% mean pollination success, C9 was quite interesting because it has been reported to be among the highest yielding clones. Introduction of improved germplasm will go a long way towards enhancing productivity in Côte d’Ivoire, radically impact farmers’ livelihoods, and contribute significantly to a more reliable supply of cocoa beans for chocolate manufacturers.
Does Tephrosia candida as fallow species, hedgerow or mulch improve nutrient cycling and prevent nutrient losses by erosion on slopes in northern Viet Nam?
Agroforestry is considered to be a promising alternative to short-fallow shifting cultivation or other monocropping systems. An on-farm experiment was established in 1996 in northern Viet Nam to examine the contribution of the leguminous bush Tephrosia candida (Roxb.) D.C. as a fallow or hedgerow species and as a mulch producer to improve nutrient cycling and prevent nutrient losses by erosion. The systems tested were upland rice monocropping (Mono), natural fallow (NaFa), fallow of Tephrosia (TepFa), hedgerow intercropping with upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) and internal mulching using pruned Tephrosia biomass (TepAl), and upland rice with external mulching using Tephrosia biomass (TepMu). Over two cropping seasons, from April 1996 to April 1998, nutrients recycled and inputs and exports were recorded, as well as changes in C-, N- and P-pools, and in pH in the 0–5 cm topsoil layer. The Tephrosia systems (TepFa, TepAl, TepMu) prevented nutrient losses by erosion effectively. Compared to the NaFa system, the TepFa system accumulated 34% more N in the above-ground plant parts and increased topsoil N by 20%, probably due to N-fixation. There was a trend that the less labile P-pools (NaOH-P) were reallocated into the more labile P-pools (Bicarb-P) in the soil of the TepFa system. Burning released significant amounts of the inorganic P-pools in both the NaFa and TepFa systems and this effect seemed to be more pronounced in the TepFa than in the NaFa. Organic input to crop export ratios for N and P were >1 in the TepAl and TepMu treatments. This was due to a sufficient quantity and quality of the Tephrosia mulching material. However, moderately labile NaOH-extractable organic P seemed to be depleted in the topsoil due to high P uptake in the TepMu treatment. Thus, nutrient cycling and nutrient balances were improved under the Tephrosia systems. But for long-term P sustainability, there is a belief that a combined use of mulching and mineral P fertiliser is needed.
The agronomic and economic potential of tree fallows on scoured terrace benches in the humid highlands of Southwestern Uganda
Smallholder farmers in the densely populated highlands of Southwestern Uganda face major constrains because of poor soil productivity and inadequate wood supply. The wood production, soil replenishing potentials and economic returns of five improved fallow systems: Sesbania sesban, Calliandra calothyrsus, Alnus acuminata, Tephrosia vogelii, and Acanthus pubescens were compared with the traditional bush fallow and continuous cropping systems. A trial was conducted on a non-P deficient Haplorthox (USDA) or Haplic ferralsols (FAO). Starting in March 1996, the fallow phase lasted for 2 years. Crop performance after fallow was subsequently assessed for 2 years. Soil improvement due to fallow was observed only on the degraded upper two-thirds of the terraces but not on the relatively more fertile lower terrace parts. Mineral nitrogen levels increased from 9.5 mg kg1 in the continuous cropping systems to 17.3 and 13.1 in the Sesbania and Calliandra fallows, respectively. On the upper terrace, cumulative maize yield after fallow increased significantly from 1.6 Mg ha1 in the continuous cropping to 3.5, 4.1, 5.9 and 6.2 Mg ha1 in the Tephrosia, Alnus, Calliandra and Sesbania fallow systems, respectively. Besides crop yield improvement, Sesbania, Calliandra and Alnus resulted in high firewood production of 27, 26, and 24 Mg ha1, respectively. Net benefits over the whole terraces show negative annual returns under the continuous cropping system but higher net returns of USD 229, 157, and 111 in the Sesbania, Calliandra and Alnus systems, respectively. Returns to labour are also higher in the tree fallow system, trading labour above the normal wage rate. On the upper terrace part, only Sesbania, Calliandra and Alnus systems result in positive annual net benefits of USD 185, 111, and 53, respectively. Tephrosia, natural fallow and continuous cropping systems are not profitable on the heavily degraded upper terrace as they result in negative returns.
Value chain development for mango (Mangifera indica) around Outamba Kilimi National Park in Sierra Leone: constraints and opportunities for smallholders
Background: Mango is an important tree fruit in Sierra Leone since it participates to food and nutritional security mainly in rural areas. However, the economic potential of this tree fruit is still untapped to a large extent. This situation is due to high loss and poor handling at post-harvest stage preventing farmers from meeting the quality standard for different markets. The aims of this paper were to analyse the constrains and opportunities for mango value chain development, as well as community-based copping strategies developed by chain actors to valorise the existing opportunities for better market development and forest conservation. Methods: Data were collected in four sites around the Outamba Kilimi National Park, Sierra Leone, through focus group discussions with men and women groups of 25-35 mango value chain actors in each site. Results: Results indicated that mango value chain is composed of nursery suppliers, mango producers, harvesters and assemblers, processors and traders. Main constraints encountered by both men and women are lack of: (1) polythene bags and improved mango seedlings, mineral fertilisers, herbicides, pesticide, (2) training on appropriate mango production practices, (3) appropriate harvesting tools, (4) appropriate processing knowledge and equipment, as well as high transportation cost. Hand weeding, use of available organic fertiliser, seeking of advices from colleagues farmers, equipment from other processors who own local processing equipment were some of the coping strategies developed by various actors along mango value chains. Soil fertility, favourable climatic conditions, technical and financial support from direct or indirect actors through training on good agronomic practices, processing and marketing techniques, availability of hired labour to perform farming and processing operations, existence of local processing plant to serve as outlet for fresh mango were identified as main factors to be exploited to improve mango value chains around Outamba Kilimi National Park in Sierra Leone. Conclusions: Our results provided insight into the various factors limiting the performance of mango value chains around Outamba Kilimi National Park in Sierra Leone. This baseline study will help in designing and implementing appropriate strategies to promote mango value chains in the areas around the Outamba Kilimi National Park. © 2017 The Author(s).
The scientific basis of climate-smart agriculture: a systematic review protocol
Climate-smart agriculture’ (CSA)—agriculture and food systems thatsustainably increase food production, improve resilience (or adaptive capacity) of farmingsystems, and mitigate climate change when possible—has quickly been integrated into theglobal development agenda. However, the empirical evidence base for CSA has not beenassembled, complicating the transition from CSA concept to concrete actions, andcontributing to ideological disagreement among development practitioners. Thus, there is anurgent need to evaluate current knowledge on the effectiveness of CSA to achieve its intendedbenefits and inform discourse on food, agriculture, and climate change. This systematicreview intends to establish the scientific evidence base of CSA practices to inform the nextsteps in development of agricultural programming and policy. We will evaluate the impact of73 promising farm-level management practices across five categories (agronomy,agroforestry, livestock, postharvest management, and energy systems) to assess theircontributions to the three CSA pillars: (1) agronomic and economic productivity, (2)resilience and adaptive capacity, and (3) climate change mitigation in the developing world.The resulting data will be compiled into a searchable Web-based database and analyticalengine that can be used to assess the relative effectiveness and strength of evidence for CSA,as well as identify best-fit practices for specific farming and development contexts. Thisrepresents the largest meta-analysis of agricultural practices to date.