Tag: farms
Assessment of the economic and environmental benefits of on-farm agroforestry practice in Northwest Vietnam
Maize (Zea mays) cultivation in Northwest Vietnam has dramatically increased on the formerly shifting cultivation lands since the 1990ies, where more than half the area has slopes of over 20 degrees. Traditional cultivation practices in the region, mainly based on intensive tillage combined with burning crop residues, had resulted in severe erosion, soil degradation, reduced crop productivity and significant environmental impacts. However, farmers still apply monoculture maize in sloping lands. The main reason is because they lack financial backup to shift into new practices. The study aimed to assess the economic and ecological benefits of agroforestry practice in the context of the upland areas in Northwest Vietnam. This study presents the actual benefit assessment of a designed agroforestry system with late fruiting-longan (Dimocarpus longan) together with maize and forage grass strips (guinea – Panicum maximum) during 2012-2017 using cost and benefit analysis, land equivalent ratio (LER) and quantification of soil loss. The two monoculture systems, mono-maize and mono-longan, were used for comparison. The results showed that the longan+maize+forage grass system gave an early income from forage grass and maize. Forage grass yielded 17 ton ha-1 year-1. Maize yield was not significantly different from mono-maize and the average dry grain yield was 4.5 ton ha-1 yr-1. The longan trees started to bear fruit in the 4th year; it yielded 0.06 ton ha-1 which increased to 0.38 ton ha-1 in the 6th year. Longan in mono-longan system also started bearing fruits in the 4th year. In terms of profitability, the net profit of the mono-maize was initially 23 million VND ha-1 yr-1. However, it decreased to 4 million VND ha-1 yr-1 in the 6th year, mainly due to drop in maize price. Mono-longan system was only reaching a profit of 3 million VND ha-1 in the 6th year. Meanwhile, the longan+maize+forage grass system had a positive profit of 18 million VND ha-1 in the 2nd year which increased successively to 33 million VND ha-1 in the 6th year. The break-even point of the longan+maize+forage grass system was after one year of planting, and the payback period of the loan-credit provided to farmers was one year after planting. The LER from 2013 to 2017 of the longan+maize+forage grass system ranged from 1.05 to 1.84. Regarding the effectiveness in controlling soil loss, longan+maize+forage grass system reduced soil loss by 50, 56 and 77% in comparison with mono-maize system in 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. The data proved that the evaluated agroforestry system gave higher productivity, profitability, early returns to investment and significant reduced soil loss as compared to monocultural systems. We will continue monitoring and evaluating different agroforestry systems and tree species to provide the options for agroforestry development in sloping land area in Northwest Vietnam.
In Kenya, farmers see early rewards from adding legumes and trees to their farms
[No abstract available]
Soil fertility management in west Kenya: Dynamic simulation of productivity, profitability and sustainability at different resource endowment levels
A farm simulation model was designed to assess the long-term impact of existing soil management strategies, on farm productivity, profitability and sustainability. The model, which runs in time units of 1 year, links soil management practices, nutrient availability, plant and livestock productivity, and farm economics A case study is presented of the application of the model to existing, mixed farm systems in Vihiga district, in the highlands of western Kenya. Three representative farm types were developed using participatory techniques to reflect differences in resource endowments and constraints faced by farmers. The model was used to assess the sustainability of the existing systems for the three farm types as a basis for recommending improved practices for each. A summary model for calculating new sustainability indicators of soil productivity is presented. The low (LRE) and medium (MRE) resource endowment farms, which comprise about 90% of the farms in the area, have declining soil organic matter and low productivity and profitability. In contrast, the high resource endowment category of farms (HRE) have increasing soil organic matter, low soil nutrient losses and are productive and profitable. Crop nutrient yields were 17, 19 and 86 kg N ha1 year1 on LRE, MRE and HRE farms, respectively. Soil C, N and P budgets were negative in LRE and MRE but positive in HRE. Farm revenue in LRE and MRE was 2–13% of farm revenue in HRE. It comprised 7% of household income in LRE compared with 25% in MRE and 63% in HRE. It is concluded that low land and capital resources constrain the adoption of ecologically and economically sustainable soil management practices on the majority of farms in the area. Strategies are needed to (i) increase the value of farm output (ii) increase high quality nutrient inputs at low cash and labour costs to the farmer, and (iii) increase off-farm income
Yield and biomass production by African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) intercropped with planted Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana) in Mali (West Africa)
Methods for introduction of an improved cultivar of Ber tree (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.) also called Jujube and its management on farms through intercropping with African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.) and sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] were tested in Sanankoroba, Mali. An experimental plantation was established on-farm with seedlings of the local variety of Ber half of which were grafted in situ with an improved cultivar of Ber called Seb. Crop production, Ber growth and fruit production were assessed over two cropping seasons. Both the improved and local varieties of Ber had no detrimental effect on either eggplant or sorghum, both in terms of yield and nutritional quality. In fact a beneficial effect of trees was found on the performance of both crops (yield and dry matter production) which suggests complementarities in resource use. The high level of fruit production by the improved variety of Ber observed on farms under rain-fed conditions may be a source of additional income and diversification of diet for rural communities in West Africa. Therefore, farmers’ adoption of growing improved Ber varieties in association with food crops may help considerably in improving food security and alleviating poverty in the region.
Agroforestry can improve food security, farm diversification and income generation in Zambia
Fifteen years of research and development work by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and its partners in Zambia have refined agroforestry technologies that can have a huge impact on food security and income generation at low cost and while protecting the environment. Current policies are failing to take advantage of these new technologies. Minor policy changes could bring about much greater adoption of these proven technologies with major benefits to farmers and the Zambian economy.
Forest carbon budgets in Southeast Asia following harvesting and land cover change
Terrestrial ecosystems play an important role in the global carbon (C) cycle. Tropical
forests in Southeast Asia are constantly changing as a result of harvesting and conversion to other
land cover. As a result of these changes research on C budgets of forest ecosystems has intensi-
fied in the region over the last few years. This paper reviews and synthesizes the available infor-
mation. Natural forests in SE Asia typically contain a high C density (up to 500 Mg/ha). Logging
activities are responsible for at least 50% decline in forest C density. Complete deforestation
(conversion from forest to grassland or annual crops) results in C density of less than 40 Mg/ha.
Conversion to tree plantations and other woody perennial crops also reduces C density to less
than 50% of the original C forest stocks. While much information has been generated recently
there are still large gaps of information on C budgets of tropical forests and its conversion to other
land uses in SE Asia. There is therefore a need to intensify research in this area.
Climate-Smart Conservation Agriculture, Farm Values and Tenure Security: Implications for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Congo Basin
Background and Research Aims: Agriculture through deforestation is an important threat to biodiversity conservation in the Congo Basin’s tropical forest. The policy challenge is not only to promote adaptation to perceived climate change but also to promote forest conservation. The aim of this study is to provide empirical evidence on the impact of farm-level investments in climate-smart agricultural practices related to conservation agriculture in some Congo Basin countries. The hypothesis is that property rights to land and trees play a fundamental role in governing the patterns of investment, forestland management for conservation, as well as in the profitability of agriculture. Methods: A Simulated Maximum Likelihood Estimation using a Mixed Logit model is used to test farmers’ choice of agricultural system and a farmland value model for each agricultural system which includes determinants of tenure or property rights, climate, soils, and socioeconomic variables such as education and gender. The data was collected from more than 600 farms covering 12 regions and 45 divisions in 3 countries, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Results: Farmers choose one of three agricultural systems to maximize farm profit mindful of the current tenure regime and environmental conditions. Conservation agriculture techniques within climate-smart practices show benefits for smallholder farmers through improvements in soil health, soil moisture retention and enhanced crop yields. The rights to access, withdraw, manage, as well as exclude others from land and trees affect both the farmers’ choice of system and the profit earned from the chosen system. Conclusion: Farm-level investments improve farm incomes and enhance conservation effort for farmers perceiving climate change. Implications for Conservation: Climate change adaptation through planting of trees improves soil stability, restores ecosystems and creates a safe haven for biodiversity. Secure land tenure promotes better forestland management and reduces land degradation in vulnerable communities.
Managing tree cover to restore farm productivity and build landscape and livelihood resilience in West Africa
Land restoration and sustainable natural resource use are critical societal concerns that impact both the health of ecosystems and human well-being. There is increasing recognition of the importance of restoring degraded land and landscapes, culminating in the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030). This special issue sheds light on how trees can help restore landscapes and is organized around 3 domains: ecological and genetic variation, restoration of species and lands, and species management in production systems. Successful tree cover interventions consider species, practices, and their management within the production systems to optimize impacts. A solid understanding of the variation in tree materials and their different functional traits can help restoration project planners and managers select the best interventions, such as direct seeding and Farmers’ Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR). Simultaneously, the use of these approaches must be context-specific and consider the severity of land degradation. The Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF), a tool that helps determine the severity of land degradation, can be used to help tailor interventions to the local extent of land degradation.
Farm Rejuvenation-Induced Changes in Tree Spatial Pattern and Live Biomass Species of Cocoa Agroforests in Central Cameroon: Insights for Tree Conservation Incentives in Cocoa Landscapes
Cocoa agroforests sustain ecosystem services (ESs) to varying degrees. These services are otherwise mostly provided by other non-cocoa shade or companion trees. However, the density of shade trees is associated with services and/or disservices that drive farm-specific tree management successions. Considering the growing impacts of climate crisis on farm productivity and the need for adaptation strategies, the ESs are increasingly provisional and contingent on the prevailing vegetation, land tenure, and management successions, amongst others social and ecological factors. To assess the temporal changes in shade management, we surveyed an age gradient of “family farms” in cocoa agroforests created from forest (fCAFS) and savannah (sCAFS) land cover. We evaluated the temporal changes in farm structure, relative tree abundance, and live aboveground biomass of the major canopy strata. We used a spatial point process and linear mixed effect analysis to assess the contributions of associated perennial trees (AsT) on farm rejuvenation patterns. The density of cocoa trees was inconsistent with farm age; this was significantly high on farms in sCAFS (1544 trees ha−1) with spatially random configuration across farm age. On farms in fCAFS, we observed a transition of the cocoa tree configuration in the order regular, random, and clustering from young (with highest density of 1114 trees ha−1) to old farms. On a temporal scale, there is no clear distinction of farm structure and biomass between fCAFS and sCAFS. However, the cycle of tree species and structural composition of the canopy strata are dissimilar; the live biomass allocation for the considered use groups of tree species was different with farm age. The observed dynamics in canopy tree structure and live biomass provide insights into farmers’ temporal allocation of uses and prioritization of different tree species with farm age. We recommend the consideration of such landscape-specific, tree management dynamics in proposing on-farm tree conservation incentives. Our results are also conducive to reliable estimates of the ecosystem services from CAFS in the national implementation of conservation mechanisms such as REDD+.