Research on extension approaches can help extension services improve their effectiveness and efficiency in serving farmers. The farmer-to-farmer extension approach, though widely used, has been little studied. The objective of this study was to haracterize the approach from the perspective of the farmers involved, usually called lead farmers. We describe their activities and support given to them, identify factors that motivate them and assess the challenges they face. The study is part of a broader one examining farmer-to-farmer extension in Malawi, Cameroon and Kenya.The results are based on a survey of 203 lead farmers working with 19 organizations. The survey covered five districts: one in the Northern Region and two districts each in the Central and Southern regions. The majority (78 percent) of the lead farmers were from the public sector, 19 percent were from non-profit, non-governmental organizations, and 3 percent were private-sector.Lead farmers are relatively youthful, averaging 42years. About 41 percent of lead farmers are women, and 29 percent of women lead farmers are single. About 78 percent of lead farmers are members of farmer groups. About 56 percent of them have completed primary school, and most of the remaining have undergone some primary school education.Respondents indicated that the most important characteristics for being a lead farmer were to be hard-working (76 percent), an active farmer (52 percent) and interested in helping others (34 percent). Most (75 percent) were selected to be lead farmers by their communities or groups; 17 percent were selected by extension staff members, and 8 percent by other means. About 40 percent served a farmer group or groups; the others served a village or villages. The main activities included training (96 percent), providing advice (35 percent), establishing demonstration plots (32 percent) and monitoring other farmers’ use of the technologies/practices being promoted (30 percent).Most of the training that lead farmers receive is informal or conducted during meetings; only 9 percent said they underwent residential training. About 70 percent received training in technical subjects as well as communication/extension skills. About 44 percent received some additional training after working for some time and 41 percent participated in study tours. There were minor differences in training between types of organizations.
Tag: Maize
Preference and adoption of livestock feed practices among farmers in dairy management groups in Kenya
This report presents the results of a study that assessed farmer preferences and adoption of livestock feeds and feed practices promoted by the East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) Project. The study was carried out in nine out of 21 sites where the EADD project operates. The sites are situated in central Kenya, north Rift Valley and South Rift Valley regions of Kenya. They include Kabiyet, Siongiroi, Sirikwa, Olkalou, Olenguruone, Metkei, Sot, Cherobu and Taragoon. The sample was drawn from farmers belonging to dairy management groups. Collection of data was through a formal household survey that was conducted by interviewing individual dairy farmers using a structured questionnaire. Data collected was on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, feed practices on farm, farmer preferences and criteria used for selection, constraints faced in the production of livestock feed practices, proposed interventions and future plans.Farmers interviewed comprised 60 percent men and 40 percent women out of the total sample of 181 dairy farmers. The farmers were middle-aged; about 44 years old with an average of about 46 years and 41 years respectively for men and women. Almost all farmers (97%) had basic education. Overall land owned was about 13 acres with femaleheaded households owning less land than their male counterparts. The main enterprises practiced in order of importance were dairy farming, food crops (e.g. maize, beans and sweet potatoes), poultry and cash crops (e.g. tea and wheat). On average, farmers had about 13 years of experience in dairy. Livestock owned ranged from pure, cross and local breeds of cattle, goats, sheep and poultry. The majority of farmers (92%) had cross-breed dairy cows with an average number of 3 for both male and female-headed households. Only 13.8 percent of households had pure breed dairy cattle with an average of 6 per household. A higher proportion of male-headed households (14.6%) had pure breed adult cows compared to only 5.6 percent of female-headed households.All dairy farmers interviewed had knowledge on the improved feed and feed practices introduced by EADD and other institutions. Almost all respondents (99.4%) were aware of Napier grass and about three quarters were aware of Boma Rhodes. Only about 5 percent farmers were aware of Sudan grass, Molasses grass, giant setaria, serato and Guetamala grass. Among herbaceous legumes, lucerne was the most known by 74 percent of farmers compared to desmodium (42%). Among fodder shrubs, calliandra was the most known by 36.5 percent of respondents followed by sesbania (12.7%). Other fodder crops known by over 40 percent of dairy farmers included sweet potato vines and oats. The most known fodder crop residue was dry maize stover (42%). Among feed practices, silage ranked highest.
Livelihood strategies and land use system dynamics in Gorontalo
The project ‘Agroforestry and forestry in Sulawesi: linking knowledge with action’ (AgFor Sulawesi) project is being implemented in three provinces of Sulawesi, Indonesia (South Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi and Gorontalo) from 2011 to 2016 to enhance agroforestry and forestry livelihood systems in rural communities. The baseline survey reported in this document was conducted to support the project. The main objectives were to study the general characteristics of community livelihoods, local farming systems and land-use systems, based on community perspectives. The assessment of land-use dynamics, farming systems and livelihood strategies in two districts of Gorontalo was considered essential for designing the next phase of the project. The livelihood baseline study addressed both community and household levels. The results of group discussion show the dynamics of land use and diversity of livelihood strategies among village typologies. Maize and vegetables, as well as agroforestry based systems of plantation crops such as coconut, cacao and clove dominate the land use in all the village typologies. In general, community livelihood strategies are dominated by maize, vegetables, and agroforestry tree based products. Further analysis of household-level information indicates that the number of male and female household members are relatively similar in all villages in all typologies and the majority of household heads were from the Gorontalo tribe. The educational level in Typology 4 villages, especially in Modelidu, is the lowest compared to other respondents. The level of education in the other typologies are relatively similar, with female education level slightly lower than men. Land tenure status is relatively equal for most typologies, the land owned together by husband and wife – in others the husband has the greatest responsibility. The cultivated land is generally located on private land in the village (Typology 1, Typology 4 and Typology 5). The others work more land in protected forests and production forests (Typology 2 and Typology 3). Household level analysis also showed that the average annual income per household in Typology 1 is lower compared with other typologies. The main source of income for farmers is also different for each village: Typology 1 sourced from maize yields and agricultural wages; Typology 2 from nonagricultural wages and maize; Typology 3 from maize, chili and agricultural wages; Typology 4 from agroforestry gardens; and Typology 5 from coconut and non-agricultural wages. Sources of income from agriculture (58-88%) is higher than non-agriculture (12-42%) in all the village typologies. The income per capita of farmers in Typology 1 is lower than in other typologies. Meanwhile farmers in Typology 4 are comparatively the most affluent: revenue per capita per day of farmers in Typology 4 almost doubled compared to farmers in other typologies.
Organic residues affect phosphorus availability and maize yield in a Nitisol in western Kenya
The effects of organic residues and inorganic fertilizers on P availability and maize yield were compared in a Nitisol of western Kenya. Leaf biomass of Calliandra calothyrsus, Senna spectabilis, Croton megalocarpus, Lantana camara, Sesbania sesban, and Tithonia diversifolia were incorporated into the soil at 5 Mg ha-1 for six consecutive seasons in 3 years and responses compared with those following the application of 120 kg N ha-1, 0 kg P ha-1 (0P); 120 kg N ha-1, 10 kg P ha-1; and 120 kg N ha-1 25 kg P ha-1 as urea and triple superphosphate (TSP); K was supplied in all treatments. Addition of Tithonia, Lantana and Croton increased soil resin-extractable P over that of fertilizer-amended soil throughout the first crop, but the amounts in the former treatments became similar to those for soils amended with inorganic fertilizers for subsequent crops. Addition of Sesbania, Calliandra and Senna had a similar effect on resin P as inorganic fertilizers. Total maize yields after six seasons were tripled by the application of Tithonia compared to 0P, and were higher than those of the Calliandra, Senna, Sesbania and Lantana treatments, and similar only to that of the Croton treatment. P recovered in the above-ground biomass and resin P, immediately after the implementation of the treatments, was higher in the Senna, Sesbania, Croton, Lantana and Tithonia (35-77%) treatments than in the inorganic fertilizer treatments (21-27%). The P content of organic residues, and the soluble C:total P ratio, were the main residue parameters predicting soil P availability and maize yield. All organic residues used in this study can replace inorganic fertilizers for the enhancement of P availability and maize production, while an additional benefit could be obtained from the use of Croton, Lantana and Tithonia.
Changes in soil properties and their effects on maize productivity following Sesbania sesban and Cajanus cajan improved fallow systems in eastern Zambia
Improved fallows with leguminous trees have been developed in Southern Africa as a viable alternative to inorganic fertilizers but the changes in soil properties that are responsible for crop productivity improvement and implications of mixing litter and fresh leaves from the same tree species on soil fertility are not fully understood. Our objectives were to quantify (1) some changes in soil properties that are responsible for crop production improvement under improved fallow systems; (2) the N mineralization patterns of mixtures of litter and fresh leaves from the same tree species. The treatments used in the study were 2-year planted Sesbania sesban (sesbania) and Cajanus cajan (cajanus) and controls of natural fallow, continuous fertilized and unfertilized maize. At fallow clearing sesbania contributed 56 kg N ha1 through litter and fresh leaves. Sesbania (fresh leaves + litter) showed high N mineralization after 10 weeks compared to the mixture of cajanus fresh leaves with litter. Maize yields were significantly correlated with preseason NO3-N and total inorganic-N content of the top 20-cm soil layer. Soil penetrometer resistance at 4 weeks after planting was lowest in the sesbania land-use system (2.2 Mpa), whereas the highest percentage of water-stable aggregates at fallow clearing and crop harvest was in sesbania (83%) and cajanus (77%), respectively. The improved soil conditions and N contribution of sesbania and cajanus fallows to the subsequent maize crop was evidenced by increased maize yields of between 170–200% over maize without fertilizer.
Measuring the economic value of redistributing parasitoids for the control of the maize stemborer Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Kenya
This study assesses the ex ante economic impact of the establishment of two parasitoids, the scelionid egg parasitoid Telenomus isis Polaszek from West Africa and a virulent strain of the braconid larval parasitoid Cotesia sesamiae Cameron from western Kenya, to control stemborer. Using a Cobb-Douglas production function, it was estimated that yields increased by 28.5% when pesticides were used to control stemborers. The benefit-cost ratio after the establishment of the parasitoids ranged from 1:1 to 777:1, with a net present value of up to US$192 million. The study demonstrates the potential of redistributing parasitoids indigenous to Africa for the control of African stemborers. Because the benefits of biological control are positively scale dependent, while the costs are generally scale irresponsive, biological control programs would accrue more benefits if parasitoids were released to a wider area.
Mineralization and N-use efficiency of tree legume prunings from fertilizer tree systems and low quality crop residues in Malawi
There is substantial evidence that fertilizer tree systems are capable of maintaining increased and sustainable crop production on low fertility soils in southern Africa, thus reducing the required amount of chemical fertilizer. However, crop yield increase in soils amended by fertilizer tree systems can only be optimized if nutrient release by the organic materials and nutrient demand by the crop are in synchrony. The decomposition and N release patterns of high quality tree prunings (gliricidia and sesbania) and crop residues (pigeon pea leaves and roots, and maize stover) were studied to understand the N use efficiency of fertilizer tree systems. The treatment were (1) quality pruning residues from gliricidia (Gs) and sesbania (Ss), (2) three medium quality residue levels including pigeon pea leaves (Pea-L), pigeon pea leaves + roots (Pea-LR) and pigeon pea roots (Pea-R), and (3) two rates of maize stover (Stover-1 and Stover-2) as low quality residues, and control (no crop residues, no tree prunings). The treatment combinations were laid out as a randomized complete blocks design. Mixtures of tree prunings with 2.5 t ha-1 maize stover increased maize N uptake and grain yield whereas 5 t ha-1 maize stover reduced maize N uptake and grain yield during the wetter season. Mixtures of Pea-R, Stover-1 or Stover-2 with tree prunings depressed yields during the drier season. Stover-2 had the highest N fraction immobilized N, respectively 15 and 35% N during the wetter and drier conditions. We conclude that (1) mixing of high quality tree prunings with crop residues may enhance the decomposition of low quality crop residues but there is no special interaction, and (2) remineralization of N immobilized early in the season by the low quality organic materials is stimulated by well distributed rainfall.
Assessment of maize growth and yield using crop models under present and future climate in southwestern Ethiopia
Maize yield productivity in Ethiopia has been below the genetic potential—constrained, among other factors, by frequent moisture stress due to local weather variability. Changes in climate may exacerbate these limitations to productivity, but current research on projecting responses of maize yields to climate change in Ethiopia is inadequate. The research objectives of this project were to (1) calibrate and evaluate the performance of the APSIM-maize and DSSAT CSM-CERES-Maize models, and (2) assess the impact of climate change on future maize yield. The climate periods considered were near future (2010–2039), middle (2040–2069) and end of the 21st century (2070–2099). Climate simulations were conducted using 20 General Circulation Models (GCMs) and two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs; RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). Both crop models reasonably reproduced observations for time to anthesis, time to physiological maturity and crop yields, with values for the index of agreement of 0.86, 0.80 and 0.77 for DSSAT, and 0.50, 0.89 and 0.60 for APSIM. Similarly root mean square errors were moderate for days to anthesis (1.3 and 3.7 days, for DSSAT and APSIM, respectively), maturity (4.5 and 3.1 days), and yield (1.1 and 1.2 tons). Deviations of simulated from observed values were low for days to anthesis (DSSAT: 2.4–2.3%; APSIM: 0–6%) and days to maturity (DSSAT: 0.6–4.4%; APSIM: 1.9–3.3%) but relatively high for yield (DSSAT: 18.5–21.2%; APSIM: 19.1–37.1%). Overall the goodness-of-fit measures indicated that models were useful for assessing maize yield at the study site.Simulations for future climate scenarios projected slight increases in the median yield for the near future (1.7%–2.9% across models and RCPs), with uncertainty increasing toward mid-century (0.6–4.2%). By the end of the 21st century, projections ranged between yield decreases by 6.3% and increases by 4%. Differences between the RCPs were small, probably due to factor interactions, such as higher temperatures reducing the CO2-induced yield gains for the higher RCP. Uncertainties in studies on the impact of climate change on maize might arise mostly from the choice of crop model and GCM. Therefore, the use of multiple crop models along with multiple GCMs would be advisable in order to adequately consider uncertainties about future climate and crop responses and to provide comprehensive information to policy makers and planners. Overall, results of this study (based on two different crop simulation models across 20 GCMs, and two RCPs under similar crop management) consistently indicated a slight increase in yield.
Impact of Drought on Maize Yield and Exploration of In-Situ Maize Crop Genetic Resources for Drought Tolerance
To meet an ever global population’s food demand, crop yields must be sustained and increased. Drought, which is getting harsher as a result of global warming, is largely impeding the agricultural productivity. Maize is widely used as food and animal feed in many regions of the world, but its yields are largely effected by drought and heat stress. Historical data on climate change predicts that drought and heat stress becoming major threat for maize cultivation in coming years, which will have huge impact on food security of the world especially in Africa and Asia. Thus there is an immense necessary to develop drought tolerant and climate resilient maize to feed the predicted population of the world. Availability and accessibility of crop genetic resources plays a huge role in development of drought-tolerant maize cultivars. A huge genetic resources of maize, including its landraces and crop wild relatives (CWR) have been reported naturally and many of them have stored in National and International gene banks globally. Conventional breeding methods have been tremendously increased maize yields, but these methods frequently fall short of achieving the demand for improved drought stress resistance. In this article, we have briefly discussed about impact of climate variability on crop production, maize yield losses due to drought, drought tolerance in maize landraces and CWR, and origin and evolution of Mexican landraces. This information may help in utilization of these potential resources in various pre-breeding programs.
The emergy-data envelopment analysis (EM-DEA) approach handbook: An illustrated guide on how to use the EM-DEA approach to assess resource- and energy-use efficiency and the sustainability of agricultural and forestry ecosystems
Emergy-Data Envelopment Analysis (EM-DEA) is a methodological approach for achieving complete environmental-economic accounting of different production systems. In an age when resources are scarcer than ever before, and the environmental impact of humanly designed systems of production is a major concern when deciding which system could better contribute to human and economic development without compromising the future of the global environment, using a reliable method for the comparative assessment of the efficiency and sustainability of different production systems is critical when making smart decisions. This handbook provides a step-by-step instruction to help users apply the EM-DEA approach to simultaneously assess the resource and energy use efficiencies, and sustainability of agricultural and forestry ecosystems as a whole. This approach was developed to address the lack of a singular method to assess complete environmental accounting and compare the sustainability performance of agro-ecosystems. The EM-DEA approach does so by combining emergy analysis (EMA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) methods. By offering flexibility to account for various natural, human and economic resources such as land or input contributions from farm animals, it provides a means to do a comprehensive environmental accounting throughout the lifetime of agricultural and forestry systems. This approach was empirically tested with a comparative analysis of five maize production systems in Ghana, Africa. The results demonstrated that the application of the EM-DEA approach leads to complete environmental-economic accounting. Thus, EM-DEA is an innovative approach that could be used to support decision making when comparing different production systems as a whole.