The African Network for Soil Biology and Fertility (AfNet)

The African Network for Soil Biology and Fertility (AfNet) Saidou Koala CIAT-TSBF Cali 19 05 09

The yield gap and the limitations that cause it Potential yield (Experimentation) Actual yield Yield gap
Biophysical limitations
Soil fertility
Water
Variety, etc
Which inputs are lacking?
Socio economic and policy limitations
Knowledge
Credit
Availability
Why inputs are not used?

Yield Gap…
Half of yield gap can be closed through soil nutrients and improved agricultural practices, with the other half being achieved through improved seed and suitable development policies

Bridging the Yield Gap
Better technologies,
more sustainable practices,
improved crop varieties
and fertilizers to improve and sustain crop productivity and prevent further degradation of agricultural lands

Bridging the Yield Gap…
T hese technologies have to be tested and adapted to the local socio-economic conditions of the farmers

AfNet Strategy
AfNet strategy is embedded within the Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) paradigm and in line with CIAT new strategy of Eco-Efficient Agriculture for the Poor and is operating within the two programs of ISFM and SLM of CIAT-TSBF

African Network for Soil Biology and Fertility (AfNet)
Established in 1988
Single most important implementing organ of TSBF institute
Network of scientists working in NARES, IARCs, NGOs, CBOs, and Private sector systems in Africa
Individual membership stands at over 450 members from East, Southern, Central and West Africa

ISFM & Eco-Efficiency
ISFM is the application of soil fertility management practices and the knowledge to adapt these to local conditions, which optimize fertilizer and organic resource use efficiency and crop productivity
Eco-Efficiency attributes are embedded in the definition of ISFM (agronomic input use efficiency, access to markets and food and good nutrition)

AfNet & Eco-Efficient Agriculture
Through the promotion of ISFM practices, AfNet will contribute to the development of an Eco-Efficient agricultural sector driven by novel technologies, functional multidisciplinary teams responding to end-users demands, constraints and opportunities

AfNet’s Overall Goal
To strengthen and sustain stakeholder capacity to generate, share and apply soil fertility management knowledge and skills to contribute to the welfare of farming communities

Main Focus Areas
Research and development activities (including synthesis of research results)
Capacity strengthening
Information dissemination

Research and Development Activities
Network trials implemented in over 100 sites
across SSA & spread across 3 impact zones
Cover all aspects of ISFM research agenda:
Management of mineral and organic inputs
Integration of legumes in cropping systems
Biological nitrogen fixation
Below ground biodiversity
Conservation agriculture
Soil and water conservation

1 2 3 4 7 6 5 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Mali
Niger
Nigeria
Burkina Faso
Cote D’Ivoire
Ghana
Togo
Cameroon
Congo (DR)
Selected AfNet research sites Koulikoro, Fana, Niono (ICRISAT, IER) University of Abidjan-Cocody Lamto Kumasi Farakou-Ba, Kouare (INERA) Sadore, Banizoumbou Karabedji, Gaya, Gobery (ICRISAT) Zaria Lome
Uganda
Kenya
Tanzania
Zambia
Zimbabwe
South Africa
Madagascar
Mlingano, Sokoine university Egerton university, Nairobi university, KAR-KEFRI-ICRAF Ndere dance Troupe Makerere university NARO University of Zimbabwe Misamfu Research Centre, Chilanga University of Kisangani IRAD, University of Yaounde 15 University of Witwatersrand University of Fort Hare 16 FOFIFA 17 Chitedze More than 100 research sites in Africa

The Sahelian Drylands Area: 1.2 million km 2 Population: 38 million Millet & sorghum belt: 23 million ha Impact zones Tactics for implementation Humid Forest Zone Area: 5.8 million km 2 Population: 168 million Cassava belt: 18 million ha NERICA potential: 2 million ha Moist Savanna and Woodland Zones Area: 4.4 million km 2 Population: 157 million Maize belt: 32 million ha CA potential: 7 million ha S N E W 0 1000 2000 kilometers

Innovation platforms Provides a forum and mechanism for articulating stakeholders’ demands and matching such demands with effective and adequate supply of technologies and innovations. Tactics for implementation

A Soils Platform for SSA
AFNet as a key player and future leader of the CGIAR Soils Platform

Outputs
AfNet will contribute to outputs 1, 2 and 3 of both ISFM and SLM Programs by:
Providing a platform for evaluating ISFM and SLM practices at benchmark sites
A mechanism for rapid dissemination of innovations and best practices
A platform for enhancing capacity and sharing of experiences among researchers
Building soil health database

Investment Needs…
Proposal to AGRA 879,000 USD (good progress)
EU-ACP call 792,800 Euros (pending)
ASARECA 115,422 USD for AfNet (good progress)
EU call 100,000 Euros for AfNet (good progress)
Many proposals in pipeline

Looking ahead
Strengthen networking to engage a wide range of stakeholders and enhance the efficiency of ISFM and SLM research
Strengthen links between research and extension (using the innovation platform )
Develop strategic partnerships in capacity strengthening that identify and utilize the range of comparative expertise.

Looking ahead …
Promote programmatic linkages with Universities and other educational institutions to strengthen curricula with appropriate and up-to-date information and teaching materials
Taking a lead role in the establishment of a CGIAR – Stakeholders Soils Platform for SSA

Conclusion
AfNet is creating a framework that is adding value to CIAT –TSBF ISFM and SLM Programs through:
Evaluating new ISFM and SLM practices and methodologies
Fostering interactions between ISFM and SLM Programs and the development communities
Reducing the capacity gaps (in scientific knowledge)
Active role in the establishment of a Soils Platform for SSA

THANK YOU

Yield Gap
Research breakthroughs on agricultural production
Huge gap remains between potential yields versus actual yields
Degraded state of its soils and lack of investment in appropriate inputs and improved soil management practices are main reason

Location of some selected long-term experiments in Africa

Investment needs
Resources required for the AfNet coordination function and research (long term trials) as well as support to its stakeholders’ field research

The African Network for Soil Biology and Fertility (AfNet)

by CIAT on May 19, 2009

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