Crop residue tradeoffs in crop-livestock systems factors, processes and implications

Crop residue tradeoffs in crop-livestock systems factors, processes & implications www.vslp.orgBackgroundSmallholders mixed crop‐livestock systems constitute most of the farming enterprises in developing countries. In those systems, crop residues (CR) are fundamental biomass resources used to achieve short‐term objectives (e.g. animal feed, fuel and construction material) and mid‐term environmental sustainability (e.g. soil conservation). Inadequate agricultural production to cover an increasing demand for CR causes trade‐offs between these short and mid‐term objectives. This study aims at better understanding the tradeoffs in CR uses in contrasting mixed systems across Sub‐Saharan Africa and Asia (Figure 1) to better target technical, institutional and policy (TIP) options to improve livelihoods without compromising long term system sustainability.Research Questions ‐ What determines decisions about crop residue use? ‐ What is the impact of those decisions on livelihoods and system sustainability? ‐ What TIP options would enhance farm livelihood and environmental benefits? Figure 1: Study regions and allocation along density gradients (after Valbuena et al. 20111). Regions with high human and livestock populations Regions with intermediate human and livestock populations sustainability Regions with relatively low human and livestock populations TIP Conceptual Approach drivers CR trade‐offs are determined by their production, demand and farmers’ preferences2. In turn, CR production and demand are influenced by the spatial livelihood institutions stakeholder and temporal interaction of factors and drivers of both social and ecological consultation systems. Factors can be roughly grouped into 3 main interrelated components3,4 agro‐ecosystem (Figure 2): Livelihood: set of strategies used by individuals and households to make or gain a living, determined by their capability (e.g. capitals and networks). Institutions: rules that humans employ to organize all forms of repetitive and Figure 2: conceptual approach including factors, processes and implications structured interactions including those with family, farmers, markets, government. Agro‐ecosystem: spatial and temporal factors and interactions mediating agricultural production and other ecosystem services in the short and long‐term, Research Approach including biodiversity, carbon sequestration and water storage. Complementary methodological approaches are being used to study CR trade‐offs (Figure 3). Also, to study CR trade‐offs and suggest relevant TIP options, five Interactions of these factors largely determine major processes influencing CR interconnected steps are considered: trade‐offs, and hence the sustainability of agro‐ecosystems. Sustainability includes the short‐ and long‐term viability, resilience and adaptability of farming systems in ‐ To describe CR use and trade‐offs, and link them with farmer livelihoods and response to current and future factors and drivers (e.g. climate change, environmental effects, socio‐economic surveys on CR use, drivers, management, urbanization, market development). perceptions and livelihood capitals were conducted at both village (N=96) and household (N=1960) levels. These data will be analyzed by combining farm Potential implications of research to better target TIP options to improve CR typologies econometrics, bio‐economic models and ex‐ante trade‐off analyses trade‐offs and related processes need to be explored with stakeholders, in (livelihood analysis). particular farmers. Additionally, outcomes should target a broader audience, including farmers, development organisations and policy‐makers. ‐ To understand how institutions influence CR trade‐offs, and potential options (e.g. mapping value chain actors) and conducting focus groups discussions (institutional analysis). livelihood institutional surveys ‐ To analyse how current and potential CR use and potential technical options analysis analysis can affect the sustainability of the agro‐ecosystem, specifically soil characteristics and agricultural production, we combine primary and secondary data collection primary data with ex‐ante farm modelling tools (soil modelling). modelling focus groups synthesis secondary data ‐ Research outputs will be discussed with different stakeholders to reassess major problems in CR trade‐offs, as well as to better identify TIP options. This will soil R4D lead to concept notes for future R4D projects. modelling proposals ‐ A final synthesis will integrate and link factors and processes to give an overall Figure 3: research approach view on CR trade‐offs and potential TIP options for diverse sites and mixed systems. This will represent the transformation and merging of SLP into the new References: 1 Valbuena D, Erenstein O, Homann Ken‐Tui S, et al. Under review. Conservation Agriculture in mixed crop‐livestock systems: Scoping crop residue trade‐offs in Sub‐Saharan Africa and South Asia. Field Crops Research. 2 Erenstein O, Samaddar, N, Teufel, N, et al. 2011. The paradox CGIAR Research Programmes. of limited maize stover use in India`s smallholder crop‐livestock systems. Experimental Agriculture, 1‐28. 3 Fraser E. 2007. Travelling in antique lands: using past famines to develop an adaptability/resilience framework to identify food systems vulnerable to climate change. Climatic Change, 83:495‐514. 4 Plummer R, Armitage, D. 2007. A resilience‐based framework for evaluating adaptive co‐management: linking ecology, economics and society in a complex world. Ecological Economics, 61:62‐74. The SLP funded project entitled ‘Optimizing livelihood and environmental benefits from crop residues in smallholder crop‐livestock systems in sub‐Saharan Africa and South Asia’ is conducted by CGIAR centres (IITA, ICRISAT, ILRI, IWMI, CIMMYT and CIP) and WU Poster prepared by Valbuena D, Homann‐Ken Tui S, Duncan AJ, Gérard B. 2011. CGIAR

Crop residue tradeoffs in crop-livestock systems factors, processes and implications

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