Conservation agriculture- a new pathway for agricultural development Jens B. AuneAgro-ecologist, Noragric, UMB

1. Conservation agriculture-
a new pathway for agricultural development
Jens B. Aune
Agro-ecologist, Noragric, UMB

3. Disadvantage of the system
• Low yields because sowing is delayed
• Low soil organic matter content
• High soil erosion
• Inputs are not efficiently utilized
• Most of the fodder resources are used by oxen
• Female households are in particular vulnerable situation
because the man who ploughs takes up to 50% of the
harvest

4. Principles of conservation agriculture
• Direct sowing
• Soil cover (mulch)
• Crop rotations
Improved soil fertility management is often a
requirement

5. Advantages of cons. agr.
• Resembles a natural eco-system-
soil is continuously covered
• Build soil organic carbon
• Less soil erosion
• No turning of the soil- less use of
energy (30-40 % less use of
energy)
• Yields comparable to conventional
agriculture
• Less need to keep oxen

6. Forms of conservation agriculture
Planting basins Ripping
Photo: Progress Nyanga Photo:CFU Zambia

7. Tractor ripping – dry season ripping
Photo:CFU Zambia

8. Millet biomass yield (kg ha-1)
Fertiliser and mulching
(millet straw)
No input
Lessons from the Sahel drought in the 1980s.
Millet production in Niger (Bationo and Buerkert 2001)

9. Conservation agriculture in the
Horn of Africa
i
• Conservation agriculture should be more
actively promoted in the Horn of Africa
• Agriculture becomes more resistant to
climate change
• Improvements in livestock production
• Positive environmental effects

10. Conservation agriculture in a global context
• The only agricultural system that can feed 9
billion people in a sustainable way.
• Should also be more promoted under
temperate agricultural conditions like in
Norway
• International and Norwegian research
(Apelsvoll) tell that conservation agriculture
has less GHG and nitrogen emission per kg
produced food than organic and
conventional agriculture.

11. There is a need for a stronger
policy push of conservation
agriculture internationally as well
as domestically.