1. CCARDESA facilitates several conservation agriculture research projects in Southern Africa under programs like APPSA and ACCRA. These projects focus on improving soil health, increasing yields, and building farmer capacity. 2. Recent projects studied herbicide use in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, developed maize-legume conservation agriculture systems, and evaluated diseases and pests under different farming practices. 3. Preliminary results found that integrated weed management increased among farmers and herbicide combinations controlled weeds best. Legume intercropping also improved soil fertility and yields. More research is still needed on pest and disease impacts.

1. CCARDESA’S REGIONAL WORK ON
CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE RESEARCH
Monica Murata
CCARDESA Secretariat
Regional Conservation Agriculture Dialogue Meeting
25-27 Sep 2019, Lusaka, Zambia

2. CCARDESA facilitation of CSA work
CSA prioritized in the CCARDESA 2019-2028 Strategy
Capacity building of AR4D institutions & agric value-
chain actors to adapt to, and mitigate CC
Info & knowledge sharing within Southern Africa
Coordinating CA R&D projects under APPSA
CSA projects under ACCRA

3. CA research facilitated by CCARDESA
under APPSA
APPSA Objective
To increase availability of improved agricultural
technologies in participating countries by:
 Establishing RCoLs on commodities of regional
importance;
 Supporting regional collaboration in agric research,
technology dissemination & training; and
 Facilitating increased sharing of agric info, knowledge
& technologies among participating countries

4. R&D Approach
Research projects focus on problems that are
common to at least two countries
Partnerships with a range of institutions, both public
and private
Significant potential for sub-regional spillovers
Potential impact on long-term food security

5. Overall Objective
 To assess determinants of herbicide use under CA among
smallholder farmers
 To validate use of herbicides among CA farmers
 To investigate performance of herbicide weed control
options on the dynamics of weed species composition
Results
 KAP survey indicated that adoption of herbicides
influenced by cost, quality of extension services, un-
founded perceptions & limited knowledge on the use of the
technology.
 Determinants on uptake of herbicides were age, education
levels, income, availability of extension services
1. Understanding farmer circumstances on herbicide weed
control & performance under conservation agriculture in
Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia

6. KAP Survey results - some of the weeds perceived to
be difficult to eradicate
Cynodon dactylon (L.)
Rottboellia
cochinchinensis
(Lour.) Clayton
Melinis repens
(Willd.) Zizka
Richardia scabra L.
Commelina benghalensis L
Acanthospermum hispidum DC

7. Weed control Treatments
 Mechanical weed control
 non-selective herbicide (glyphosate) + mechanical weed
control
 selective herbicide + mechanical weed control
 selective + non-selective (glyphosate) herbicides
 selective + non-selective (glyphosate) herbicides +
mechanical weeding

8. Results
 A combination of herbicides(Glyphosate, Integrity &
Stellar) had the best effect against the weeds but
budgetary constraints could affect adoption.
 Adoption of integrated weed management strategies
compatible with CA farming practice increased following .
demonstrations of the different combinations => wider
choice of weed mgt options
PI: Mr Crispin Pumulo Kapunda ckapundap@yahoo.com

9. (2) Developing CA in Maize-Legume Systems for Smallholder
farmers in Malawi, Mozambique & Zambia
Overall Objective
To contribute to improved HH food security of smallholder farmers
and to enhance their livelihoods while conserving and improving
the natural resource base
Expected Outputs
 Farmers’ maize & legume production constraints and
opportunities to introduce pigeon pea & other legumes in
maize based systems identified
 CA best practices developed and validated and ready for scaling
up/out
 Cost-benefit analysis, including production risk of introducing
legumes into CA systems quantified

10. Some of the project work published in International journal of
Horticulture, Agriculture and Food science(IJHAF) [Vol-1, Issue-3,
Sep-Oct, 2017] https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijhaf.1.3.3 ISSN:
2456-8635 www.aipublications.com titled Farmer Perceptions of
Conservation Agriculture in Maize - Legume Systems for Small-
Holder Farmers in Sub Saharan Africa - A Beneficiary Perspective
in Zambia
PI: Oscar João Chichongue ochichongue@gmail.com

11. (3) “DISEASE AND PEST CHALLENGES IN MAIZE PRODUCTION UNDER
CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE CROPPING SYSTEMS: WHAT DO WE LEARN?”
Overall Objective
To evaluate disease & pest prevalence in maize under CA in
different agro ecological regions of Malawi & Zambia
Expected Outputs
Understanding of the current status of CA & maize production
constraints & needs among SH farmers
Maize leaf diseases & pests of economic importance in mz
production under CA identified
Long term effect of continued mz crop residue retention on
disease & pest build up under CA cropping systems assessed
 Performance of mz var under varying CA practices in maize
growing agro-ecological regions of Malawi & Zambia evaluated

12. Results
 A survey was undertaken to understand current status of CA
& maize production constraints & needs among smallholder
farmers
 Maize Leaf Blight; Maize Streak Virus & Grey Leaf Spot had
significantly high incidence under CA practices
 Prevalent above & underground insect pests that affect maize
production in CA cropping systems were [stem borer, fall
armyworm & leafhopper, termites]
 NB: Work still to be concluded; 3 years not enough to attribut
pest & disease build up to the farming practices
 PI: Ivy Sichinga Ligowe: ivyligowe@yahoo.co.uk

13. Overall Objective
 To determine the benefits of biochar and compost/manure
from on-farm wastes on soil fertility and reduction of GHG
emissions in CA.
Results
 Biochar application in soil increased maize yields
 Use of 40 t/ha Biochar + Fertilizer increased maize yield
by 28% (Choma soils); 22% (Mufulira soils) & 88%
(Choma soils) compared fertilizer application alone.
 Biochar was observed to reduce leaching
 Successful production of biochar using a more efficient kiln
(TLUD method)
(4) Improving Soil Fertility & Reducing Green House Gas
Emissions using Biochar in Conservation Agriculture in
Zambia & Malawi

14. Successful production of biochar using a more efficient kiln
(TLUD method)
PI: Dr. PaulSimfukwe p_simfukwe@yahoo.com / psimfukwe@mu.ac.zm

15. 5. Enhancing Drought Resilience in rainfed Maize
using Silicon Based Fertilizer
Objective:
 To evaluate locally available Si bearing materials for their
suitability for use as fertilizer & promote its use in CA
Results
 Local sources of Si identified in Zambia are:
‒ Chilembwe Rock Phosphate - 35% Si
‒ Rice Husk Biochar - 16% Si
 Target was to increase Si uptake in maize & rice from the
baseline of <10mg/Kg. Si concentrations in treated
maize reached 12.57 mg/Kg
 Si based fertilizer was validated in CA systems & yield
increases by up to 20% observed
PI: Kelvin Munsanje: kmunsanje@hotmail.com

16. Enhancing Drought Resilience in rainfed Maize using silicon
based fertilizer
Untreated maize after 14
days dry spell
Si treated maize after 14 day dry
spell

17. Objective
To determine trade-offs of partial CA and traditional systems for
improved food security and incomes among smallholder farmers in
Zambia and Malawi.
Expected Outputs
 Survey to establish use of full CA, partial CA & traditional
systems conducted
 Inorganic N pools, WUE & yields under full CA, partial CA &
traditional systems compared
 Economic analysis of full CA, partial CA & traditional systems
6. Evaluation of full CA trade-offs under partial CA &
traditional farming systems for smallholder farmers in
Zambia and Malawi

18. Treatment description Adoption
category
Trt
Code
Seeding in planting holes with residue cover +
ridging following top dressing fertilization Partial CA
adoption
T1
Seeding in basins/Rip lines no residues manual
weeding
T2
Continuous cultivation, with inorganic fertilizer and
crop residues removed with rotation with a legume
in year 2
T3
Seeding in basins/Rip lines - leaving the crop
residues on surface, no tilling, use herbicides to
control weeds, rotation with maize in year 1
Full CA
adoption
T4
As 3 above but Legume in year 1, for rotation with
3 above
T5
Seeding on ridges with inorganic fertilizer with
residues incorporated
Traditional
system
(Farmer
Practice)
T6
Continuous cultivation, with inorganic fertilizer and
crop residues removed
T7
Continuous cultivation (Ploughing or ridging) with
inorganic fertilizer and crop residues retained
Convention
al (Check)
T8
CA Treatments

19. Results
Maize growing under CA treatment
(T4)
Maize Grain Yield

20. Results of on Farm Trial-Mfuwe
 Farmers enthusiastic about Partial CA-Boxing
PI: Dr Godfey Sakala: godfrey.sakala@gmail.com

21. 7. Performance evaluation & dissemination of small tractors in
Conservation Agriculture in Central Mozambique and Malawi
Objectives
 To test effectiveness & acceptability of mechanized raised beds
preparation
 To create local capacity in the use of small 4 wheel tractors (< 30
Hp) & associated implements
 To lobby for policy support towards mechanization of farm
activities in smallholder farming systems of Malawi & Moz.
Results
 Effectiveness of improved ridge & graded CA raised bed systems
compared to conventional manual systems in terms of labour
productivity & maize yields
 Acceptability of mechanized ridge & CA raised bed systems by
farmers evaluated – farmers preferred mechanised ridging.

22.  4 Mechanized CA options that can save labour &
increase yields validated & disseminated
‒ furrow system
‒ improved graded ridges prepared using tractors
‒ graded CA raised beds
‒ graded CA raised beds with cross ties
 3000 Farmers exposed to the technology in
Mozambique
PI: Domingos José Brás Dias, djosedias@gmail.com

23. Deep bed furrows
Improved Planter

24. Objective
To promote sustainable agric production practices under maize-
cowpea based cropping system.
Results:
 Maize & cowpea grain increased by 26% & 20% respectively
under zero tillage compared to conventional (Moz)
 Capacity strengthening of advisory service providers & lead
farmers conducted
 Technology aired on TV & radio
 Montepuez district: Conventional tillage + maize mono-
cropping => 2.307,5 T/ha Zero tillage + maize/CP rotation =>
4.992,5 T/ha
 Crop production cost under CA reduced from 9,53MT/Kg to
3,44MT/Kg.
8. Improving & Sustaining Maize & Cowpea
Productivity among SH Farmers through use of CA in
Mozambique and Malawi

25. • Similar results in Rapale district
• 2 CA best practices identified and promoted: Zero
tillage & MZ-CP rotation
• 1320 Famers (28% F) & 172 Extension workers (64 F)
trained in CA
• Production of Extension material
• PI: Henriques Colial hvcolial@gmail.com
Improving & Sustaining Maize and Cowpea
Productivity among SH Farmers through use of CA in
Mozambique and Malawi

26. 26
Extension material

27. 27

28. 9. Development & dissemination of On-spot fertilizer applicator for
smallholder farmers

29.  Lead Farmers
 Demonstrations
 Field Days
 Print & Electronic media
 Extension Circulars, Posters
 Success Stories
Technology Dissemination Pathways

30. CA Success story
“APPSA GROOMS
SUCCESSFUL LEAD FARMER
TO PROMOTE
CONSERVATION
AGRICULTURE IN MALAWI”
Patricia Dzimbiri (37) is one of the
successful female lead farmers from
Chinguluwe Area, in Salima District who
has been participating in farmer field
trials for conservation agriculture and
maize/legume intercropping for 3
consecutive years under the Agricultural
Productivity Program for Southern Africa
(APPSA) project ……........................
Maize harvested from the CA plot

31. Concluding Remarks
 Effectiveness of CA technology to mitigate climate
change depends on coordinated action across
countries.
 There is need for increased visibility of CA work in
order to attract new partnerships & ownership by
governments
 Improve impact of CA through enhanced
collaboration with support services (extension, input
suppliers)
Acknowledgements

32. CSA work under ACCRA

33. Thank You
Muito Obrigado
Merci beaucoup
www.ccardesa.org
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