Biomass pressures in mixed farms
Implications for livelihoods and ecosystems services in South Asia & Sub-Saharan Africa
Planet Under Pressure,
March 26th, 2012
London, UK
Session: Food Security
Diego Valbuena, Olaf Erenstein, Sabine Homann-Kee Tui, Tahirou Abdoulaye,
Alan Duncan, Bruno Gérard, Nils Teufel

Mixed systems represent the livelihood of a
large population of the developing world
Population developing world: 3.773’200.000
Population developing world: 5.309’500.000
Source: Herrero et al. 2009

Crop residue are major resources for
smallholder farmers
Uses: feed, fuel, construction, cash and mulch/compost.
Trade-offs of residue use?
−animal feed: short-term household needs (animal traction,
manure, food, savings, cash, culture), nutrient recycling
−soil conservation (mulching): mid/long-term agricultural
production, water efficiency, nutrient recycling (C storage)

Opening message
In smallholder mixed farms
resources are often limited,
creating pressure on biomass
(residues). How to improve
residue use, enhancing
livelihoods now and ensuring
long-term sustainability?

Site & village selection
Selection criteria
site: intensification & market
village: market & road
households: land & livestock
Niger-1, Fakara Malawi, Mzimba
Niger-2, Maradi Mozambique, Changara
Nigeria, Kano Zimbabwe, Nykayi
Ethiopia-1, Kobo India-1, Haryana
Ethiopia-2, Nekemte India-2, Udaipur
Kenya, Kakamega Bangladesh, Dinajpur

To consider:
• Dynamic systems but not always
• Pressure residues farm:
a. demand
b. production
• Options: intensification, market & co.

1. Mixed systems are dynamic
Population density Urbanization
% total population
people/km2
Cereal yields Livestock production
% relative to 1999-2001
kg cereal/ha
SLP-CR Regions* South Asia Sources: http://esa.un.org/unup/; http://fao.org
*
Southern Africa
Weighted average of
SLP selected countries
East Africa
West Africa

2a. Potential demand for residues is diverse
India-1 High
Bangladesh
Kenya
Ethiopia-2
Ethiopia-1 Medium
India-2
Zimbabwe Niger-2
Mozambique Nigeria
Malawi Low
Niger-1
source: Valbuena et al. in press

2a. This demand is reflected in different
residue use: cereal
multiple uses
mostly fed
100%
80%
mulch
60% construction
fuel
40%
20% other (fuel, burnt, const)
traded
left/mulch
0% animal feed
source: Valbuena et al. in press

2a. Demand and use of residues is
diverse: legume
Nigeria Niger-1 Niger-2
Kenya
Residue use depend also on
% sold quality, market and culture.
% fed
% other*
*
cooking, left in the soil

2b. Intensification of crop production is
related to potential demand
High production:
L-NG H-I1 H-B
water access, market
L-N2
inputs,
H-K mechanisation
M-E2
L-MW
M-I2
L-N1 Limited production:
often rainfed, variable
access inputs &
market, low
L-Z mechanisation
M-E1 L-MZ

2b. Production and development pathways
offer different options for rural regions
Non-agricultural
livelihood
India-2
Mozambiqu
e Market-oriented
Keny
a Niger-1 agriculture
Nigeria
Zimbabwe Ethiopia-1 Bangladesh
Niger-2 India-1
Ethiopia-2 Malawi
Subsistence
farming

2. Pressure on feed depends on crop
production and communal resources
high quality
feed
< 3 months
3 – 6 months
> 6 months
* based one farmers’ perceptions. Feed sources include grazing, green and dry fodder

2. Pressure on residues depend on both
production and demand
Potential Crop Agricultural Communal Feed Residue
Pressure Sites
demand production intensification resources shortages use
mulch India-1, Kenya
+++ +++ +++ - + burn Bangladesh
Low
+ ++ ++ + + mulch Malawi
Mozambique
Medium + + + + ++ grazed Zimbabwe
++ +/++ +/++ - +++ fed, fuel Ethiopia, India-2
High
+ + + + (far) +++ fed, fuel Niger, Nigeria

3. Options: pressure on residues
Potential: > soil conservation by mulching
Needed: changes residue management
Potential Crop Agricultural Communal Feed Residue
Pressure Sites
demand production intensification resources shortages use
mulch India-1, Kenya
+++ +++ +++ - + burn Bangladesh
Low
+ ++ ++ + + mulch Malawi
Mozambique
Medium + + + + ++ grazed Zimbabwe
++ +/++ +/++ - +++ fed, fuel Ethiopia, India-2
High
+ + + + (far) +++ fed, fuel Niger, Nigeria
Needed: Needed:
- Better use of communal land - More biomass
- More biomass (seasonal) - Soil conservation

3. Options need to go beyond biomass
production
Farm expansion Better link to markets
Equity (land) Integration crop-livestock
Water efficiency Intensification livestock
Potential Crop Agricultural Communal Feed Residue
Pressure Sites
demand production intensification resources shortages use
mulch India-1, Kenya
+++ +++ +++ - + burn Bangladesh
Low
+ ++ ++ + + mulch Malawi
Mozambique
Medium + + + + ++ grazed Zimbabwe
++ +/++ +/++ - +++ fed, fuel Ethiopia, India-2
High
+ + + + (far) +++ fed, fuel Niger, Nigeria
Better link to markets Intensification crop-livestock
Integration crop-livestock Better link to markets
Intensification crop-livestock Off-farm options
Destocking

Closing message
Meta-analysis help to identify promising options and
trajectories for better residue use in specific sites.
Still, more participatory,
integrated & coordinate action-
research is needed to implement
options and fulfil short and long
term objectives for both
livelihoods & ecosystem services.

SLP project: an on-going progress
Stakeholder involvement (R&D):
engaging stakeholders in looking at
the challenges & options
Household diversity: improved
targeting of potential options
Targeting action-oriented research:
linking these diagnostics with
impact oriented research