Farming systems analysis in Africa RISING
Jeroen Groot (Wageningen University)
with IITA, ICRISAT, MSU, CIMMYT
Africa RISING Monitoring and Evaluation Meeting
Arusha, Tanzania, 13-14 November 2014

Survey
Rapid characteriz.
Detailed description
Exploration
innovations
Functional typology
Structural typology
Systems
(re)design
Extrapolation
Farm diagnoses
Tradeoff analysis
Farm innovations
Potential
impact

Tanzania: Babati, Kongwa & Kiteto, 240 (15) HHs
Malawi: Dedza, Ntcheu, 80 (12) HHs
Zambia: Chipata, Katete, Lundazi, 800 (15) HHs
Ghana: Upper East, Upper West, Northern, 160 HHs
Mali: Bougouni, Koutiala, 530 HHs
Locations

Low productivity, food availability and returns to labor
Underrepresentation of women in decision making
Limited or untimely resources like seeds and fertilizers
Strong seasonality
Problems with pest and weed control
Poor management of crop residues (mulch, feed)
Suboptimal feeding of livestock
Limited access to training and advice
Farmers challenged by climatic conditions
Critical points (program wide)

Crop diversification, intercropping, rotations
Water management
Strengthen seed systems and selection
Management of organic resources: residues and manures
Improved livestock feeding and management
New strategies for pest and weed management
More education and training
Institutional arrangements, community-based organizations
Entry points (program wide)

Rapid characterization Zambia
•Cultivated area (ha)
•Tropical Livestock Units (TLU)
•Total labor inputs (days/year)
•Off-farm income ($)
•Costs for hired labor ($)
•Proportions of labor used for land preparation and weeding
•Proportion of area used for legume cultivation
•Legume experience (years)
•Legume score
Combination of structural and functional variables
Functional typologies for farm selection and targeting

Detailed description Zambia

Detailed description Zambia

Type 1 (LRE) Type 5 (HRE)

Detailed description Zambia
Type 1 (LRE)
Type 5 (HRE)

Farmer perceptions Zambia
•Try new crops, animals and practices, e.g. CA, manure storage, intercrops
•Better yields, grow more food
•Expand farm area
•Acquire more knowledge, advice
•Availability of inputs (seeds), and financial means (credit)
•Sickness; high cost of labor
•Cattle of neighbors grazing
•Lack of tools, equipment
•Lack of residues
•Animal disease and death
Objectives Challenges

Baskets of technologies Zambia
A range of new crops and animal types that could be included, and new ways to cultivate/manage Zambia (specific for SIMLEZA focus):
•Intercrop of maize and cowpea
•Growing maize after soybean or cowpea
•Using crop residues as soil amendment (mulch)

Exploration of tradeoffs

Exploration of tradeoffs

Tradeoff analysis

Selection and fine-tuning
To be selected in interaction with farmers and researchers from the sets of options generated in the tradeoff analysis New cycles of refinement of the farm-specific objectives and constraints are probably needed Selected options should be further fine-tuned to the context of the farm

Conclusions
A wide range of critical points was identified, but also various entry points
In most regions an initial assessment of a basket of selected technologies was performed
Strong tradeoffs between some indicators were found, but were dependent on the farm type

Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation
africa-rising.net
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