Presented by Jerry Glover (USAID) at the East Africa Feed the Future Food Security workshop, Kampala, Uganda, 15-19 October 2012

1. Using applied research to
optimize profitable use of inputs:
a Malawi case study
Jerry Glover (USAID)
East Africa Feed the Future Food
Security workshop, Kampala, Uganda
15-19 October 2012

2. Africa Research In Sustainable
Intensification for the Next Generation
Provide pathways out of hunger and poverty for
small holder families through sustainably
intensified farming systems that sufficiently
improve food, nutrition, and income
security, particularly for women and children, and
conserve or enhance the natural resource base

3. Mineral fertilizer use on a Malawi
farm as example

4. Mineral fertilizer use: some
considerations
 Soil health, often the greatest limiting factor, is a combination of
physical, chemical and biological properties
 Plants need ~16 different nutrients; most mineral fertilizers contain
only 2-3.
 Less than 50% of applied nitrogen & phosphorus is used by annual
crops when used at highest yield rates
 Mineral fertilizers, when applied alone, generally do not improve soil
health and can worsen it; need ‘organic’ inputs.
 Crops may not respond (at profitable levels) when stressed by
drought, disease, pests, and/or poor agronomic practices.
 Crucial part of the overall system; not a silver bullet

5. Rhoda Mang’anya supports 7 people on ~1/2 ha.
She has 2 main fields, a ‘winter season’ plot, and a
garden

6. Acquired her main field in 1990s; yielded <1 t/ha
“The main problem I was facing was soil infertility…”

7. 1. Diversification &
sequencing
Rhoda used
groundnuts and
pigeon peas
improve soil
nitrogen and:
“…in 1994 I was one
of the farmers who
were assisted by a
local NGO with 5
tree species which I
planted in my field.”

8. Faedherbia albida –
• ‘Reverse phenology’
• Slow growing
• Long-lived
• Low labor requirements
• Good fuel & fodder
Tephrosia –
• Fast growing
• Short lived
• Moderate labor requirements
• Good fast N source
Gliricidia –
• Medium – fast growing
• Medium life span
• Higher labor requirements
• Good fodder

9. Rhoda also uses 80kg/ha urea
Diversification
• Improves nutrient use
• Buffers against excessive &
deficient rainfall
• Uses different soil layers &
different seasons
Better use of resources = less
risk of using purchased inputs

10. “I used to produce 3 bags…of maize but with fertilizer trees I got 49 (~5
t/ha) by 2000…this field has been improved in terms of soil fertility”

11. “This is why I started keeping pigs and goats to
continue support for my children in school…and
buying of salt, sugar, soap, relish.”

12. maize bran
Gliricidia

13. “Another benefit of my pigs and goats is that they give
me a lot of animal manure –that I apply in my field.”

14. Increased maize yields are important but don’t necessarily
equal improved nutrition.

15. Rhoda’s plans for the future.
“My plans are to plant more soil fertility trees. I think soon I
will not be able to afford fertilizers to produce enough food.”

16. Applied research entry points
 Sequencing of interventions and investments (legumes →agroforestry
→fertilizers →livestock → add’l fertilizers)
 Combinations & interactions of technologies (cultivars X fertilizers X
tillage)
 Trade-offs between demands (crop residues = livestock feed, fuel, soil
fertility, construction materials)
 Nutrient & water use efficiency
 Increased/improved on-farm production & use of “inputs”
(fertilizers, fuel, livestock feed)
 Decision making in changing conditions (rising fertilizer
prices, changing markets)

17. Additional thoughts and key points
Not all inputs are purchased
Primary production constraints may not be overcome by
purchasing inputs
 Increased purchased inputs may increase productivity but
may be at odds with other priorities
(economic, environmental, nutritional)
 Purchased inputs such as improved cultivars & fertilizers
are important but are parts of an overall system
 Farmers are “integrated” links in multiple value chains

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