This document discusses farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa and priorities for science and policy. It presents a framework for classifying farming systems based on agroecology, commodities, and socioeconomic factors. Examples of highland perennial and Albertine Rift systems are provided. Strategic priorities are identified for different systems, such as soil fertility management, market-driven intensification, and reducing transaction costs. The farming systems framework could help target innovations, assess productivity impacts, and organize investments and research by country and region. Sample data layers on resources, drivers, and trends are also listed.

1. Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy
SSA Farming Systems Framework: Potential input to the
Dublin Process / Technology Platform
Agriculture Science Agenda for Africa
Discussions on Programmatic Alignment CAADP and CGIAR
13 April, Dublin
Jean-Marc Boffa, John Dixon, Dennis Garrity, Stan Wood, and many others

2. Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy
Background on approach
• FS: Large populations of farm systems
classified on broadly similar patterns of
livelihood and consumption patterns, as
well as constraints and opportunities
• Policy-making relevance: Similar
development strategies and interventions
apply.
• Classification based on:
– Agroecology (LGP), production constraints
– Key commodities
– Socio-economic parameters (demographic,
market access, historical devt, etc)

3. Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy
• Temporal analysis for trends
• Dynamic system understanding
with analysis of drivers playing in
unique ways at FS level, and
specific priorities for policy and
science
• A first step
– Need for regular updating
– Large scale of analysis, need for
lower system resolution
Categories of drivers analyzed
• Population, hunger and
poverty
• Natural resources and
climate
• Energy
• Human capital and
information
• Technology and science
• Markets and trade
• Institutions and policies

4. Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy
Map of Sub-Saharan farming systems

5. Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy
Highland Perennial FS and subsystems
Central Highlands Western Highlands
Population density +++ ++++
Farm size +++ ++
Market infrastructure ++ +
Poverty 30% poor >60% poor
Farm area 35% maize
17% tea
17% coffee
More high value crops
42% maize
8% tea
10% coffee
% of improved cattle 95%
22% of crop area in
fodder
Zero-grazing increasing
67%
11% in fodder
Value of production 102K KSh/household 44K KSh/household
Use of fertilizers 122 kg/ha
74 manure bags
51 kg/ha
26 manure bags
High population density
High agricultural potential
Permanently cultivated systems
Market-orientation as a way to intensify systems

6. Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy
Strategic priorities
Albertine Rift systems (Diversifying)
• Small market size, very high transport
costs and fertilizer prices
• Shift to higher value crops more
difficult because of small farm size
• Soil fertility management as pre-
condition for improved productivity
• Deepen market-driven intensification
through further diversification in cash
crops while improving productivity of
staple food crops
• Improve fertilizer markets for cash
crops
• Nutrient use efficiency
Central Kenyan Highlands (Commercializing)
• Balance rural poverty objectives with
increasing marketable surpluses
• Reduce transaction costs in land markets
• Diversify (dairy,) soil fertility, cash reserves
for reinvestment. Continue to intensify
(smallholder irrigation, timing of marketing
• On-farm and off-farm employment,
education, credit
• Efficient staple food markets, maintenance
of home gardens (family nutrition,
production of secondary staples) reduce
seasonal price volatility through improved
grain milling and storage

7. Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy
Aspects of potential value addition to technology
platform
• Effectiveness of innovations is conditioned by agro-ecological
context. AEZ is natural target for improved research and investment
• Productivity impacts of interventions more uniform within specific
FS than across FS, leading to more accurate assessments
• Level of higher granularity needed for effective analysis, and
planning for impact
– Sustainability concern: Need for refined understanding of natural
resource and production interactions
• User-defined contextualization needed for identifying relevant
technology/innovation opportunities

8. Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy
• Anchor some degree of complexity and integration:
– Diversity of crops, technologies and practices in each FS
– Focus on farm household, where production decisions, gender and
nutrition issues, household welfare and resource management
operate
– Interactions between farm and natural, social and economic envt
• Identify and exploit knowledge and technology transfer /
spillover potential
• Can it serve as one of the frameworks to express planned
and on-going investments and R&D results organized by
countries at a meaningful aggregate level?
Aspects of potential value addition to technology
platform -2

9. Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy
Sample of data layers on resources, drivers and trends
in African agriculture (by FS or regional level)
Agro-ecological datasets
• Agro-ecological Zones Data and
Farming Systems
• Land Resources
– Agro-ecological zonation
– Length of growing period
– Land use/land cover
– Protected areas
• Land Quality
• Crop Suitability
• Crop Summary Tables
• Yield and Production Gaps
• Biomass productivity
Socio-economic datasets
• Poverty
• Population density (human, livestock)
• Malnutrition
• Distance to Market
• Vulnerability to climate change