Uploaded byafrica-rising
The renaissance of farming systems research
The document discusses the importance of context in farming systems research, particularly focusing on nitrogen fixation and legume technologies for smallholder farmers in Africa through the N2Africa initiative. It outlines the project's goals, implementation in various countries, and research findings on legume crop management and productivity, emphasizing participatory approaches and partnerships. Additionally, it highlights the impact of improved legume varieties and practices on food security and household income, while tackling challenges faced by different farmer segments.
More Related Content
Similar to The renaissance of farming systems research
More from africa-rising
The renaissance of farming systems research
- 1. The Renaissance ofFarming Systems Research It’s all about context! Ken Giller, Bernard Vanlauwe, Fred Kanampiu and many, many more… Wageningen University, IITA, ILRI etc
- 2. Alley cropping atIITA, Nigeria 1990 Walnut and lucerne
- 3. When we wereyoung…. the IITA DG in 1990
- 4. Senna spectabilis onsmallholder farms in Malawi
- 5. Potential solutions -Nitrogen fixing legumes Grain legumes Legume tree fallows Legume forages Legume green manures
- 6. Participatory evaluation oflegume technologies • First choice – grain legumes • Second choice – multi-purpose grain legumes • Third choice – fodder legumes, fodder trees • Fourth choice – woody legumes • …very last choice – green manures, cover crops and fertilizer trees • ‘pseudo-adoption’ due to artificial market for seed of green manures or trees Evaluations conducted in Ghana (Adjei-Nsiah), Kenya (Ojiem), Uganda (Ebanyat), Rwanda (Bucagu), Zimbabwe (Chikowo)
- 7. Participatory evaluation ofcowpea in the transition Guinea savanna, Ghana Adjei-Nsiah et al. (2008) Nut. Cyc. Agroecosyst. 80, 199-209.
- 8. Combining Farming SystemsAnalysis and Agronomy in a “Systems Agronomy?” Tailoring technology to context Giller, Andersson, Corbeels, Kirkegaard, Mortensen, Erenstein & Vanlauwe (2015) Beyond Conservation Agriculture. Frontiers in Plant Science 6: Article 870.
- 9.
- 12. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa Goals of N2Africa • To enhance agricultural productivity of grain legumes and other sequential crops for smallholders through nitrogen fixation • To improve household food and nutrition security • To promote grain legumes as cash crops to improve household income by providing access to output markets • To build national capacity to fill the technology pipeline from ‘development to research’
- 13. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa N2Africa - www.N2Africa.org • Led by Wageningen University; with IITA, ILRI, AGRA and many national partners • Implemented in 11 countries • Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda (Core countries) • DRC, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Zimbabwe (Tier 1 countries) • 1st Phase 2009-2013 – Proof of concept (US$22M) • 2nd Phase 2014-2018 – Scaling through partnerships; institutionalisation (US$30M)
- 14. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa N2Africa – target legumes West Africa • Cowpea, groundnut, soyabean East & Central Africa • Common bean, groundnut, soyabean, cowpea plus chickpea and faba bean in Ethiopia Southern Africa • Common bean, groundnut, soyabean, cowpea
- 15. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa Genotype Environment Management (GL GR) E M Where: GL = legume genotype GR = rhizobial strain E = environment - climate - soils (nutrient limitations, acidity and toxicities) M = management - agronomy – inoculation, seeding rates, plant density (row spacing etc), weeding,
- 16. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa Overall research question What works where, why, when, for whom? Field Farm (household) Farming System Region Country
- 17. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa N2Africa is a development to research project • Delivery and dissemination are the core • Monitoring & evaluation provides the learning • Research analyses and feeds back M&E D&D Research
- 18. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa Climbing beans in Rwanda No manure With Manure and P
- 19. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa Response of climbing bean to P fertiliser, segregated by wealth category in N Rwanda Without P fertiliser (kg/ha) With P fertiliser (kg/ha) Very poor 683 1061 Poor 1256 1891 Well-off 1356 2006 Rich 4167 5694 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ClimbingbeanyieldwithPfertiliserand manure(tgrainha-1) Climbing bean yield with manure only (t grain ha-1) Very poor Poor Well-off Rich Franke, Baijukya, Kantengwa, Reckling, Vanlauwe, Giller (2016) Exp. Agric. online
- 20. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa Yields segregated by gender Without DAP (kg/ha) With DAP (kg/ha) Women 1107 1659 Men 1733 2517 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ClimbingbeanyieldwithmanureandP fertiliser(tha-1) Climbing bean yield with manure only (t ha-1) Women Men Franke et al. (2016) Exp. Agric. online
- 21. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa Soil fertility in climbing bean trials affected by resource endowment Variable Very poor Poor Well-off Rich Significance pH 5.4 5.7 5.5 6.0 n.s. C (%) 1.3 2.5 2.5 4.2 0.018 N (%) 0.12 0.25 0.24 0.43 0.020 Avail. P (mg/kg) 6.7 20.5 19.1 35.9 0.005 Sand 40.6 31.9 30.6 34.6 0.002 Silt 27.3 35.3 35.7 43.3 0.002 Clay 32.1 32.8 33.7 22.2 n.s. Franke et al. (2016) Exp. Agric. in press
- 22. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa Yields segregated by gender Without DAP (kg/ha) With DAP (kg/ha) Women 1107 1659 Men 1733 2517 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ClimbingbeanyieldwithmanureandP fertiliser(tha-1) Climbing bean yield with manure only (t ha-1) Women Men Franke et al. (2016) Exp. Agric. online
- 23. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa Climbing bean yields depend on the length, number and quality of stakes Poorer farmers have fewer, shorter stakes of inferior quality Franke et al. (2016) Exp. Agric. online 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 Freshgrainyield(t/ha) Stake density (no. / m2) Very poor or Poor Well-off or Rich 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 100 150 200 250 300 Stake height (cm) r = 0.63 r = 0.61
- 24. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa Crop management factors that determine climbing bean productivity • History of manure use • Planting time • Timing of 1st weeding • Staking density • Stake length • Organic input use • P fertiliser use • Labour input Understanding constraints of different farmers allows research feedback to tailor technologies
- 25. maize following maizemaize following climbing beans
- 26. N2Africa - Largescale dissemination of legume technologies to more than 600,000 farmers 71 157 254 385 555 100 257 375 506 632 - 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Thousands Target Numberoffarmersreached Major dissemination approaches used: Demonstration trials: 41% Adaptation trials: 25% Field days/Media: 34%
- 27. A PPP inSouth East Ethiopia The nucleus farm, Balegreen Spice and Grain Development, pioneered • Mechanizing chickpea farming and breaking prolonged cereal mono- cropping • Out-grower arrangement with 23,000 smallholder farmers to grow Kabuli chickpea • Stimulated legume technology scale up through • Strengthened seed system development • Serve as last mile delivery for inoculants from MBI • Grain bulking and delivery to ACOS for the Monino Kabuli variety
- 28. Food self sufficiencyand land gaps – where will a value chains approach work? Farm land gaps
- 29. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa Groundnut varieties and good agronomy • New varieties rich in oil • Resistant to rosette virus • Double row planting Kasungu, Malawi March 2017
- 30. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa Short-duration cowpea in West Africa • Yields during hunger period • Allows two crops within the season • Energy, protein, minerals and B vitamins
- 32. At a glance… Working in partnership to communicate down-to-earth messages on integrated soil fertility management Where ASHC is going:
- 33. Addressing input availability •Production of certified and quality declared seeds through Community Based Seed Systems (linked also to major seed companies) • Inoculants registered for sale in all 11 N2Africa countries either through local production and/or importation • New companies from Argentina, Brazil, Europe registering inoculants BIOFIX and LEGUMEFiX inoculants registered in Tanzania NoduMax inoculants commercially registered in Nigeria
- 34. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa Some advances and surprises • Accumulating evidence for need for inoculation of common bean, chickpea, groundnut, cowpea • Residual benefits of legumes much larger than can be explained through N alone (e.g. Striga control) • Farmer preferences for varieties driven largely by taste, cooking time and market opportunities • Seed diffusion studies show that farmers shared seed with at least five other farmers multiplying N2Africa’s reach five fold! • Working through public-private partnerships (PPPs) is a strong approach…
- 36. Country Region PackageLegume Bet Variety Variety type Variety merits Var Uganda Kabale Kab01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... See Uganda Kabale Kab02 Bush bean Best-bet Mubano Local Cooking time, ... Sen Uganda Kapchorwa Kap01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... Tas Uganda Kapchorwa Kap02 Climbing bean Best-bet Chesoy Improved Iron-enriched,. .. Yie Uganda Kanungu Kan02 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Marketability,... Tas Tanzani a Lushoto Lus01 Soyabean Best-fit Maksoy Improved Early maturity,.. See N2Africa best-bets Country Region Sub region Crop Please select: Add package Download subset Recommendation tool
- 37. Country Region PackageLegume Bet Variety Variety type Variety merits Var Uganda Kabale Kab01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... See Uganda Kabale Kab02 Bush bean Best-bet Mubano Local Cooking time, ... Sen Uganda Kapchorwa Kap01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... Tas Uganda Kapchorwa Kap02 Climbing bean Best-bet Chesoy Improved Iron-enriched,. .. Yie Uganda Kanungu Kan02 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Marketability,... Tas Tanzani a Lushoto Lus01 Soyabean Best-fit Maksoy Improved Early maturity,.. See N2Africa best-bets Country Region Sub region Crop Please select: Add package Download subset With each selection, the neighbouring table gets smaller Recommendation tool
- 38. Country Region PackageLegume Bet Variety Variety type Variety merits Var Uganda Kabale Kab01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... See Uganda Kabale Kab02 Bush bean Best-bet Mubano Local Cooking time, ... Sen Uganda Kapchorwa Kap01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... Tas Uganda Kapchorwa Kap02 Climbing bean Best-bet Chesoy Improved Iron-enriched,. .. Yie Uganda Kanungu Kan02 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Marketability,... Tas Tanzani a Lushoto Lus01 Soyabean Best-fit Maksoy Improved Early maturity,.. See N2Africa best-bets Country Region Sub region Crop Please select: Add package Download subset Recommendation tool Click on a row, and a box with overview data appears below
- 39. Country Region PackageLegume Bet Variety Variety type Variety merits Var Uganda Kabale Kab01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... See Uganda Kabale Kab02 Bush bean Best-bet Mubano Local Cooking time, ... Sen Uganda Kapchorwa Kap01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... Tas Uganda Kapchorwa Kap02 Climbing bean Best-bet Chesoy Improved Iron-enriched,. .. Yie Uganda Kanungu Kan02 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Marketability,... Tas Tanzani a Lushoto Lus01 Soyabean Best-fit Maksoy Improved Early maturity,.. See N2Africa best-bets Country Region Sub region Crop Please select: Add package Download subset Recommendation tool Click on a row, and a box with overview data appears below
- 40. Countr y Region Packa ge Legume BetVariety Variety type Variety merits Va r Uganda Kabale Kab01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... Se e Uganda Kabale Kab02 Bush bean Best-bet Mubano Local Cooking time, ... Se n Uganda Kapchorw a Kap01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... Ta s Uganda Kapchorw a Kap02 Climbing bean Best-bet Chesoy Improved Iron-enriched,. .. Yie Uganda Kanungu Kan02 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Marketability,... Ta s Tanzani a Lushoto Lus01 Soyabean Best-fit Maksoy Improved Early maturity,.. Se e N2Africa best-bets Country Region Sub region Crop Please select: Add package Download subset Variety Name Local/improve d: Origin: Merits: Weaknesses: Seed description: Choice based on: Best-fit package Kab01 Inputs Type Rate (kg/ha) Sympal 200 Manure 6000 Inoculant 2 Pesticide 3 Practices Nabe 12C Improved Nyamabale Bean Seed Producers’ Association Early maturity Yield Tolerance to diseases Marketability Seed size Sensitivity to pests Large, white with black spots Diagnostic trial, partner (NBSPA), Farmers’ survey x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Planting pattern: Row spacing: Plant spacing: Seeds per hole: Planting density: Staking practice: Staking material: Plants per stake: Row cropping 50 cm 25 cm 2 80000 plants/ha Single staking Eucalyptus >175 cm 4 Reason for using inputs: Choice based on: Boost yield Boost nitrogen fixation Legume-specific blend Diagnostic trial Demonstration trial Adaptation trial 50 cm 25 cm Improve light availability Allow beans to grow tall Labour intensity of staking Stake scarcity Demonstration trial Adaptation trial Farmers’ survey Reason for practices: Challenge: Choice based on: Production timeline Plan ting Harves ting Weedin g Weedin g Floweri ng Grain filling Weedin g Staking Manure TSP Pestici de Expected yield Technology Yield Based on Best-fit 2 t/ha Demonstration trials Farmers’ practice 1 t/ha Adaptation trials E di t
- 41. Countr y Region Packa ge Legume BetVariety Variety type Variety merits Va r Uganda Kabale Kab01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... Se e Uganda Kabale Kab02 Bush bean Best-bet Mubano Local Cooking time, ... Se n Uganda Kapchorw a Kap01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... Ta s Uganda Kapchorw a Kap02 Climbing bean Best-bet Chesoy Improved Iron-enriched,. .. Yie Uganda Kanungu Kan02 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Marketability,... Ta s Tanzani a Lushoto Lus01 Soyabean Best-fit Maksoy Improved Early maturity,.. Se e N2Africa best-bets Country Region Sub region Crop Please select: Add package Download subset Variety Name Local/improve d: Origin: Merits: Weaknesses: Seed description: Choice based on: Best-fit package Kab01 Inputs Type Rate (kg/ha) Sympal 200 Manure 6000 Inoculant 2 Pesticide 3 Practices Nabe 12C Improved Nyamabale Bean Seed Producers’ Association Early maturity Yield Tolerance to diseases Marketability Seed size Sensitivity to pests Large, white with black spots Diagnostic trial, partner (NBSPA), Farmers’ survey x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Planting pattern: Row spacing: Plant spacing: Seeds per hole: Planting density: Staking practice: Staking material: Plants per stake: Row cropping 50 cm 25 cm 2 80000 plants/ha Single staking Eucalyptus >175 cm 4 Reason for using inputs: Choice based on: Boost yield Boost nitrogen fixation Legume-specific blend Diagnostic trial Demonstration trial Adaptation trial 50 cm 25 cm Improve light availability Allow beans to grow tall Labour intensity of staking Stake scarcity Demonstration trial Adaptation trial Farmers’ survey Reason for practices: Challenge: Choice based on: Production timeline Plan ting Harves ting Weedin g Weedin g Floweri ng Grain filling Weedin g Staking Manure TSP Pestici de Expected yield Technology Yield Based on Best-fit 2 t/ha Demonstration trials Farmers’ practice 1 t/ha Adaptation trials Additional information http://www.n2africa.org/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo6449Rd3I0&lis t=RDfo6449Rd3I0 Suitable for highland regions >1800 masl. Storage advise E di t
- 42. Countr y Region Packa ge Legume BetVariety Variety type Variety merits Va r Uganda Kabale Kab01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... Se e Uganda Kabale Kab02 Bush bean Best-bet Mubano Local Cooking time, ... Se n Uganda Kapchorw a Kap01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... Ta s Uganda Kapchorw a Kap02 Climbing bean Best-bet Chesoy Improved Iron-enriched,. .. Yie Uganda Kanungu Kan02 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Marketability,... Ta s Tanzani a Lushoto Lus01 Soyabean Best-fit Maksoy Improved Early maturity,.. Se e N2Africa best-bets Country Region Sub region Crop Please select: Add package Download subset Variety Name Local/improve d: Origin: Merits: Weaknesses: Seed description: Choice based on: Best-fit package Kab01 Inputs Type Rate (kg/ha) Sympal 200 Manure 6000 Inoculant 2 Pesticide 3 Practices Nabe 12C Improved Nyamabale Bean Seed Producers’ Association Early maturity Yield Tolerance to diseases Marketability Seed size Sensitivity to pests Large, white with black spots Diagnostic trial, partner (NBSPA), Farmers’ survey x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Planting pattern: Row spacing: Plant spacing: Seeds per hole: Planting density: Staking practice: Staking material: Plants per stake: Row cropping 50 cm 25 cm 2 80000 plants/ha Single staking Eucalyptus >175 cm 4 Reason for using inputs: Choice based on: Boost yield Boost nitrogen fixation Legume-specific blend Diagnostic trial Demonstration trial Adaptation trial 50 cm 25 cm Improve light availability Allow beans to grow tall Labour intensity of staking Stake scarcity Demonstration trial Adaptation trial Farmers’ survey Reason for practices: Challenge: Choice based on: Production timeline Plan ting Harves ting Weedin g Weedin g Floweri ng Grain filling Weedin g Staking Manure TSP Pestici de Expected yield Technology Yield Based on Best-fit 2 t/ha Demonstration trials Farmers’ practice 1 t/ha Adaptation trials Additional information http://www.n2africa.org/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo6449Rd3I0&lis t=RDfo6449Rd3I0 Suitable for highland regions >1800 masl. Storage advise Learning pathway Link to table in learning pathway database (based on country and crop) E di t This is now a printable / downloadable overview page
- 43. Countr y Region Packa ge Legume BetVariety Variety type Variety merits Va r Uganda Kabale Kab01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... Se e Uganda Kabale Kab02 Bush bean Best-bet Mubano Local Cooking time, ... Se n Uganda Kapchorw a Kap01 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Early maturity,... Ta s Uganda Kapchorw a Kap02 Climbing bean Best-bet Chesoy Improved Iron-enriched,. .. Yie Uganda Kanungu Kan02 Climbing bean Best-fit Nabe 12C Improved Marketability,... Ta s Tanzani a Lushoto Lus01 Soyabean Best-fit Maksoy Improved Early maturity,.. Se e N2Africa best-bets Country Region Sub region Crop Please select: Add package Download subset Variety Name Local/improve d: Origin: Merits: Weaknesses: Seed description: Choice based on: Best-fit package Kab01 Inputs Type Rate (kg/ha) Sympal 200 Manure 6000 Inoculant 2 Pesticide 3 Practices Nabe 12C Improved Nyamabale Bean Seed Producers’ Association Early maturity Yield Tolerance to diseases Marketability Seed size Sensitivity to pests Large, white with black spots Diagnostic trial, partner (NBSPA), Farmers’ survey x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Planting pattern: Row spacing: Plant spacing: Seeds per hole: Planting density: Staking practice: Staking material: Plants per stake: Row cropping 50 cm 25 cm 2 80000 plants/ha Single staking Eucalyptus >175 cm 4 Reason for using inputs: Choice based on: Boost yield Boost nitrogen fixation Legume-specific blend Diagnostic trial Demonstration trial Adaptation trial 50 cm 25 cm Improve light availability Allow beans to grow tall Labour intensity of staking Stake scarcity Demonstration trial Adaptation trial Farmers’ survey Reason for practices: Challenge: Choice based on: Production timeline Plan ting Harves ting Weedin g Weedin g Floweri ng Grain filling Weedin g Staking Manure TSP Pestici de Expected yield Technology Yield Based on Best-fit 2 t/ha Demonstration trials Farmers’ practice 1 t/ha Adaptation trials Additional information http://www.n2africa.org/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo6449Rd3I0&lis t=RDfo6449Rd3I0 Suitable for highland regions >1800 masl. Storage advise Learning pathway Link to table in learning pathway database (based on country and crop) E di t Please fill in your contact details. Name: Function within N2Africa: Email address: Phone number: OK
- 44. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa Conclusions • Good (GL x GR x E) needed – but M overrides • N2-fixing grain legumes flexible and ‘best fits’ available for all farmers – rich and poor • Tailoring technology to context • Farming systems analysis underpins and guides • Key role of strategic public and private partners • Focus on continuous learning and improvement • We’re putting legume nitrogen fixation to work in African agriculture
- 45. Putting nitrogen fixationto work for smallholder farmers in Africa For updates www.N2Africa.org Lots of video resource materials N2Africa Podcaster - Monthly Newsletter