Agroforestry research and development in southern Africa during the 1990s: Review and challenges ahead

Kwesiga, F.; Akinnifesi, Festus K.; Mafongoya, Paramu; McDermott, Melanie; Agumya, Aggrey

doi:10.1023/b:agfo.0000005222.68054.38

Cited by 126 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The presence of contour farming or grass strips practices for land conservation is an existing step towards a greener agriculture. Fallow improvement, including through agroforestry, is a small change over an existing practice which can lead to major improvement in land productivity (Kwesiga et al 2003). The presence of many fodder trees regularly browsed by cattle and small ruminants in wild areas represents a vast potential for improvement which is almost unexplored.…”

Section: Possible Future Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodiversity Conservation Through Farming: A Landscape Assessment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Torquebiau

Dosso

Nakaggwa

et al. 2012

Journal of Sustainable Agriculture

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The integration of agriculture and biodiversity has become an acknowledged solution to concurrently address the development of sustainable food production systems and the preservation of natural resources. However, there are few alternative farming systems combining agricultural commodities and ecosystem services. We examined the farm and landscape dynamics of an area in South Africa which has been isolated from mainstream agriculture during a large part of last century. We used a time series of aerial photographs as well as farm surveys and interviews to analyze how historical and present trends can explain land use features. Results show that today's landscape is the result of dramatic socioeconomic transforms which have made original transhumant livestock keepers to become sedentary farmers. Although poverty is widespread, we found a well-balanced landscape with a regularly increasing tree cover and a high biodiversity potential. Beyond farm and household size, the main landscape impact factors are herd size and management as well as soil fertility management practices, including fallowing.We show that these conditions represent a good potential towards a multifunctional landscape, provided the relationships between farmers' practices and biodiversity are better formalized and there are tangible benefits for farmers to opt for this approach.

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Section: Possible Future Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodiversity Conservation Through Farming: A Landscape Assessment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Torquebiau

Dosso

Nakaggwa

et al. 2012

Journal of Sustainable Agriculture

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“…Leaf litter tended to be scarce in villages in the northern and western parts of the ward due to lack of tree cover. As noted by Kwesiga et al (2003), chemical fertilizers are hardly an option since they are unaffordable to a majority of smallholder farmers. Agroforestry technologies which make simultaneous use of farm resources for crop and tree growing (such as intercropping), or which are focused on soil fertility improvement (like improved fallows, scattered trees and hedgerows) would be more preferable options under the prevailing conditions.…”

Section: Nature Of Soilsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This loss of vegetative cover has given rise to several environmental problems which impact negatively on food security and put livelihoods of the communities under threat. Agroforestry is a possible option to sustainably redress the degrading socio-environmental situation in southern Africa (Kwesiga et al 2003). As a land-use system that involves simultaneous or sequential rearing of trees, crops and/or livestock in varying combinations, agroforestry holds a strong potential.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A positive development is that agroforestry technologies have increasingly become available to more and more smallholder farmers in southern Africa (Mafongoya, 2000;Kwesiga et al 2003). This development has taken place over the last two to three decades.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Kwesiga et al (2003), massive scaling up of adoption is required. A clear understanding of the influential factors in farmer decision-making regarding the adoption and maintenance of agroforestry is crucial (McGinty et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Barriers and Coping Mechanisms Relating to Agroforestry Adoption by Smallholder Farmers in Zimbabwe

Chitakira

Torquebiau

2010

The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

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Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate agroforestry adoption by smallholder farmers in Gutu District, Zimbabwe. Design/methodology/Approach: The methodology was based on field data collected through household questionnaires, key informant interviews and direct observations. Findings: Major findings reveal that traditional agroforestry was common in the study area. There were no cases of innovative agroforestry other than dwindling remnants from a former trees-with-pasture project. Majority of respondents were willing to adopt innovative agroforestry technologies to improve yields and income. Damage and destruction of plants by pests and animals due to lack of fences emerged as the major challenges to the adoption of agroforestry. Other challenges included seed availability and labour requirements. Possible coping strategies, identified through consulting farmers and other stakeholders, would include local initiatives and support from outside the community. Local and external efforts are required especially to secure inputs and raise awareness, knowledge and skills with respect to specific agroforestry technologies. Practical Implications: The paper presents pointers on the involvement of women in agroforestry and on the cultural significance of indigenous and exotic fruit trees. It provides practical lessons useful to extension or rural development workers in a localised set-up. Originality/Value: The case study gives an insight into the problems faced by peasant farmers and the requirements to make agroforestry successful. Practitioners in southern Africa could learn a great deal about issues relating to smallholder farmers from reading this paper.

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Fostering Food and Nutritional Security Through Agroforestry Practices

Nuwarapaksha,

Udumann,

Atapattu

2024

Agroforestry

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Agroforestry research and development in southern Africa during the 1990s: Review and challenges ahead

Cited by 126 publications

References 17 publications

Biodiversity Conservation Through Farming: A Landscape Assessment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Biodiversity Conservation Through Farming: A Landscape Assessment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Barriers and Coping Mechanisms Relating to Agroforestry Adoption by Smallholder Farmers in Zimbabwe

Fostering Food and Nutritional Security Through Agroforestry Practices

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