Sustainable intensification and the African smallholder farmer

Vanlauwe, Bernard; Coyne, Danny; Gockowski, J.; Häuser, S.; Huising, Jeroen; Masso, Cargele; Nziguheba, Generose; Schut, Marc; Asten, Piet J.A. van

doi:10.1016/j.cosust.2014.06.001

Cited by 297 publications

(205 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…In many African countries, integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) is promoted as an important pathway towards increasing agricultural production and rural income (Bationo et al 2012;The Montpellier Panel 2014;Vanlauwe et al 2014). Nevertheless, years of investment in subsidized input provision and farmer capacity development have not led to the required increase in per capita production, yield and revenues, nor to a reduction of levels of poverty in Africa (Sumberg 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bringing ISFM to scale through an integrated farm planning approach: a case study from Burundi

Kessler

Duivenbooden

Nsabimana

et al. 2015

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) is generally accepted as the most relevant paradigm for soil fertility improvement in the tropics. Successes however are mainly reported at plot level, while real impact at farm level and beyond remains scattered. As a consequence, many Sub-Saharan African countries continue experiencing soil nutrient mining and insecure and insufficient agricultural production. Since technology-driven projects at the plot level failed to bring ISFM to scale, a different approach is needed. This paper describes a bottom-up approach developed in Burundi, the ''PIP approach''. It starts at farmer family level with the creation of an integrated farm plan (Plan Intégré de Paysan in French-PIP) and aims at wide-scale spreading of farmers' intrinsic motivation to invest in activities that make the household more resilient and profitable, while moving towards sustainable agricultural intensification based on concepts of ISFM. As such, and once firmly embedded in and supported by village or district plans, agriculture becomes a business rather than a default activity inherited by parents, and ISFM an intrinsic aspect of farm management. In this paper the PIP approach as currently being implemented in Burundi is explained and discussed, with special reference to soil fertility management and some preliminary promising results.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bringing ISFM to scale through an integrated farm planning approach: a case study from Burundi

Kessler

Duivenbooden

Nsabimana

et al. 2015

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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“…1). The LDSF uses a spatially stratified random sampling design (Vågen et al 2013b) with 160 sampling plots, each 1000 m 2 , across 16 spatially stratified clusters (10 plots in each cluster), with 4 subplots (100 m 2 ) within each sampling plot. Measurements and observations were made at the subplot and plot levels, respectively.…”

Section: Soil Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, the impacts of land-use change on SOC dynamics in sub-Saharan African (SSA) ecosystems are still understudied, especially across diverse landscapes, but essential if food production is to keep pace with predicted population growth in the region (Rosegrant and Cline 2003). Assessing the impact of vegetation shifts on SOC dynamics and quantifying SOC turnover rates can improve our understanding of the effects of land-use change from native vegetation to agricultural food production (Schlesinger 1997), as well as the impacts of management shifts introduced by climate smart agriculture (Lipper 2014;Rwehumbiza 2014) and sustainable agricultural intensification (Vanlauwe et al 2014) on soil health in smallholder farming systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape-scale assessments of stable carbon isotopes in soil under diverse vegetation classes in East Africa: application of near-infrared spectroscopy

et al. 2017

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Aims Stable carbon isotopes are important tracers used to understand ecological food web processes and vegetation shifts over time. However, gaps exist in understanding soil and plant processes that influence δ 13 C values, particularly across smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to develop predictive models for δ 13 C values in soil using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to increase overall sample size. In addition, this study aimed to assess the δ 13 C values between five vegetation classes. Methods The Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF) was used to collect a stratified random set of soil samples and to classify vegetation. A total of 154 topsoil and 186 subsoil samples were collected and analyzed using NIRS, organic carbon (OC) and stable carbon isotopes. Results Forested plots had the most negative average δ 13 C values, −26.1‰; followed by woodland, −21.9‰; cropland, −19.0‰; shrubland, −16.5‰; and grassland, −13.9‰. Prediction models were developed for δ 13 C using partial least squares (PLS) regression and random forest (RF) models. Model performance was acceptable and similar with both models. The root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) values for the three independent validation runs for δ 13

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“…Hanspach et al [155] propose inverting that relationship by placing initial emphasis on achieving sustainable development, given that food insecurity is due largely to inadequate incomes, rather than the lack of food production. Vanlauwe et al [156] suggest that sustainable intensification might not be pertinent in much of sub-Saharan Africa, where the average farm size is too small to intensify, and where many farmers must place the issues of risk and immediacy ahead of longer-term concerns. "Ultimately, the profitability of intensification will determine whether or not smallholders engage-its sustainability will not necessarily be their immediate concern [156].…”

Section: Seeking Sustainabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Achieving Water and Food Security in 2050: Outlook, Policies, and Investments

Wichelns

2015

Agriculture

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Food production in 2050 will be sufficient, globally, but many of the poor will remain food insecure. The primary cause of food insecurity will continue to be poverty, rather than inadequate food production. Thus, policies and investments that increase the incomes of the poor will remain the best ways to extend food security to all. Investments that promote growth in sustainable agriculture and provide non-farm employment opportunities in rural areas of lower income countries will be most helpful. There will be sufficient water, globally, to achieve food production goals and sustain rural and urban livelihoods, if we allocate and manage the resource wisely. Yet, water shortages will constrain agricultural production and limit incomes and livelihood opportunities in many areas. Policies and investments are needed to extend and ensure access to water for household use and agricultural production. Challenges requiring the attention of policy makers and investors include increasing urbanization and increasing demands for land and water resources. Policy makers must ensure that farmers retain access to the water they need for producing food and sustaining livelihoods, and they must create greater opportunities for women in agriculture. They must also motivate investments in new technologies that will enhance crop and livestock production, particularly for smallholders, and encourage the private sector to invest in activities that create employment opportunities in rural areas.

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Sustainable intensification and the African smallholder farmer

Cited by 297 publications

References 27 publications

Bringing ISFM to scale through an integrated farm planning approach: a case study from Burundi

Bringing ISFM to scale through an integrated farm planning approach: a case study from Burundi

Landscape-scale assessments of stable carbon isotopes in soil under diverse vegetation classes in East Africa: application of near-infrared spectroscopy

Achieving Water and Food Security in 2050: Outlook, Policies, and Investments

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