Africa RISING books and book chapters
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Item Leveraging spatial technology for agricultural intensification to address hunger in Ghana(Book Chapter, 2023) Odame, P.K.; Boateng, E.N.K.YouthMappers are using open geospatial tools in support of initiatives seeking to achieve SGD 2 Zero Hunger and SDG 1 No Poverty in Northern Ghana. Students and researchers designed survey questions and a field data collection workflow using simple but cost-effective technology to catalogue a database of farmers, properly demarcate farm sizes, and give farmers, in particular impoverished women, the opportunity to project farm yields and increase the efficiency of their output.Item Improved feeding for dairy cattle and poultry in smallholder crop-livestock systems(Book Chapter, 2022) Mpairwe, Denis; Mutetikka, DavidThis chapter describes how cropping systems can be used to supplement feeds to increase dairy and poultry yields. It completes the concept of on-farm integration of crop, livestock and natural resources technologies necessary for sustainable intensification on smallholder farms. The different processes that utilize different feed sources to produce better-quality feed rations for dairy cows and poultry are also discussed.Item Improved household nutrition through home-grown produce and consumption of nutritious and healthy products(Book Chapter, 2022) Anitha, Seetha; Afari-Sefa, Victor; Kalumikiza, Zione; Mhango, Khumbo; Mosha, Inviolate; Muzanila, Yasinta; Mwangwela, Agnes; Ochieng, Justus; Okori, Patrick; Tsusaka, Takuji W.This book chapter discusses the agricultural interventions that are both nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive that can be utilized to improve dietary diversity in combating undernutrition. In particular, this book chapter provides information on various meals based on home-grown products or locally available ingredients. It presents recipes and practices to support child nutrition through: (1) packaged integrated technologies for improved child nutrition; (2) household processed milk products; and (3) vegetable-based formulations.Item Taking technologies to a greater scale(Book Chapter, 2022) Sseguya, Haroon; Chikowo, Regis; Chimonyo, Vimbayi Grace Petrova; Chipungu, Felistus P.; Groot, Jeroen C.J.; Muthoni, Francis K.; Ngulu, Festo; Thierfelder, Christian L.This chapter presents a definition of 'scaling' and outlines the key elements for success based on the experiences gained from Africa RISING research and dissemination in East and Southern Africa (ESA). Three examples are presented: (a) research and development partnerships; (b) community based scaling through seed systems; and (c) outdoor advertising for orange-fleshed sweet potato. It presents experiences and lessons learned from using these approaches to transfer and scale the technologies.Item New high-yielding, stress-resilient, and nutritious crop varieties(Book Chapter, 2022) Okori, Patrick; Chirwa, Rowland; Chisale, Virginia; Jumbo, McDonald Bright; Makumba, Wilkson; Makumbi, Dan; Matumba, Annie; Mosha, Inviolate; Munthali, Wills; Ganga Rao, Nadigatla V.P.R.; Ngowi, Peter; Njeru, James; Ochieng, Justus; Setimela, Peter; Swai, Elirehema; Tarekegne, AmsalThis chapter describes the performance of new cereal and legume crop varieties introduced by Africa RISING into agroecosystems in which they had not been tested before. The introduced varieties are characterized by their resilience to drought and/or their improved nutritional content.Item Improved technologies for reducing post-harvest losses(Book Chapter, 2022) Mutungi, Christopher; Abass, Adebayo; Fischer, Gundula; Kotu, Bekele HundieThis chapter outlines several post-harvest loss reduction technologies validated by the Africa RISING program that will improve the efficacy of drying, threshing, and storage operations, and gives evidence of their potential impact. The chapter also provides evidence on the cumulative benefits of combining all three technologies.Item Land management through conservation agriculture and associated practices(Book Chapter, 2022) Thierfelder, Christian L.This chapter presents conservation agriculture, which can help smallholder farmers build better resilience to the consequences of climate change and variable weather (including persistent droughts and unseasonal dry spells). It addresses challenges to crop productivity and profitability while promoting sustainable land use and supporting ecosystem services. Conservation agriculture is based on the principles of minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention, and crop rotation.Item Cereal-legume cropping systems for enhanced productivity, food security, and resilience(Book Chapter, 2022) Chikowo, Regis; Chirwa, Rowland; Snapp, Sieglinde S.This chapter presents four approaches to the integration of legumes (such as soyabean, groundnut, and cowpea) in maize-dominated systems, through intercropping, efficient spatial arrangements, and legume-cereal sequences: (i) grain legume-maize rotations for increased yield stability on smallholder farms, (ii) 'doubled-up' legume technology for soil fertility maintenance and human nutrition, (iii) innovative maize-common bean (*Phaseolus vulgaris*) intercropping and fertilizer application for improved productivity, (iv) targeted cropping sequences (rotations adapted to farm size limitations and farmer goals) and associated elements for sustainable intensification on small farms. The first three technologies are based specifically on legumes that smallholder farmers can introduce to increase the productivity of their farms. The fourth demonstrates how different legume-based technologies can be integrated on farms with different resources, allowing farmers to diversify and intensify their production in a sustainable manner.Item Soil and water conservation for climate-resilient agriculture(Book Chapter, 2022-05) Kizito, Fred; Chikowo, Regis; Kimaro, Anthony A.; Swai, ElirehemaThis chapter describes soil and water conservation measures for climate-resilient agriculture. It presents three interventions that can be used separately or in combination, depending on the context of the region: (1) integrating strips of forage grasses and legumes; (2) rainwater harvesting through tied ridges and ripping techniques; (3) constructing banks and ditches as part of an agroforestry system. The description of each technology, its benefits and application are discussed.Item Sustainable agricultural intensification: a handbook for practitioners in east and southern Africa(Book, 2022-05) Bekunda, Mateete A.; Hoeschle-Zeledon, Irmgard; Odhong, JonathanThis book provides an insight into the background, lessons learned, and the methodology of facilitating the application of best-bet/best-fit agricultural technologies to smallholder farms in East and Southern Africa (ESA). All technologies highlighted within this book, except those on livestock feeding, were trialed and demonstrated in farmers' fields over an eight-year period [2012-2020] as part of the Feed the Future/USAID funded research-for-development Africa RISING ESA Project and supported by the CGIAR. The livestock feed technologies …Item Weaving gender into sustainable intensification interventions(Book Chapter, 2022) Fischer, GundulaSustainable intensification (SI) is understood as increasing productivity without causing harm to the environment. SI can be achieved by introducing more or different inputs (e.g., new knowledge and skills, labor, chemicals, and machinery); a change to higher-yielding crops or varieties, and more productive livestock breeds; a conversion to more productive farming systems (e.g., through irrigation); or a combination of these. This chapter introduces gender concepts in agricultural development and discusses the ways in which gender concerns can be woven into SI interventions to produce more equitable outcomes. Referring to Africa RISING experiences, the chapter describes activities that can enhance women's participation in SI, measure the benefits, and transform gender relations.Item Opportunités pour renforcer la résilience des systèmes agricoles africains(Book Chapter, 2021) Chikowo, Regis; Olwande, John; Wanzala, Maria; Lubungu, Mary; Ngoma, Hambulo; Sanchez, PedroItem Opportunities for building resilience of African farming systems(Book Chapter, 2021-09-15) Chikowo, Regis; Olwande, John; Wanzala, Maria; Lubungu, Mary; Ngoma, Hambulo; Sanchez, PedroThe United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) has thrust food systems transformation onto the main stage of international discourse in 2021. Concepts of resilience, sustainability, and “green growth” have also gained tremendous traction internationally. Consensus is emerging across the globe that our livelihoods, jobs, and indeed the health of the planet, are fundamentally dependent on developing resilient and sustainable economies. Food systems are a fundamental part of the global economic system – the world’s population depends on them for sustenance. As is the case elsewhere, in Africa, many people depend entirely on food systems for employment and incomes as well. For these reasons, building resilient and sustainable food systems is crucial to ensuring sustainable economies and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063 Goals. However, Africa remains food insecure, accounting for 256 million of the world’s 795 million people suffering from hunger. Against this challenge, this 2021 African Agriculture Status Report (AASR21) provides evidence and insights on the prospects of achieving resilience and sustainability in Africa’s food systems.Item Combining multiple technologies: integrated soil fertility management(Book Chapter, 2022) Bekunda, Mateete A.; Chikowo, Regis; Claessens, Lieven; Hoeschle-Zeledon, Irmgard; Kihara, Job Maguta; Kizito, Fred; Okori, Patrick; Sognigbé, N'Danikou; Thierfelder, Christian L.This chapter shows how Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) can be combined and integrated further at farm and landscape levels to improve farming system performance. ISFM is an example of a system-wide technology. It is a set of soil fertility management practices, including use of industrial fertilizer, organic inputs, and improved crop varieties, combined with knowledge on how to adapt the practices to local conditions. Its benefits include agronomic efficiency, enhanced productivity, reduced risk, reduced need for industrial fertilizers, and reduction in post-harvest losses. The farmers' responses and opportunities for adoption are also discussed.Item Management of soil fertility through application of fertilizers(Book Chapter, 2022) Kihara, Job Maguta; Bekunda, Mateete A.; Chimonyo, Vimbayi Grace Petrova; Kimaro, Anthony A.; Kotu, Bekele Hundie; Lyimo, Stephen; Mhango, WenziThis chapter presents technologies for replacing the nutrients lost from cropped fields with external fertilizer sources in a manner that minimizes the consequences of too little or too much application. The technology of using industrial fertilizers, organic fertilizers, and application of farmyard manure and compost alone or in combination with industrial fertilizers are discussed in detail.Item Understanding the multidimensionality of climate-smartness: Examples from agroforestry in Tanzania(Book Chapter, 2019) Kimaro, Anthony A.; Sererya, Ogossy G.; Matata, Peter; Uckert, Götz; Hafner, Johannes M.; Graef, Frieder; Sieber, Stefan; Rosenstock, Todd S.Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) has three goals—productivity, resilience and mitigation. Rarely are these accounted for in CSA programming or the scientific evidence that supports it. Here, we evaluate the climate smartness of CSA-based agroforestry practices in Tabora and Dodoma, Tanzania using unpublished data from earlier studies. Firstly, a study of on-farm wood production and its use with the improved cook stove (ICS) was used to ascertain the productivity and mitigation effects of CSA. Next, intercropping experiments of maize or cassava with pigeonpea and/or G. sepium provided information on the production and resilience benefits of CSA. It was found that agroforestry practices (shelterbelt, trees on contours and intercropping) supplied up eight tons per hectare (t ha−1) of wood—enough to support a five-member family for up to 6 years when using ICS. Employing ICS also reduced the time spent in cooking (20%) and fuelwood collection (32%), and reduced gas emissions by 62%. Generally, intercropping pigeonpea or G. sepium enhanced farm production (as noted by a land equivalent ratio greater than 1) and agroecosystem resilience through crop diversification by using suitable intercropping arrangements and including a drought-resistant crop. Using the latter two in semi-arid Dodoma enhanced crop production across seasons and sites. Our analysis shows that adopting CSA-based agroforestry and intercropping practices is beneficial. However, these benefits are not universal. It also illustrates other key principles for understanding multidimensionality of CSA objectives, including the need to: select appropriate indicators, ensure designs are robust for heterogeneity, examine trade-offs, and conduct participatory evaluation of CSA.Item Fostering Food Security and Climate Resilience Through Integrated Landscape Restoration Practices and Rainwater Harvesting/Management in Arid and Semi-arid Areas of Ethiopia(Book Chapter, 2018) Woldearegay, Kifle; Tamene, Lulseged D.; Mekonnen, Kindu; Kizito, Fred; Bossio, Deborah A.Item Exploring options for sustainable intensification through legume integration in different farm types in eastern Zambia(Book Chapter, 2017-02) Timler, Carl J.; Michalscheck, Mirja; Álvarez, S.; Descheemaeker, Katrien K.; Groot, Jeroen C.J.Item Approaches to reinforce crop productivity under rain-fed conditions in sub-humid environments in Sub-Saharan Africa(Book Chapter, 2015) Chikowo, Regis; Zingore, Shamie; Nyamangara, Justice; Bekunda, Mateete A.; Messina, Joseph; Snapp, Sieglinde S.Smallholder farming in much of Sub-Saharan Africa is rain-fed and thus exposed to rainfall variability. Among the climate variables, rainfall is projected to decline and have an overriding effect on crop productivity. With little opportunity for supplementary irrigation for the majority of farmers, a plausible strategy to maintain crop production under water-limited conditions includes balanced nutrient management for enhancing efficiency of use of limited soil water. Co-application of judicious rates of organic and mineral nutrient resources, particularly including the use of phosphorus (P) on P-limited soils, will facilitate development of an extensive crop rooting system for efficient exploration and capture of soil water, especially at a depth >0.8 m. This chapter explores case studies across Eastern and Southern Africa where various soil water conservation and nutrient management approaches have been used to gain ‘extra miles’ with limited available soil water. Firstly, an approach is described that varies nitrogen (N) fertilizer application across growing seasons, by adjusting N application rates to match current season rainfall trends. The approach offers opportunities for farmers to increase crop productivity to >6 t ha−1 in high agro-potential areas, compared to a ceiling of 4.5 t ha−1 for the fixed fertilization model, while minimizing economic losses due to investments in N fertilizer during drought years. Secondly, we deal with the subject of fertilization across nutrient gradients, where a poor agronomic N use efficiency of <18 kg grain kg−1 of applied N is demonstrated for soils with <0.4 % organic carbon, compared with >35 kg grain kg−1 of N applied when soil organic carbon >0.5 %. Thirdly, the conservation agriculture (CA)-nutrient management nexus is examined, where maize yields in farmers’ fields with CA alone were barely 0.5 t ha−1 compared to an average of 2.5 t ha−1 for CA combined with fertilizers. Fourthly, a novel system that involves intercropping two legumes with contrasting phenology for enhanced cropping system functioning is described. Finally, an approach that can be used for co-learning with farmers on soil fertility management principles for risk management is presented. The data lead to the conclusion that the ‘doubled-up’ legumes system results in reduced fertilizer requirements for cereal crops grown in sequence, which benefits yield stability over time. Variable use of N fertilizer according to season quality and more tailored targeting of nutrients are vital for profitable investments in fertilizers in Africa. The Africa RISING project in Eastern and Southern Africa is currently harnessing some of these principles as vehicles for intensification of smallholder farming systems.Item The role of forages in sustainable intensification of crop-livestock agro-ecosystems in the face of climate change: The case for landscapes in Babati, northern Tanzania(Book Chapter, 2016) Kizito, Fred; Lukuyu, Ben A.; Sikumba, Gregory N.; Kihara, Job Maguta; Bekunda, Mateete A.; Bossio, Deborah A.; Ng'ang'a, A.; Kimaro, K.W.; Sseguya, H.; Jumbo, B.; Okor, P.