CIP Science Goal: Regenerative Agriculture

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/158293

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    Potato seed systems in Madagascar
    (Brief, 2025-02) Wauters, P.; Rasoloniaina, B.; Rukundo, P.
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    Informe de avances de la plataforma EncontrAR: Fortaleciendo la resiliencia de la agricultura familiar andina frente al cambio climático (Gestión 2024)
    (Report, 2025-01) Lenkiza Angulo, A.; Castellanos, A.; Haan, Stef de; Fonseca, C.; Martínez, D.; Mavila, M.; Mercado, P.; Ochoa, J.; Pradel, W.; Sotomayor, J.
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    Enhancing the Productivity of Maize-Based Systems in Drought-Prone Areas of Malawi through Maize-Sweetpotato Intercropping
    (Report, 2024-12) Longwe, K.; Munda, E.; Chipungu, Felistus P.; Mello Kapezi, R.; Kuweruza, F.; Jogo, W.
    Maize is central to food security in Malawi, but its productivity is increasingly threatened by unpredictable rainfall, frequent droughts linked to climate change and high costs of inorganic fertilisers. Crop diversification through intercropping offers a promising strategy to enhance maize-based systems productivity and resilience to climate change. This study examined the productivity and resource use efficiency of maize-sweetpotato intercropping system in drought-prone areas in Malawi. The experiment evaluated strip intercropping arrangements against sole maize and sweetpotato at two sites in Utale and Masaula Extension Planning Areas (EPAs) in Balaka and Zomba Districts respectively during the 2023/2024 agricultural season which was characterized by low rainfall due to El Nino. The results showed maize grain yield was significantly higher in sole maize (SM, 1.5 t/ha) than any of the intercropping arrangements (p < 0.02) while no significant differences (p = 0.9) were observed in harvest index across treatments. Sweetpotato yield was significantly affected by intercropping arrangements (p < 0.001), highest obtained in sole sweetpotato (SP, 14.2 t/ha) but did not differ with intercrops comprising of two ridges of maize at 50cm alternating with two ridges of sweetpotato at 100cm (T2, 13.1 t/ha), four ridges of maize at 50cm alternating with four ridges of sweetpotato at 100cm (T6, 13.1 t/ha), and four ridges of maize at 75cm alternating with four ridges of sweetpotato at 100cm (T8, 11.4 t/ha). Intercrops with two ridges of maize at 50cm alternating two ridges of sweetpotato at 75cm (T1), two ridges of maize at 50cm alternating with two ridges of sweetpotato at 100cm (T2), and four ridges of maize at 75cm alternating four ridges of sweetpotato at 100cm (T8) had land equivalent coefficient (LEC) > 0.25 and Land equivalent ratio (LER) > 1 at both sites indicating more efficient land use compared to monocropping. Sweetpotato contributed a greater proportion to the LER, and the positive correlation (R²) between sweetpotato yield and sweetpotato equivalent yield (PEY) suggests its potential to enhance the economic efficiency of maize-based systems. Maize-sweetpotato intercrops with two ridges of maize at 50cm alternating with two ridges of sweetpotato at 75cm (T1), two ridges of maize at 50cm alternating with two ridges of sweetpotato at 100 cm (T2), and four ridges of maize at 75cm alternating with four ridges of sweetpotato at 100cm (T8) are recommended for enhancing productivity and economic returns in drought-prone areas. Further research is needed to optimize plant density and spatial arrangement to maximize yields without sacrificing resource efficiency.
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    Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) Puree: Scaling Strategy for Enhancing Resilience and Food Security in Malawi
    (Report, 2024-12) Kang’ethe, E.; Munda, E.; Maru, J.; Jogo, W.; Kuweruza, F.; Longwe, K.; Chipungu, Felistus P.
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    Scaling the Rwanda Smart Nkunganire System (SNS) fertilizer recommendation tool: A comprehensive report on awareness and capacity building initiatives
    (Report, 2024-12) Ogunsanmi, T.; Mudereri, B.T.; Senge, M.; Rabourn, T.R.; Sartas, M.; Ampadu-Boakye, T.; Kihoro, E.; Kangethe, E.; Uzamushaka, S.; Kayumba, J.; Cyamweshi, A.R.
    The Smart Nkunganire System (SNS) is a transformative agricultural tool designed to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of farming practices in Rwanda. The pilot phase of the SNS Fertilizer Recommendation Tool (SNS-FRT) deployment, conducted in Rubavu and Nyanza, mobilized over 6,200 farmers (38% female) which focused on improving farmers' access to essential inputs, agronomic knowledge, and decision-making tools. This pilot successfully engaged a wide range of stakeholders, including farmers, agro-dealers, extension agents, the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and One Acre Fund (OAF), ensuring effective dissemination and adoption of the revised SNS curriculum.
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    Agricultural emergency response with potato and sweetpotato technologies for livelihood restoration of communities affected by conflict and other concurrent crises in Ethiopia
    (Conference Paper, 2024-05) Gebeyehu, S.; Cherinet, M.; Aragaw, A.; Kifle, A.; Yeshitila, M.; Tigre, W.; Tesfaye, H.; Asfaw, F.; Kirui, L.; Maru, J.
    Armed conflicts and other concurrent crises that have been occurring in different regions of Ethiopia in the past couple of years have left behind a legacy of massive displacement and disruption of agricultural activities, exposing millions of people to various challenges, including food shortages, malnutrition, and loss of productive resources such as agricultural inputs. To restore the agricultural livelihoods of the communities affected by multiple crises, the International Potato Center (CIP) has designed and implemented emergency response interventions in collaboration with local partners since 2021. The projects aimed at strengthening farmers access to quality seeds and accompanying technologies of resilient and nutritious potato and sweetpotato varieties, improving the capacity and skills of the targeted households for effective utilization of these crops for food and feed, and strengthening the performance and resilience of local institutions serving these communities. A total of 112,046 households across 124 districts of seven regional states have benefited from the interventions implemented between 2021 and 2024. The interventions enabled access to high-quality seeds of more than 1062 metric tons of seed potatoes and 35 million sweetpotato cuttings by the households most affected by the crises. Moreover, the interventions supported decentralized seed multiplier (DSM) groups through building their capacity and equipping them with skills to produce good quality planting materials to ensure sustainable access to quality seeds by smallholders at a reduced cost and time. These DSMs have developed the capacity to multiply and supply over 37.2 million sweetpotato cuttings and more than 4090 tons of potato seed annually. Beneficiary farmers on average harvested 23.7 and 24.0 t ha-1 of potato tubers and sweetpotato roots, respectively, which is nearly double of what they used to obtain under traditional practices. These increased yields have contributed to availability of food to support families for four to five months. Farmers have also sold surplus potato and sweetpotato produces and seeds to generate modest incomes. Over twenty-four thousand women and mothers were trained on the utilization of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) based products to ensure adequate vitamin A intake for children under two years of age. The practice of seed conservation has shown tremendous improvement among farmers, with those targeted with potato technologies were able to save up to 25% of their produce for seed. Consequently, farmers have started expanding their production on larger fields to reap the benefits of the resilient and cash generating crops in their path to self-reliance and livelihood restoration. This review highlights the major challenges encountered including those related to availability and access to quality planting materials of roots and tubers, inadequate seed market information, and insufficient coordination among seed system actors to timely and adequately respond to the needs of people affected by multiple crises. Key lessons learnt from the emergency response projects include the role of decentralized seed multiplication approach in addressing the needs of farmers in crises prone areas, integrating agriculture and nutrition interventions to enhance the uptake of nutrient dense crops such as OFSP, and the vital role of capacity building and sharing with local partners in sustaining results and ensuring continued implementation and monitoring of activities under conflict situations. Policy implications of the lessons and challenges will be highlighted so that more attention is provided to fully harness the potential of resilient and nutritious root crops in future emergency response interventions implemented by the government and humanitarian agencies.
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    Potato production under zero tillage with rice straw mulching as a promissory technology to diversify rice-based systems in Southwest Coastal Bangladesh
    (Journal Article, 2025-03) Ramírez, D.; Hossain, M.M.; Rahaman, E.H.M.S.; Mestanza, C.; Rinza, J.; Ninanya, J.; Kreuze, Jan F.; Mendiburu, F. de; Loayza, H.; Gatto, M.
    Extreme precipitations that promote flooding, salinity, and soils with low drainage and aeration are challenges that affect food production in the Southwest of Bangladesh. After rice cultivation, most lands are kept fallow, emphasizing the urgency of research on techniques that allow crop diversification to guarantee food security. In this study, 2 years-trials on farmers' plots were established in 3 locations of Khulna district-Bangladesh to test potato cultivation under zero tillage with rice straw mulching (ZT) in comparison to conventional cultivation (CT) after rice. A soil quality index (SQI) using the partial least squares method was run considering key soil indicators related to crop production. ZT allowed a higher tuber yield and a lower C footprint than CT. Although neither method significantly affected soil organic carbon stock, there was a significant increment from season 1 to 2 (29.0 ± 11.3 and 45.8 ± 9.4 Mg ha−1, respectively). ZT allowed potato cultivation 15–25 days earlier than CT. Although crop modeling did not show a significant increase in potential tuber yield when simulating the earlier planting of ZT, this advantage will be crucial in the future, considering that high-intensity rainfall events are increasing, flooding the fields and preventing crop cultivation. Alkalinity, carbonates, and anaerobic soil conditions drove the SQI, influencing the elements kept in the past rice cultivation with a concomitant effect in tuber yield. ZT is a promising technology that allows crop diversification based on soil sustainability and labor reduction in challenging agroecologies like Southwest Bangladesh. Socioeconomic studies into adoption and scaling approaches are necessary for a proper technological transfer.
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    Cultivating Change: Leveraging Gender Analysis for Improving Farmers’ Potato Health Management in the Andes
    (Brief, 2024-12) Pérez, W.; Fonseca, C.; Kawarazuka, Nozomi; Andrade-Piedra, J.L.; Kreuze, Jan F.
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    Cultivando el Cambio: Integrando el Enfoque de Género para Fortalecer la Gestión de la Sanidad Vegetal en el Cultivo de Papa de los Agricultores Andinos
    (Brief, 2024-12) Pérez, W.; Fonseca, C.; Kawarazuka, Nozomi; Andrade-Piedra, J.L.; Kreuze, Jan F.
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    Ferias agroecológicas descentralizadas en el Perú: atributos y lecciones
    (Report, 2024-12) Arce, A.; Palacios, P.; Ochoa, J.; Blare, T.; Haan, Stef de
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    Ferias agroecológicas en el Perú: atributos y lecciones para su replicabilidad y sostenibilidad
    (Report, 2024-12) Arce, A.; Palacios, P.; Ochoa, J.; Blare, T.; Haan, Stef de
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    Plataforma EncontrAR - Fortaleciendo la Resiliencia de la Agricultura Familiar Andina Frente al Cambio Climático
    (Report, 2024-12) Angulo, L.; Castellano, A.; Haan, Stef de; Fonseca, C.; Martínez, D.; Mavila, M.; Mercado, P.; Ochoa, J.; Pradel, W.; Sotomayor, J.
    EncontrAR, una plataforma de aprendizaje colaborativo, fue concebida para fortalecer la resiliencia de la agricultura familiar andina frente al cambio climático. Bajo el liderazgo del Centro Internacional de la Papa (CIP) y en colaboración con diversas instituciones, EncontrAR facilita el intercambio de conocimientos sobre la gestión del agua, la agrobiodiversidad y los sistemas agropecuarios sostenibles en Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador y Perú. En 2024, la plataforma añadió 39 nuevas experiencias a su repositorio, expandió su comunidad de práctica de 24 a 160 miembros registrados y organizó cuatro eventos virtuales que reunieron a más de 1,299 participantes. Mediante alianzas estratégicas con entidades como la FAO, PLACA y el Programa de Pequeñas Donaciones (PPD), logró ampliar su alcance y consolidar su posicionamiento regional. Además, EncontrAR experimentó un notable crecimiento en su visibilidad digital gracias al uso efectivo de redes sociales y a la implementación de canales de comunicación con actores clave. No obstante, aún enfrenta retos relacionados con la participación activa de los usuarios, la optimización para dispositivos móviles y la mejora de su difusión estratégica. Los autores sugieren fortalecer alianzas, desarrollar indicadores de impacto, priorizar la sostenibilidad y promover su integración en políticas públicas. EncontrAR se consolida como una herramienta clave para la agricultura resiliente en la región andina, con potencial para alcanzar una influencia global.
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    Agronomic and economic benefits of rice–sweetpotato rotation in lowland rice cropping systems in Uganda
    (Journal Article, 2024-11-18) Kyalo, G.; Rajendran, S.; Alibu, S.; Zziwa, S.; McEwan, M.; Ekobu, M.; Okello, S.E.A.; Namanda, S.; Otim, M.H.; Lamo, J.; Mwanga, R.O.M.; Low, Jan W.
    A crop rotation study was conducted in the Agoro Rice scheme from mid-2015 to 2017 to determine the effect of sweetpotato–rice rotation in the lowlands on financial returns and sweetpotato root, sweetpotato vine, and rice yields compared to monocropping. Treatments included crop rotations of sweetpotato–rice–sweetpotato, rice–sweetpotato–rice, rice–rice–rice (control), and sweetpotato–sweetpotato–sweetpotato (control). The study used the sweetpotato varieties NASPOT 11 (cream-fleshed), NASPOT 10 O, and Ejumula (both orange-fleshed) and the rice varieties Wita 9, Agoro, and Komboka. The results showed that mean sweetpotato root yields in the rotation treatment were significantly higher (28 t ha−1) than the control (19.8 t ha−1), representing a 47% gain in yield. Generally, the percentage gain in yield across years due to rotation ranged from 3 to 132%, depending on the variety. The total number of vine cuttings was significantly different between treatments and seasons (P < 0.001). Mean rice paddy yields in rotation were 8–35% higher than the control. The higher yields of sweetpotato in the rotation can be attributed to the rotation crop benefitting from residual fertilizers applied in rice in the previous season, while rice in the rotation crop could have benefited from the land preparation and establishment of the sweetpotato fields. The benefit of rotation for both crops varied by variety while the revenue-to-cost ratio varied by season and crop variety. Revenue-to-cost ratios for rotation and control treatments were greater than 1, indicating net profits were positive for both. The rotation generated 0.43 times more revenue than rice monocropping. Both rotation and monocropping systems generated profits, but rotation was 43% more profitable. In other words, if monocropping generates 1 dollar, rotation generates 1.43 dollars. The study concludes that rotation of sweetpotato with rice led to (1) increased yields of both rice and sweetpotatoes, (2) more profitable utilization of land, (3) enhanced availability of sweetpotato planting material at the beginning of the upland growing season, and (4) reduced the cost of land preparation for the main rice crop. Findings from this study show that there is great potential for diversification of rice-based cropping systems in Uganda, which will contribute to building sustainable food systems.
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    Effect of elevated temperature and CO2 on growth of two early-maturing potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties
    (Journal Article, 2024-11-14) Liu, C.; Li, Y.; Liu, Y.; Kear, P.; Feng, Y.; Wang, L.; Luo, M.; Li, J.
    Climate change will significantly reduce potato yields across the world and have a profound impact on food security. However, the effects of changing climatic conditions on various traits of early-maturing potatoes at their different stages of growth are not clear. Therefore, 19 plant traits were investigated across the entire growth period of two major early-maturing potato varieties: Favorita and Zhongshu 5. These were grown in a temperature/CO2-controlled walk-in chamber under four treatments that simulated the changes predicted in these two climate factors by 2100: Control (ambient temperature 21 °C; ambient CO2 400 μmol mol-1), eT (elevated temperature 24 °C; ambient CO2 400 μmol mol-1), eCO2 (ambient temperature, 21 °C; elevated CO2 800 μmol mol-1), and eTeCO2 (elevated temperature 24 °C; elevated CO2 800 μmol mol-1). Elevating ambient temperature by 3 °C (eT), elevating CO2 concentration to 800 μmol mol-1 (eCO2), and a combination of both treatments (eTeCO2) brought forward potato tuber initiation by approximately 10 days. eT treatment reduced the yield of Favorita by 83% and Zhongshu 5 by 52%, but simultaneously elevating the CO2 concentration (eTeCO2) alleviated the negative effects of higher temperature on plant morphology and biomass. Favorita exhibited greater stability than Zhongshu 5 under all treatment conditions. These findings will guide the development, cultivation, and research of climate-resilient potatoes as an adaptation to climate change to strengthen food security.
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    The Tyranny of Tools: The Politics of Knowledge Production in Gender Research
    (Book Chapter, 2024-10-08) Cullen, B.; Lefore, N.; Debevec, L.; Snyder, K.A.
    This chapter examines the trajectory of analytical frameworks and gender tools intended to understand and address the challenges and inequities that shape women’s engagement in agriculture. We argue that while a focus on tools in many agricultural development projects can help to identify barriers faced by women, it often does little to address the structural inequality in which women are embedded. We highlight the tendencies of tool-led gender analysis within agricultural projects to: (1) detach tools from their theoretical frameworks, (2) ignore the structural and socio-political obstacles to gender equality in specific contexts, and (3) view tools as silver bullets to address “gender problems” while primarily serving technical agendas. We argue that the co-option, sanitization and de-politicization of gender tools is partly the result of social scientists having to fit within institutional systems dominated by certain scientific logics, frameworks, disciplinary orientations, and social norms. We recommend that meaningful attempts to facilitate gender equality and women’s empowerment should be based on politically informed, contextualized understandings that are relevant to people’s lived realities, rather than concepts, tools, and data that are externally constructed and applied by outsiders to meet normative scientific, donor, and development agendas.
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    Critical reflections towards re-politicizing gender in agriculture
    (Book Chapter, 2024-10-08) Njuki, J.; Tufan, H.A.; Polar, Vivian; Campos, Hugo
    Advancing gender equality in agriculture is an inherently political process. In providing a conclusion to an excellent set of chapters that provide critical reflections on how to navigate this political process, we call for a paradigm shift- from fixing women to fixing systems that are inequitable, unjust and undemocratic. We propose four critical steps for doing this. First is to acknowldege the gendered hierarchies and power dynamics built into the agriculture sector. Second, recognize the interconnectedness of women’s lives. Third, bring women’s rights to the fore. And fourth, re-engineer patriarchal organizations and systems to address gender-based discrimination.