Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy

SSA Farming Systems Framework: Potential input to the Dublin Process / Technology Platform

Agriculture Science Agenda for Africa Discussions on Programmatic Alignment CAADP and CGIAR

13 April, Dublin

Jean-Marc Boffa, John Dixon, Dennis Garrity, Stan Wood, and many others

Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy

Background on approach

• FS: Large populations of farm systems classified on broadly similar patterns of livelihood and consumption patterns, as well as constraints and opportunities

• Policy-making relevance: Similar development strategies and interventions apply.

• Classification based on: – Agroecology (LGP), production constraints – Key commodities – Socio-economic parameters (demographic,

market access, historical devt, etc)

Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy

• Temporal analysis for trends • Dynamic system understanding

with analysis of drivers playing in unique ways at FS level, and specific priorities for policy and science

• A first step – Need for regular updating – Large scale of analysis, need for

lower system resolution

Categories of drivers analyzed

• Population, hunger and poverty

• Natural resources and climate

• Energy • Human capital and

information • Technology and science • Markets and trade • Institutions and policies

Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy

Map of Sub-Saharan farming systems

Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy

Highland Perennial FS and subsystems Central Highlands Western Highlands Population density +++ ++++ Farm size +++ ++ Market infrastructure ++ + Poverty 30% poor >60% poor Farm area

35% maize 17% tea

17% coffee More high value crops

42% maize 8% tea

10% coffee

% of improved cattle 95% 22% of crop area in

fodder Zero-grazing increasing

67% 11% in fodder

Value of production 102K KSh/household 44K KSh/household Use of fertilizers 122 kg/ha

74 manure bags 51 kg/ha

26 manure bags High population density High agricultural potential Permanently cultivated systems Market-orientation as a way to intensify systems

Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy

Strategic priorities Albertine Rift systems (Diversifying)

• Small market size, very high transport

costs and fertilizer prices • Shift to higher value crops more

difficult because of small farm size • Soil fertility management as pre-

condition for improved productivity

• Deepen market-driven intensification through further diversification in cash crops while improving productivity of staple food crops

• Improve fertilizer markets for cash crops

• Nutrient use efficiency

Central Kenyan Highlands (Commercializing)

• Balance rural poverty objectives with increasing marketable surpluses

• Reduce transaction costs in land markets • Diversify (dairy,) soil fertility, cash reserves

for reinvestment. Continue to intensify (smallholder irrigation, timing of marketing

• On-farm and off-farm employment, education, credit

• Efficient staple food markets, maintenance of home gardens (family nutrition, production of secondary staples) reduce seasonal price volatility through improved grain milling and storage

Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy

Aspects of potential value addition to technology platform

• Effectiveness of innovations is conditioned by agro-ecological context. AEZ is natural target for improved research and investment

• Productivity impacts of interventions more uniform within specific FS than across FS, leading to more accurate assessments

• Level of higher granularity needed for effective analysis, and planning for impact – Sustainability concern: Need for refined understanding of natural

resource and production interactions

• User-defined contextualization needed for identifying relevant technology/innovation opportunities

Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy

• Anchor some degree of complexity and integration: – Diversity of crops, technologies and practices in each FS – Focus on farm household, where production decisions, gender and

nutrition issues, household welfare and resource management operate

– Interactions between farm and natural, social and economic envt

• Identify and exploit knowledge and technology transfer / spillover potential

• Can it serve as one of the frameworks to express planned and on-going investments and R&D results organized by countries at a meaningful aggregate level?

Aspects of potential value addition to technology platform -2

Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy

Sample of data layers on resources, drivers and trends in African agriculture (by FS or regional level)

Agro-ecological datasets

• Agro-ecological Zones Data and Farming Systems

• Land Resources – Agro-ecological zonation – Length of growing period – Land use/land cover – Protected areas

• Land Quality • Crop Suitability • Crop Summary Tables • Yield and Production Gaps • Biomass productivity

Socio-economic datasets • Poverty • Population density (human, livestock) • Malnutrition • Distance to Market • Vulnerability to climate change