Water, Land and Ecosystems - Benin

Looking back and moving forward: 50 years of soil and soil fertility management research in sub-Saharan Africa

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

Regions

Middle Africa

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Vanlauwe, Bernard
AbdelGadir, Abdel Aziz H.
Adewopo, J.
Adjei-Nsiah, Samuel
Ampadu-Boakye, T.
Asare, R.
Baijukya, Frederick P.
Baars, E.
Bekunda, Mateete A.
Coyne, Danny L.
Dianda, M.
Dontsop Nguezet, Paul M.
Ebanyat, Peter
Hauser, S.
Huising, Jeroen
Jalloh, A.
Jassogne, Laurence T.P.
Kamai, N.
Kamara, A.
Kanampiu, F.K.
Kehbila, A.
Kintche, K.
Kreye, C.
Larbi, Asamoah
Masso, C.
Matungulu, P.
Mohammed, I.
Nabahungu, L.
Nielsen, F.
Nziguheba, Generose
Pypers, Pieter
Roobroeck, D.
Schut, Marc
Taulya, Godfrey
Thuita, Moses N.
Uzokwe, Veronica N.E.
Asten, Piet J.A. van
Wairegi, L.W.I.
Yemefack, Martin
Mutsaers, H.J.W.

Low and declining soil fertility has been recognized for a long time as a major impediment to intensifying agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Consequently, from the inception of international agricultural research, centres operating in SSA have had a research programme focusing on soil and soil fertility management, including the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The scope, content, and approaches of soil and soil fertility management research have changed over the past decades in response to lessons learnt and internal and external drivers and this paper uses IITA as a case study to document and analyse the consequences of strategic decisions taken on technology development, validation, and ultimately uptake by smallholder farmers in SSA. After an initial section describing the external environment within which soil and soil fertility management research is operating, various dimensions of this research area are covered: (i) ‘strategic research’, ‘Research for Development’, partnerships, and balancing acts, (ii) changing role of characterization due to the expansion in geographical scope and shift from soils to farms and livelihoods, (iii) technology development: changes in vision, content, and scale of intervention, (iv) technology validation and delivery to farming communities, and (v) impact and feedback to the technology development and validation process. Each of the above sections follows a chronological approach, covering the last five decades (from the late 1960s till today). The paper ends with a number of lessons learnt which could be considered for future initiatives aiming at developing and delivering improved soil and soil fertility management practices to smallholder farming communities in SSA.

Download

Download PDF

Citation

Vanlauwe, B., AbdelGadir, A.H., Adewopo, J., Adjei-Nsiah, S., Ampadu- Boakye, T., Asare, R. ... & Mutsaers, H.J.W. (2017). Looking back and moving forward: 50 years of soil and soil fertility management research in sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 1-19.

Accessibility

Open Access

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89406

Diversity in success: Interaction between external interventions and local actions in three rice farming areas in Benin

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Totin, E.
Mierlo, B. van
Mongbo, R.
Leeuwis, Cees

Since the rice crisis of 2007, the government of Benin has initiated many programmes for rice intensification. Comparison of three rice production areas shows that local rice production has indeed been increased by the facilities provided by the government programmes. Although broadly the same facilities (market outlet, credit, input, etc.) were provided to rice farmers in the three study areas, which are located close to one another, there are not only similar, but also some different outcomes with regard to farmers' practices. There were also some unexpected changes, like the shift from limited collective canal cleaning to individual canal cleaning in Koussin-L?l? and the use of pumps in upland areas in Bam?. The study explores the interplay between these external interventions of government programmes and local actions of farmers to explain the outcomes. Using an actor-oriented perspective, the study concludes that farmers' agency played a critical role in the success of interventions; the changes occurred because of local actions of the farmers and intermediaries interacting with the external interventions at diverse junctures. Differences in strategies for resolving livelihood problems, in production options and biophysical conditions influence farmers' local actions and contribute to the explanation of the diversity of outcomes. The main lesson drawn from this research is that evaluation studies should not consider external interventions as the only or primary source of change. The dynamic interplay between local agency, intermediation and external interventions makes room for change.

Download

Download

Citation

Totin, E.; van Mierlo, B.; Mongbo, R.; Leeuwis, C. 2015. Diversity in success: Interaction between external interventions and local actions in three rice farming areas in Benin. Agricultural Systems 133, 119-130.

Accessibility

Open Access

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/10568/76707

Green manure cover crops in Benin and Western Kenya - A review.

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeWorking Paper

Languageen

Authors

Kinyua, Michael
Cao Diogo, Rodrigue V.
Sibomana, Jean
Bolo, Peter Omondi
Gbedjissokpa, Gloria
Mukiri, Jessica
Mukalama, John
Paul, Birthe K.
Sommer, Rolf
Kihara, Job

Download

Download PDF

Citation

Kinyua M; Diogo RVC; Sibomana J; Bolo PO; Gbedjissokpa G; Mukiri J; Mukalama J; Paul B; Sommer R; Kihara J. 2019. Green manure cover crops in Benin and Western Kenya - A review. CIAT Publication No. 481. International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). Nairobi, Kenya. 41 p.

Accessibility

Open Access

Research Themes

Restoring Degraded Landscapes

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/10568/105923

Towards a cropping system sustainability tool (CROSST) - Pilot results from evaluating green manure cover crops in Benin and Kenya

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeWorking Paper

Languageen

Authors

Mukiri, Jessica
Diogo, Rodrigue V. Cao
Gbedjissokpa, Sènami G.M.
Kinyua, Michael
Hoek, Rein van der
Sommer, Rolf
Paul, Birthe K.

Farming practices in sub-Saharan Africa have resulted in declining soil fertility. Hence, Green Manure Cover Crops (GMCC) are promoted for soil improvement and protection. Adoption of GMCCs by farmers, including integration in their cropping systems, requires a good understanding of the multi-dimensional impacts of these crops. We, therefore, developed the Cropping Systems Assessment Sustainability Tool (CROSST), which can compare the performance of different cropping systems with and without the integration of GMCCs. CROSST is an Excel-based tool that assesses both agro-environmental and socio-economic impacts of GMCC technologies. The tool quantifies gross economic margin, productivity (yield), soil health (N and P balances, soil structure, and soil organic carbon), required labour hours, and the trade-offs between these indicators. The tool was pilot-tested in Benin and Kenya under the BMZ-GIZ program on ‘Soil Protection and Rehabilitation for Food Security.’ Data was collected through literature reviews, focus group discussions and key expert interviews. The compared cropping systems were selected and designed by experts with in-depth knowledge on local contexts of Benin and Western Kenya. The first results indicate that GMCCs improve soil structure/soil organic matter as well as soil N balances in both countries. However, investing in soil improvement can result in loss of profitability, especially when a crop that produces grain for consumption or sale is swapped for a GMCC that produces biomass for soil amendment only. CROSST still needs further data refinement with recent official census as well as independent field measurements. Once validated, it can serve as a decision-support tool for development agencies, implementing partners, and local stakeholders when designing sustainable cropping systems that integrate GMCCs.

Download

Download PDF

Citation

Mukiri J; Diogo RVC; Gbedjissokpa SGM; Kinyua M; van der Hoek R; Sommer R; Paul B. 2019. Towards a cropping system sustainability tool (CROSST) - Pilot results from evaluating green manure cover crops in Benin and Kenya. Working Paper. CIAT Publication No. 479. International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). Nairobi, Kenya. 35 p.

Accessibility

Open Access

Research Themes

Restoring Degraded Landscapes

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/10568/102440

CROSST and green manure cover crops (GMCCs)in Benin

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypePresentation

Languageen

Authors

Mukiri, Jessica
Cao Diogo, Rodrigue V.
Gbedjissokpa, Sènami G.M.
Jonas A.D., Dossou
Firmin, Amadji
Hoek, Rein van der
Sommer, Rolf
Paul, Birthe K.

Download

Download PDF

Citation

Mukiri, J.; Cao Diogo, R.V.; Gbedjissokpa, S.G.M; Jonas A.D., D.; Firmin, A.; van der Hoek, R.; Sommer, R.; Paul, B. (2019). CROSST and green manure cover crops (GMCCs)in Benin. Oral presenation at Sustainable Intensification Conference, Session 1.1 Simple Cropping Systems, 8th October 2019, Dakar, Senegal. International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).17 p.

Accessibility

Open Access

Research Themes

Restoring Degraded Landscapes

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/10568/104015

Impacts of water and soil conservation strategies on households’ food security in North West of Benin.

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Egah, Janvier
Baco Mohamed Nasser
Akponikpè, Pierre B.I.
Djenontin, André Jonas
Moutouama Fidèle T.
Tossou, Rigobert
Fatondji, Dougbedji
Koala, Saidou
Assogba, Perceval
Kimaro, Anthony A.
Sokpon Nestor

Download

Download

Citation

Egah Janvier, Baco Mohamed Nasser, Akponikpe P. B. Irénikatché, Djenontin André Jonas, Moutouama Fidèle T., Tossou Rigobert, Fatondji Dougbedji, Koala Saïdou, Assogba Perceval, Kimaro Anthony Anderson and Sokpon Nestor. 2014. Impacts of water and soil conservation strategies on households’ food security in North West of Benin. International Journal of Agricultural Science Research 3(10): 196-202

Accessibility

Open Access

Research Themes

Restoring Degraded Landscapes

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/10568/73360

Private and public sector involvement in the energy-food nexus

Amanda — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 05:20:00 +0000

The EU funded WABEF project (Western Africa Biowastes for Energy and Fertilizer) is a collaborative project of CIRAD, RUAF Foundation and institutions in Senegal (UCAD and IAGU), Benin (Songhai) and Mali (AEDR) that will disseminate viable anaerobic waste digestion technologies. Overall project activities included: -Implementing an inventory of technologies employing anaerobic digestion of biowaste, adapted to the Sudano-Sahelian context -Development of a tool to compare and choose the most viable technology for a specific situation -Two existing waste treatment plants will be made operational as demonstrators -Technical and policy briefs will be developed -An on line distance learning module will be developed based on the project?s results -A regional school for practitioners and decision-makers? enrichment will be organised With support of WLE a special issue of the UA Magazine has been developed.

Contact Person

van Veenhuizen, René <r.van.veenhuizen@ruaf.org>

Lead Center

RUAF Global Partnership

Donors

Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD)

CGIAR

Partners

CIRAD - Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement, RUAF - RUAF Foundation

Completed

Start/End dateJanuary 01, 2017 — January 31, 2018

Research ThemeRural-Urban Linkages

Cluster

3.2 Business Options for Nutrient, Water and Energy Recovery and Reuse

Regions

Global

Countries

Benin, Mali, Senegal