APNI Annual Report 2022 - Towards Transformation

45
drought tolerant crop. There
40
PRECISION NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
is a need to increase awareness
FORUM
2017 2018 2019
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
35
among farmers that like any
other crop, sorghum requires
30
where rapid transformation is seen
Towards a Farmer-Centric
Share your more Snapshots
attention to soil fertility
to arise 25 from multiple coinciding
UP SCALING
influences, events, trends or even
management.
Framework for Scaling
major cereal crops (Fig. 2).
shocks 20 (Schut el al. 2020). In
Share your photos A from decline the in field the on Instagram using the hashtag
Policy
These processes are farmerdriven
and provide a platform
complex adaptive research and makers
#ShareGrowingAfrica predictability of rainfall
15
Productive and Sustainable development systems, continuous
for international Not Instagram research results yet? You in inability can submit to your plan
monitoring
photos to communications@apni.net
10 and learning through
organizations for a chance and national
Cereal Cropping Systems
to be featured in our next issue.
feedback loops, system/sub-system RAPID & CONTINUOUS
for specific farm operations
FEEDBACK
research and extension
5
By Ivan S. Adolwa, Thomas Oberthür and Simon Cook
interrelationships NARES/ and context,
Farmer
systems (NARES) due to to work uncertainty. Future
OUT SCALING
Academia
organizations
reflexive thinking, trade-offs
OUT SCALING
0
On-farm
effectively with consideration farmers. is needed to
and uncertainty, Maize and Sorghum adaptive experimentation
Groundnut Cotton CO-LEARNING Pigeon pea Bean Millet Others
A case is made for an innovation system framework that
A tripartite of develop the capacity among
management are MONITORING key (Cook et & al. Knowledge
integrates farmer-centric and systemic approaches to scaling
Figure 3. Proportion & of crops exchange grown within the study area during the 2017-2019
farmer organizations,
2018; Klerkx et professionals to predict future
EVALUATION al. 2012).
plant nutrition innovations for positive transformation of cereal
farming seasons.
international research
Industry/
Therefore, the target of
International
rainfall patterns through
cropping systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. A case study from
Private
MULTI-STAKEHOLDER research
organizations, and NARES/
sector
increased cereal crop productivity ARRANGEMENTS
Ethiopia helps to build the case.
Academia constitute a sub-system modeling approaches. Modeled
of the inclusion of grain legume This requires promotion and
calls for an innovative framework
of support within the larger scenarios could eventually
that crops translates on the scientific P balance of this novel intensification of the AKIS. production For scaling processes to
be used to develop extension
knowledge cropping on system. PNM into
of drought tolerant be crops successful, like it is crucial that
ereal-based cropping right rate, time, and place) and
messages for farmers that
sorghum in order to enhance
C
Development
innovations that can be adopted agencies
systems are vital food best crop management practices
by famers Summary at scale. African
present most likely predictions
production systems provides a plausible pathway
Additional issues and
regional food security. Farmers,
farmers will obtain higher ROI by DOWN SCALING
across Africa. In these systems, for sustainably increasing the
Under a changing climate,
considerations for plant and how they can prepare and
adopting market-oriented models
however, do not prioritize
livelihoods are mainly derived productivity of African cereal crop
nutrition innovation
drought is becoming common
plan their farm operations.
are anchored on structured
from cereals such as maize, yields from the current 2.5 t ha fertilizer use in sorghum. Where
-1
include:
markets in Malawi, and credit as access. is food shortages
In general, planting new
millet, sorghum, and wheat; and to attainable yields of 5-7 t ha -1
they have access to fertilizer,
Knowledge for Malawian transfer households.
and agribusiness
could SMART potentially PLANT propel NUTRITION
1 A socioeconomic crops and adopting droughtalso
legumes, pulses, roots and (Phillips, 2014; van Ittersum et Figure 2. Scaling Framework for Cereal Cropping Systems. the priority crop is maize, characterization a less of the
CLIMATE & WEATHER
tubers. In East and Southern al., 2016). Continued stagnation
farming systems to clarify
MALAWI
Africa, maize-mixed farming in productivity results from a
sowing the move in rows) towards were cropping aimed at underlie such decision-making,
factors that underpin
systems are the most important
being an inspiration for farmer many more studies across several farmer decision-making.
food production systems
groups to offer them alternatives agro-ecological sites and regions
zones in Chikwawa, Salima, and
2 A review of innovations
with high scaling potential
Exploring Climate Smart
for crop production. It was need to be conducted to get a
representing 32 million ha (19%)
Blantyre districts over the last
for different locations.
Agricultural systems observed are increasingly that farmers matched being clearer picture.
of the cultivated area (Dixon
20-25 years. The majority of
et
Cropping
al. 2001). These systems
System
are
Solutions
viewed in terms of their complex experimental
opinions systems design
tended to thinking, A framework for scaling 3 Mapping stakeholder
express either
Dr. Samuel networks Njoroge using tools such
with the requirements of their processes underpinned by
encumbered by food insecurity,
as Social Network Analysis
a substantial increase or decline
Researchers on-site to inspect a set of nutrient omission plots (NOTs) for wheat growing in Minjar Shenkora District,
for Smallholder “ Farmers where rapid transformation or scaling is seen
(a) (b) (c)
livelihood system. In this case, the agricultural knowledge
to identify those partners
hunger and poverty, but these
in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. The plots evaluated the effect of omitting nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and
to arise from multiple farmers
for coinciding each
focused
indicator.
on enhancing influences, In general,
innovation systems (AKIS)
best placed to fulfill scaling
micronutrients on wheat growth and yield, against a plot receiving a balanced application of all nutrients.
problems can be alleviated by
By Austin T. Phiri, Sarah E. Edewor, Judith S. Kahamba, Ijeoma Nwoko,
there is overwhelming evidence of
functions.
straw productivity (for fodder) approach, centered on OFE, is
Greater shift
successful and Ulemu yield Chimimba intensification and
events, trends or even climate shocks.
at the expense variance. of wheat Very grain few of the proposed for cereal cropping 4 Identifying key bottlenecks
between seasons
crop diversification (Garrity et al.
to scaling and developing
indicates higher
respondents answered “remained
temporal
yields. A key outcome with systems. A key question hinges
2012).
scaling strategies and
variability
The effects of climate change are threatening the stability important the same” implications to the ten on components the on of whether and how OFE can
approaches (e.g., Scaling
Ultimately, a vision of success major failure current research
of smallholder farmers in Malawi. As such, most farmers are trade-off system climate commercialization between variation fertilizer measured. cost and When contribute to scaling processes in Scan; Jacobs et al. 2018,
for cereal cropping systems in and scaling processes, which
Scaling Readiness; Sartas
receptive to adaptive strategies such as increased adoption of and cereal yield asked yield increase, whether gap closure was climate that (Green change African farming systems.
RYPK RYNK RYNP
Africa includes the improvement embark on agricultural technology
et al. 2020) to overcome
drought-tolerant crops like sorghum. Here smallholders provide
farmer-led et al., has 2016; had processes a Sanchez, direct did effect 2015). not of their
of smallholder farmer livelihoods transfer with little regard for
such bottlenecks.
lead
insight into the long-term impacts of climate change, and related household, to Precision significantly nutrient the majority different (91%) of An innovation system
through better value creation the unique socio-organizational
5 Monitoring Find us @africanplantinst and learning and share your best photos with us
average respondents indicated “yes”.
using the hashtag #ShareGrowingAfrica
field research examines nutrient management within a new grain
management wheat is grain critical yields (2,020
and return on investment (ROI) conditions of target areas
framework for cereal
to track impact of scaling
kg tackling ha
legume-sorghum cropping system offering food security and
-1 ) from
A the the
majority spatial scientific-led
(69%) and
approaches (e.g., impact
Greater
(Fig. 1). Precision nutrient (Adolwa et al. 2017; Schut et al.
of cropping systems
process temporal (2,200
climate resilience.
respondents variability kg ha
across -1 ). in Although
evaluation studies),
African
within spread
indicates a season
higher
management (PNM) combined 2020). Agricultural systems are
the three This model is centered
and documentation
Issue 2, 2022 | Growing Africa 37
spatial variability
this smallholder work contributes
districts believe
farming to
average
systems our
with the 4R Nutrient Stewardship increasingly being viewed in terms
daily around farmer-centric processes frameworks for measuring
LR 2013
understanding given its incorporation of the choices of
and reporting of successes,
(i.e., right nutrient source at the of complex systems thinking, temperatures have increased for experimentation (or OFE)
SR2013
farmers make in technology
failures, or processes.
LR2014
substantially. Similarly, 58% and knowledge exchange on
limate change awareness where its productivity is very low. adoption and of the processes that
SR2014
experienced Issue 1, 2022 a | Growing substantial Africa 23 plant nutrition innovation in
is steadily increasing The average yield in Malawi is
LR2015
increase in the duration of dry
C(Venghaus et al., 2022) about 600 kg ha -1 SR2015
against a yield
Issue 1, 2022 | Growing Africa 25
seasons or prevalence of drought.
and has become a major concern potential of up to 3.5-6 t ha -1 for
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
About 49% of respondents
among most stakeholders. In improved varieties available in the
Relative yield
perceived a substantial decline
Malawi, the effects of increased country (GAP, 2012). Improved Sorghum productivity improvement trial in the 2020/2021 farming season at Chitala agricultural Research Station, Salima
in average rainfall. Furthermore,
Figure 2. Cumulative frequency (%) of maize grain yield (t ha
average global temperature varieties yield higher than local district, central Malawi.
-1 ): (a) Relative yield response to N (RYPK); (b) Relative yield response
FORUM
75% of the respondents reported
to P (RYNK); and (c) Relative yield response to K (RYNP), across different on-farm nutrient omission trials locations (n=24), over six
that induce weather variability varieties like Thengalamanga,
consecutive cropping seasons. LR and SR refer to short and long rainy seasons respectively.
a reduction in the length of the
over years manifest as frequent with documented grain SOIL yields HEALTH of 24 FOR Growing IMPROVED Africa LIVELIHOODS
| Issue 2, 2022
rainy season. A majority also
droughts, floods, heat, cyclones up to 2 t ha -1 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
(ICRISAT, 1995).
seasons (Janssen et al., 1987; fields showed very strong response fertilizer applications required
perceived an increase in soil
and cold waves. Malawi’s Studies indicate that improved
Ask An APNI Expert
dryness during the dry season.
Kifuko et al., 2007). However, to K, while a decline in mean to attain and sustain high yields,
National Adaptations
varieties like Pilira 1 are preferred a key role in fixing it. Although the
Why Given the prevalence of rain-fed
the large variability in RY
Programmes the of Action Buzz (NAPA) on
NK RYNP was observed over time. findings from this study indicate
by farmers for their early maturity, idea of ‘broken’ food systems is often
agriculture in Malawi, decreases
Question: How can I observed develop between a farms in the The strong K deficiencies in a that farmers in such smallholder
report on Disaster Management drought tolerance, white grain, repeated, what this means is unclear.
Regenerative in rainfall and rainy season
model for precision agriculture?
for Malawi identifies Chikwawa,
Agriculture?
first season, with about half of limited number of sites could be settings will face yield losses of up
and high grain yield (Nkolongo Many commentaries point to an
duration significantly reduces
fields showing no response to P, due to the presence of localized to 50% if they drastically reduce
Submitted by Tolera Goshu, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Nsanje, Balaka, Salima and et al., 2008). Given sustainable agricultural crisis: a collapse in soil
By Ken E. Giller
farm productivity and increases
indicates strong spatial variation. K deficiency hotspots (Kihara fertilizer applications. Such yield
Karonga districts as the most agronomic practices, sorghum health, the sixth mass extinction
household food shortages.
o answer this question,
Differences in yield response to et al., 2016), and continuous reductions would substantially
vulnerable districts to climate appears poised enhance of biodiversity, and the plateauing
Regenerative Agriculture is taking the world by storm! Civil
change effects (GoM, 2006). household food security among of crop yields. Across This all regions, begged the
we need to first define
P can be linked to differences in removal of harvest products impact crop productivity, food
society, agribusiness, farmers, NGOs, multinationals—and
In Malawi, sorghum is one of smallholder farmers and build question largest as group to why of Regenerative respondents T“precision agriculture”.
the P fertility status of the soil, without application of K fertilizer security and farmer incomes.
increasingly researchers—are aligning around this new paradigm.
the major food crops for people resilience to climatic shocks and
Agriculture (41%) indicated was gaining that so incidences much
Precision agriculture (PA)
reflecting differences in historical (Chianu and Mairura, 2012;
But what is Regenerative Agriculture? What does it mean for the
Findings from this study
attention
living in the semi-arid regions food shortages.
of unusually and demanded high rainfall a deeper and
according to the International
field management (Vanlauwe Zörb et al., 2014). Further, K
way we produce our food and for agricultural research in Africa?
however provide potential
analysis.
of shire valley and lakeshore
thunderstorms Here I provide has increased a synopsis
Society of Precision Agriculture
et al., 2006). Omitting P for deficiencies are expected to short-term nutrient management
of the
areas. Since the crop tolerates
substantially. paper we wrote Frequency/intensity
to try
is “A management strategy that
Climate change
more than one season resulted become more pronounced at options that farmers can apply
high
first
temperatures
heard the term
and
and drought, awareness
Twitter, and a large body of and of understand storms and the other buzz wind-related
around
takes account of temporal and
in significant reductions in yield higher N and P application rates.
Regenerative Agriculture in farmers were communicating on Regenerative
sorghum can be a key adaptation
hazards were Agriculture perceived (Giller to have
spatial variability to improve
to mitigate severe yield losses.
Table 1 presents the extent of
as indicated by the significantly Fertilizer recommendations
I2019 at an advisory meeting this topic. Over the course of 2020 et al.,
strategy for the country. The
increased 2021), and substantially I specifically by ask 46% of
sustainability of agricultural
In low fertility soils, yield losses
climate variation experienced by
smaller mean RYNK values, and should therefore account for the
of a major food company. As a large number of companies started the
bulk of sorghum production is
the question respondents. regarding Strong what this destructive
production.” Notice that the
can be reduced by applying
67 randomly selected farmers from
an increasing proportion of fields need to supply K in combination
an agricultural researcher I was to make commitments to move means
done under rain-fed production
winds for (known Africa. In as doing Mphepoyankuntho)
so I
word “technology” does not
reduced quantities of balanced
the three targeted agro-ecological
responsive to P. This indicates with N and P, particularly in K
embarrassed that I was not better towards Regenerative Agriculture draw on papers from a special issue
appear in the definition. Many
NPK applications as such soils
informed, so together with an in their supply chains, and many on ‘Biomimicry and Nature-based
people assume that PA is going
the need for regular application deficiency hotspots (Kihara et al., are expected to be deficient
20 Growing Africa | Issue 2, 2022
Crop performance can vary greatly across a landscape due to natural changes in
assistant we ran a quick scan of international environmental NGOs Solutions’, which I edited together
to involve technology – sensors,
of P to sustain productivity. 2016).
soil properties plus the influence of field management history.
in N, P and K. In moderate to
the topic. We found surprisingly such as Greenpeace and The Nature with Jim Sumberg (see Sumberg,
satellites, computers, etc., but
Strong spatial-temporal
Given the prevailing fertilizer high fertility soils that have
little information in the scientific Conservancy aligned with the 2022).
according to the definition, PA such as lack of uniformity in input and water patterns availability? in response Are to K were crisis that is limiting the ability had previous large applications
As we dug into both the
Percent
Cumulative frequency (%)
20 40 60 80 100
Growing Africa seeks out actionable
scientific information to help enable
Agricultural Research for Development.
This open access publication is aimed
at strengthening the connections within
the research community in Africa, and
shining a light on its impactful solutions,
programs, concepts, and activities.
As a provider of practical information,
Growing Africa serves a broad target
audience of agricultural practitioners
including agronomists, researchers, and
extension workers as well as university
students, supply and value chain
stakeholders, and policy makers.
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