Farms less than two hectares constitute most farm holdings in Africa. Most of these farms are operated by rural smallholder farmers who are dependent on agriculture for their economic livelihoods. However, they are constrained by lack of capital assets that would enable them to increase agricultural productivity, food security and income. Despite these challenges, smallholders contribute significantly to the rural economy, and play a significant role in natural resource conservation. Therefore, they represent a critical population to include in poverty reduction efforts. Recent initiatives by African leaders aim to increase public expenditures on agriculture in order to spur economic development, position smallholders to play a significant role in regional growth. To understand the relevance of smallholder farming to Africa's development agenda, this paper reviews the body of knowledge on smallholder farmers, the constraints and opportunities they face, and their use of practices which embody the tenets of ecological and climate-smart agriculture despite little public investment in this area. This paper recognizes the role of smallholder farmers and concludes that smallholder agriculture will be a driver of economic growth and development in Africa. In order to achieve this, adequate investment should be focused on eliminating the challenges faced by smallholder farmers.

No abstract

No abstract

The effect of cutting height and cutting interval on dry matter production of Leucaena leucocephala (Lain) De Wit was investigated at Njala, Sierra Leone using three year old Leucaena trees. Four cutting heights, (25, 50, 75 and 100 cm), and two cutting intervals (one and three months), were adopted.Dry matter yields were highest at the 75 and 100 cm cutting heights, especially at the longer, three-monthly, cutting interval. They were significantly reduced by more frequent cutting, probably due to the increased number of recovery phases.Leaf nitrogen yields per tree for trees cut at three-monthly intervals were over twice as high as the total yields obtained from monthly cutting over the same period.

No abstract

Ten top soils sampled from six physiographic positions in the Njala Survey Area of Sierra Leone, West Africa, varied in organic carbon content from 1.02 to 7.82% and in clay content from 22 to 65%. Walkley‐Black oxidation efficlency ranged from 93 to 100% and averaged 97%, using Wet Combustion as standard. Organic matter in these tropical soils is apparently in forms easily oxidized by the sulphuric acid‐dichromate digestion.Simple correlation between organic carbon (C) and loss on ignition (L.O.I.) was very strong, r = 0.997; partial correlations showed that when organic C was held constant, 31% of the variation in L.O.I. was associated with clay content variation, and when clay content was held constant, 98% of the variation in L.O.I. was associated with organic C.Ignition loss of organic C was closely predicted by the linear relationship y = 0.505 x − 0.094, where x = % organic C. Prediction error (about 0.5%) was proportionately greater at lower levels of ignition loss.

No abstract

Two field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of several pelleting materials in increasing the yields of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) and soyabean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) on acid soils in Sierra Leone. The results demonstrated the beneficial effect of molybdenum, applied either alone or in combination with rock phosphate, in improving growth and yield of cowpea. The beneficial effect of molybdenum was comparable (Exp. i) or greater (Exp. 2) than the effect of liming with 3 t/ha basic slag. However, none of the coating materials had any effect on soyabean growth and yield, although molybdenum significantly increased nodules/plant. Calcium carbonate and basic slag pelletings were ineffective in both crops.