The impact of adoption of conservation agriculture on smallholder farmers’ food security in semi-arid zones of southern Africa

Abstract

Background:In southern Africa, conservation agriculture (CA) has received a lot of research and promotional support from various organizations in the past decades. Conservation agriculture is largely promoted as one of the few win-win technologies affordable to farmers, in the sense that potentially it improves farmers' yields (in the long term) at the same time conserving the environment. This is because conservation agriculture reduces nitrogen loss in the soil, promotes water and soil conservation and improves agronomic use efficiency of applied nutrients. However, some concerns have been raised over the feasibility of conservation agriculture on smallholder farms given constraints imposed by the biophysical and institutional realities under which smallholder farmers operate. The main aim of this study is to answer the question whether conservation agriculture is resulting in tangible livelihood outcomes to smallholder farmers. The counterfactual outcome approach was used to estimate ex post impact of conservation agriculture adoption on one of the key livelihood outcomes-food security. Results:The study that utilized a data set covering 1623 households in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique found no significant impact of conservation agriculture adoption on Food Consumption Score of farmers in Zimbabwe and Malawi. Possible reasons for the insignificant of CA impact on food security in Zimbabwe and Malawi could include the small land areas currently devoted to CA, and the failure to implement the full complement of practices necessary to set off the biophysical process that are expected to drive yield increases. In Mozambique, conservation agriculture significantly improved the Food Consumption Score for farmers exposed to the technology. A possible reason for effectiveness of CA in Mozambique could be due to the fact that often CA is being promoted together with other better cropping management practices such as timely weeding and improved seed varieties, which are poorly practiced by the generality of farmers in a country just emerging from a war period. Conclusion:This paper provides one of the few ex post assessments of the impact of conservation agriculture adoption on household livelihood outcomes-food security. Given the mixed findings, the study suggests that conservation agriculture farmers in the three countries need to be supported to adopt a value chain approach to conservation agriculture. This entails the introduction of commercial or high-value crops in the conservation agriculture programmes, value addition on farmers produce, access to the necessary support services such as markets for seed, fertilizer, herbicides and equipment as well as reliable extension. We believe that under such circumstances conservation agriculture can effectively reduce food insecurity and poverty in the medium to long term.

Innovative Pro-Smallholder Farmers’ Permanent Mulch for Better Soil Quality and Food Security Under Conservation Agriculture

“…Permanent soil cover though mulching helps to reduce run-off by dissipating raindrop impact on the soil surface, thereby reducing soil erosion. Mango et al [12] states that "Minimum soil disturbance and permanent soil cover help in improving soil organic matter content, reducing water run-off leading to increased infiltration, as well as increased biological activity". However, organic waste material applied as mulch in the field can be easily washed or carried away by adverse weather conditions (high wind speed and high-intensity rainfall) in semi-arid regions [13].…”

Diversity amongst farm households and achievements from multi-stakeholder innovation platform approach: lessons from Balaka Malawi

“…is farmer encompassing at least one of the following: minimal soil disturbance, rotations or permanent soil cover as principles of conservation agriculture [19,20] in his/her farming activities), livestock ownership and access to agricultural inputs on credit, achievements made by households from participating in IP activities since its formation in 2009 and many other socioeconomic variables.…”

An 89% solution adoption rate at a two-year follow-up: evaluating the effectiveness of an animated agricultural video approach

“…While a healthy agriculture sector directly affects development, the sector also faces several critical challenges around food security, poverty alleviation, and secure livelihoods. The lingering effects of Mozambique's civil war, worsening climate change impacts, institutional limitations, and potential new threats from the expanding fall armyworm predation of maize throughout sub-Saharan Africa add to these challenges (Brück, 2004;Day et al, 2017;Mango, Siziba, & Makate, 2017;Osbahr, Twyman, Adger, & Thomas, 2008;Tschirley & Weber, 1994).…”

“…While Mozambique has shown both a long-term commitment to a renewed, national-level pluralistic extension effort (Gemo & Rivera, 2001) as well as recent, uniquely successful applications of conservation farming approaches (Mango et al, 2017), the country's national budgetary constraints, and the necessary expansion of extension services required to effectively lower access barriers to finally reach the majority of smallholders most in need of such services, seem to preclude reaching this goal. Cunguara and Moder (2011), moreover, have noted that while extension services have increased farm income by 12%, extension services have generally been more accessible only to already comparatively wealthier farms, thus potentially contributing to wealth inequality rather than poverty alleviation.…”