TY - BOOK
T1 - Adoptability of sustainable intensification technologies in dryland smallholder farming systems of West Africa
AU - Woittiez, L.S.
AU - Descheemaeker, K.K.E.
AU - Giller, K.E.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Within the framework of CGIAR Research Program (CRP) 1.1: Dryland Systems, the compilation of a
review of options, constraints and potential for agricultural intensification at a number of specific sites in West African dryland areas has been requested, using an integrated systems approach. CRP 1.1 aims to develop technology, policy and institutional innovations to improve livelihoods, for the poor
and highly vulnerable populations of the dry areas (ICARDA 2011). In the introduction to Strategic
Research Theme 3 of the project, it is stated that sustainable intensification aims at increasing input
use to increase output, based on agroecological principles of sustainability. The program focuses on
dryland systems in West Africa identified by two criteria: (i) those with the deepest endemic poverty
and most vulnerable people and (ii) those with the greatest potential to impact on food security and
poverty in the short and medium term. These areas have been sampled and 10 research locations
have been selected and characterized. The first output of the Strategic Research Theme 3 is defined
as: Sustainable intensification options designed and developed. A range of potential options for
sustainable intensification has been described previously, and multiple reviews of successful and less successful innovations for and by smallholders in Africa have been published in scientific and grey literature (Dudal, 2001; Haggblade, 2004; Aune and Bationo, 2008; FAO, 2008; Reij and Smaling, 2008;
Tenywa and Bekunda, 2009; Bayala et al., 2011 Pretty et al., 2011). This report provides an overview
of the current technologies, and describes four of them in detail. The potential of the technologies for
increasing productivity is assessed, and an attempt is made to perform an ex ante analysis of their fit,
or in other words their ‘adoptability’, within four research sites. Through this exercise, we explored
the way forward, to go from ‘best bet’ to ‘best fit’ options for sustainable intensification in West
African drylands.
AB - Within the framework of CGIAR Research Program (CRP) 1.1: Dryland Systems, the compilation of a
review of options, constraints and potential for agricultural intensification at a number of specific sites in West African dryland areas has been requested, using an integrated systems approach. CRP 1.1 aims to develop technology, policy and institutional innovations to improve livelihoods, for the poor
and highly vulnerable populations of the dry areas (ICARDA 2011). In the introduction to Strategic
Research Theme 3 of the project, it is stated that sustainable intensification aims at increasing input
use to increase output, based on agroecological principles of sustainability. The program focuses on
dryland systems in West Africa identified by two criteria: (i) those with the deepest endemic poverty
and most vulnerable people and (ii) those with the greatest potential to impact on food security and
poverty in the short and medium term. These areas have been sampled and 10 research locations
have been selected and characterized. The first output of the Strategic Research Theme 3 is defined
as: Sustainable intensification options designed and developed. A range of potential options for
sustainable intensification has been described previously, and multiple reviews of successful and less successful innovations for and by smallholders in Africa have been published in scientific and grey literature (Dudal, 2001; Haggblade, 2004; Aune and Bationo, 2008; FAO, 2008; Reij and Smaling, 2008;
Tenywa and Bekunda, 2009; Bayala et al., 2011 Pretty et al., 2011). This report provides an overview
of the current technologies, and describes four of them in detail. The potential of the technologies for
increasing productivity is assessed, and an attempt is made to perform an ex ante analysis of their fit,
or in other words their ‘adoptability’, within four research sites. Through this exercise, we explored
the way forward, to go from ‘best bet’ to ‘best fit’ options for sustainable intensification in West
African drylands.
M3 - Report
VL - 64
BT - Adoptability of sustainable intensification technologies in dryland smallholder farming systems of West Africa
PB - ICRISAT
ER -