Biomass pressures in mixed farmsImplications for livelihoods and ecosystems services in South Asia &

Sub-Saharan Africa

Planet Under Pressure,

March 26th, 2012London, UK

Session: Food Security

Diego Valbuena, Olaf Erenstein, Sabine Homann-Kee Tui, Tahirou Abdoulaye, Alan Duncan, Bruno Gérard, Nils Teufel

Mixed systems represent the livelihood of a large population of

the developing world

Source: Herrero et al. 2009

Population developing world: 3.773’200.000

Population developing world: 5.309’500.000

Crop residue are major resources for smallholder

farmersUses: feed, fuel, construction, cash and mulch/compost. Trade-offs of residue use? −animal feed: short-term household needs (animal traction, manure, food, savings, cash, culture), nutrient recycling−soil conservation (mulching): mid/long-term agricultural production, water efficiency, nutrient recycling (C storage)

Opening messageIn smallholder mixed

farms resources are often limited, creating pressure on biomass (residues). How to improve residue use, enhancing livelihoods now and ensuring long-term sustainability?

Site & village selection

Selection criteriasite: intensification &

marketvillage: market &

roadhouseholds: land &

livestockNiger-1, FakaraNiger-2, MaradiNigeria, KanoEthiopia-1, KoboEthiopia-2, NekemteKenya, Kakamega

Malawi, MzimbaMozambique, ChangaraZimbabwe, NykayiIndia-1, HaryanaIndia-2, UdaipurBangladesh, Dinajpur

To consider:

1. Dynamic systems but not always2. Pressure residues farm:

a. demandb. production

3. Options: intensification, market & co.

1. Mixed systems are dynamicpe

ople

/km

2

South Asia Southern AfricaEast AfricaWest Africa

SLP-CR Regions*

* Weighted average of SLP selected countries

Population density

% to

tal p

opul

ation

Urbanization

Cereal yields Livestock production

kg c

erea

l/ha

% re

lativ

e to

199

9-20

01

Sources: http://esa.un.org/unup/; http://fao.org

2a. Potential demand for residues is diverse

Ethiopia-1

Bangladesh

Niger-1

India-1

NigeriaNiger-2Zimbabwe

Malawi

Ethiopia-2

India-2

Mozambique

Kenya

High

Medium

Low

source: Valbuena et al. in press

2a. This demand is reflected in different residue use: cereal

source: Valbuena et al. in press

other (fuel, burnt, const)tradedleft/mulch

animal feed

multiple uses

mostly fed

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

mulch

constructionfuel

2a. Demand and use of residues is diverse: legume

Kenya

Niger-1Nigeria Niger-2

Residue use depend also on quality, market and culture.

* cooking, left in the soil

% sold% fed% other*

2b. Intensification of crop production is related to potential

demand

M-E1

H-B

L-N1

H-I1L-NGL-N2

L-Z

L-MWM-E2

M-I2

L-MZ

H-K

High production:

water access, market inputs, mechanisation

Limited production: often rainfed, variable access inputs & market, low mechanisation

2b. Production and development pathways offer different options

for rural regions

Ethiopia-1 Bangladesh

Niger-1

India-1

Nigeria

Niger-2

Zimbabwe

MalawiEthiopia-2

India-2

Mozambique Keny

a

Market-oriented

agriculture

Non-agricultural livelihood

Subsistence

farming

2. Pressure on feed depends on crop production and communal

resources

* based one farmers’ perceptions. Feed sources include grazing, green and dry fodder

< 3 months3 – 6 months> 6 months

high quality

feed

2. Pressure on residues depend on both production and demand

Pressure Potential demand

Crop production

Agricultural intensification

Communal resources

Feed shortages

Residue use Sites

Low+++ +++ +++ - + mulch

burnIndia-1, KenyaBangladesh

+ ++ ++ + + mulch Malawi

Medium + + + + ++ grazed MozambiqueZimbabwe

High++ +/++ +/++ - +++ fed, fuel Ethiopia, India-2

+ + + + (far) +++ fed, fuel Niger, Nigeria

3. Options: pressure on residuesPotential: > soil conservation by mulchingNeeded: changes residue management

Needed: - Better use of communal land- More biomass (seasonal)

Needed: - More biomass- Soil conservation

Pressure Potential demand

Crop production

Agricultural intensification

Communal resources

Feed shortages

Residue use Sites

Low+++ +++ +++ - + mulch

burnIndia-1, KenyaBangladesh

+ ++ ++ + + mulch Malawi

Medium + + + + ++ grazed MozambiqueZimbabwe

High++ +/++ +/++ - +++ fed, fuel Ethiopia, India-2

+ + + + (far) +++ fed, fuel Niger, Nigeria

Farm expansionEquity (land)Water efficiency

Better link to marketsIntegration crop-livestockIntensification livestock

Better link to marketsIntegration crop-livestockIntensification crop-livestock

Intensification crop-livestockBetter link to marketsOff-farm optionsDestocking

3. Options need to go beyond biomass production

Pressure Potential demand

Crop production

Agricultural intensification

Communal resources

Feed shortages

Residue use Sites

Low+++ +++ +++ - + mulch

burnIndia-1, KenyaBangladesh

+ ++ ++ + + mulch Malawi

Medium + + + + ++ grazed MozambiqueZimbabwe

High++ +/++ +/++ - +++ fed, fuel Ethiopia, India-2

+ + + + (far) +++ fed, fuel Niger, Nigeria

Closing message

Still, more participatory, integrated & coordinate action-research is needed to implement options and fulfil short and long term objectives for both livelihoods & ecosystem services.

Meta-analysis help to identify promising options and trajectories for better residue use in specific sites.

SLP project: an on-going progress

Stakeholder involvement (R&D): engaging stakeholders in looking at the challenges & optionsHousehold diversity: improved targeting of potential options Targeting action-oriented research: linking these diagnostics with impact oriented research