The Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Farming Systems. Questo articolo non è disponibile.The Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Farming Systems

This volume reviews recent research on effective support to improve smallholder livelihoods. After discussing the economics of smallholder farming, the book looks at access to key inputs before assessing ways of improving extension and other services to support sustainable production practices.

Because of a lack of understanding of the constraints they face, many projects to support smallholders fail with low adoption rates and limited improvements in livelihoods and food security. Focusing on sub-Saharan Africa, this volume reviews the wealth of research on understanding and successfully supporting smallholder farming systems.

After discussing the economics of smallholder farming, Part 1 reviews ways of improving access to resources such as seeds, tools and expertise for soil health improvement and integrated pest management (IPM) as well as mechanisation. Part 2 discusses ways of improving support services such as farmer organisations, public sector and commercial extension services as well as the use of digital technologies to support particular groups such as female smallholders. Part 4 discusses ways of improving smallholder access to markets, including the role of both the private and public sectors.

Based on a wealth of practical experience from leading experts in the field, The sustainable intensification of smallholder farming systems will be a standard reference on how best to target support for smallholders to achieve real improvements in their livelihoods. It will be essential reading for university and other researchers studying smallholder farming systems in departments of agricultural science, international development, politics and development economics. It will also be a key reference for government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in development programmes focussing on smallholders, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr Michael Robinson is Chief Science Advisor at the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA) which supports resource-poor small farmers in developing countries. He was formerly a Senior Technology Analyst for the Syngenta Corporate Strategy and Technology Group and has extensive experience of managing global collaborative research projects in bioscience.

Dr Dominik Klauser is a Program Officer at the SFSA. Dr Klauser works on identifying and scaling technologies that benefit smallholders such as new crop varieties, seed treatments and fertilizer formulations.