The Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Farming Systems

Dr Willis Ochilo

ISBN 10: 178676430X / ISBN 13: 9781786764300

Editore: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, GB, 2020

"The sustainable intensification of smallholder farming systems is a standard reference on how best to target support for smallholders to achieve real improvements in their livelihoods."(IITA - Cassava Matters)Due to a lack of understanding of the constraints they face, many projects developed to support smallholders fail with low adoption rates and limited improvements in livelihoods and food security. Greater emphasis must be placed upon successfully supporting smallholder farmers and their farming systems. The sustainable intensification of smallholder farming systems provides a comprehensive review of recent research on effective support measures to improve the livelihoods of smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa. This collection features detailed discussions on ways to improve access to key resources, such as seeds, tools and expertise for soil health improvement and integrated pest management (IPM) programmes. A part dedicated to finance and information assesses the need to improve support systems, including farmer organisations and commercial extension services, for the benefit of particular groups of smallholders, e.g. female farmers.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. Codice articolo LU-9781786764300

Riassunto:

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.

Dalla quarta di copertina: 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.

Dati bibliografici

Titolo: The Sustainable Intensification of ...
Casa editrice: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, GB
Data di pubblicazione: 2020
Legatura: Hardback
Condizione: New