Browsing by Author "Adamtey, N."
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Item How Is Organic Farming Performing Agronomically and Economically in Sub-Saharan Africa?(Elsevier Ltd, 2021-08-30) Schader, C.; Heidenreich, A.; Kadzere, I.; Egyir, I.; Muriuki, A.; Bandanaa, J.; Clottey, J.; Ndungu, J.; Grovermann, C.; Lazzarini, G.; Blockeel, J.; Borgemeister, C.; Muller, A.; Kabi, F.; Fiaboe, K.; Adamtey, N.; Huber, B.; Niggli, U.; Stolze, M.; Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) ; University of Ghana ; Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) ; University of Bonn ; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) ; Makerere University ; International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) ; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)The potential of organic agriculture and agroecological approaches for improving food security in Africa is a controversial topic in global discussions. While there is a number of meta-analyses on the environmental, agronomic and financial performance of organic farming, most of the underlying data stems from on-station field trials from temperate regions. Data from sub-Sahara Africa in particular, as well as detailed real-farm data is scarce. How organic farming is implemented in sub-Saharan Africa and how it performs in a smallholder context remains poorly understood. We applied a novel observational two-factorial research design, which allowed to evaluate the impacts of i) interventions for introducing organic agriculture and ii) specific organic management practices on 1,645 farms from five case studies in Ghana and Kenya, which we closely monitored for 24 months. Among the farmers who have been exposed to the interventions, we found heterogeneous adoption of organic agriculture principles, depending on the intervention. Furthermore, we found rather passive than active organic management among farmers. Most yields and gross margins under organic management remained at similar levels as the conventional values in four of the case studies. In one case study, however, coffee, maize and macadamia nut yields increased by 127–308% and farm-level gross margins over all analysed crops by 292%. Pooling our data across all case studies, we found significantly higher (+144%) farm-level gross margins on organically managed farms than on conventional farms. This indicates the potential of organic and agroecological approaches if implemented well. Based on our observations, we argue for improving the implementation of organic agriculture projects in settings with smallholder farmers. Limited capacities, lack of appropriate inputs and market access are major agronomic and institutional challenges to be addressed. Furthermore, we argue for supporting a differentiated debate about which types of organic farming are really desirable by classifying approaches to organic farming according to i) their intention to work organically and ii) the degree of following the organic principles. This will support the design and implementation of targeted policy interventions for stimulating sustainability of farming systems and rural development.Item Soil Management Strategies Enhanced Crop Yield, Soil Moisture, and Water Productivity in Nitisols of Upper Eastern Kenya(Elsevier B.V., 2021-12) Oduor, N.; Kiboi, M.N.; Muriuki, A.; Adamtey, N.; Musafiri, C.M.; Ngetich, F.K.; University of Embu ; Cortile Scientific ; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization ; Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) ; Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST)Low soil moisture and declining crop yield caused by erratic rainfall, and poor soil management practises con- tribute to the continuous decrease in water productivity. We sought to assess the effects of the selected soil man-agement strategies on crop yield, soil moisture, and water productivity in the Nitisols. We carried out the study in Chuka, Tharaka-Nithi County, and Kandara, Murang’a County. The experiment was laid in a split-plot design. Minimum and conventional tillage were the main treatments, while soil fertility inputs were the sub-treatments. The soil fertility inputs included sole mineral fertilizer, mineral fertilizer plus animal manure, mineral fertilizer plus crop residue, Tithonia diversifolia plus phosphate rock (Minjingu), sole animal manure intercropped with Dolichos Lablab L.. Maize grain, stover yield, soil moisture, and water productivity significantly increased by 6– 22, 10, and 31–33% under conventional tillage than minimum tillage. Mineral fertilizer with or without organic inputs and with or without crop residue mulch significantly (p>0.0002) enhanced maize grain yield by 96 –729% and stover yield by 79 -276% compared to the control in the two sites during the experimental period. Soil fertility inputs significantly increased soil moisture at 0–20 cm depth at the Chuka site by 10 - 40%. Water productivity was significantly (p > 0.0001) improved under mineral fertilizer with or without organic inputs and with or without crop residue mulch by 46 - 279% in both sites. Generally, the combination of organic and inor-ganic resources plus crop residue mulch enhanced soil water productivity irrespective of the tillage method. Their use should be encouraged for improved water productivity. However, tillage effects on crop yield, soil moisture, and water productivity should be investigated under long-term conditions.
