5. strategic research portfolio: rainfed systems...of soil, water, nutrient and carbon management in...
TRANSCRIPT
84
5. StrategicResearchPortfolio:RainfedSystems
Ourvision:farmersandpastoraliststhriveinhighlyproductiverainfedareas,supportedbyvibrantecosystems
WeendeavortochangethefutureofcropandlivestockproductiononrainfedlandscapesacrossAfricaandAsia.Wewillconductresearchtosupportinterventionsthatwillincreaseproductivityofmenandwomenfarmers,whilereducingorreversingtheovergrazing,soilnutrientminingandlanddegradationthathavedeepenedthepovertyofmillionsofsmallholderhouseholds.Wewillenhanceunderstandingofsoil,water,nutrientandcarbonmanagementintherainfedandpastoralsettingsinwhichsomanyfarmersstruggletogrowcropsandraiselivestockwithminimalinputs,inadequatefinanceandtoolittlecertaintyofsuccesseachseason.Wewillreducetheriskoffailure,thusimprovinglivelihoodstatusandenhancingfoodsecurityforthemillionsofmen,womenandchildrenwhotilltheearthandraisetheiranimalsinprecariousrainfedareas.5.1. ThecompellingneedforthisresearchMostoftheworld’sapproximately1billionmillionpoor(basedonthe$1.25/daythreshold)liveinthedevelopingcountriesofAsiaandAfrica,andmanyearntheirlivinginrainfedagriculture.Uncertaintyregardingrainfall,persistentwaterscarcityandextensiveareasofdegradedlandscapescharacterizemanyoftherainfedsettingsinwhichfarmersandpastoralistsattempttosustaintheirlivelihoods.Itisdifficulttoimaginehowfamiliescangeneratesufficientincometoachieveandmaintainfoodsecurityinsuchconditions,yetmillionsofhouseholdsfacepreciselythattask.Andmillionsarenotsuccessful.Extensivepoverty,foodinsecurity,andmalnutritionarefoundthroughoutrainfedsettingsinwhichmanyhouseholdsareunabletoproducethefoodorgeneratetheincomethatwouldenablethemtocopesuccessfullywiththeuncertaintythatdefinestheirenvironment.Mosthouseholdshavenosavingsaccount,otherthanthemarketvalueoftheirlivestock.Lackingfinancialresilience,farmerscannottaketheriskofapplyingthefertilizerthatmightenablethemtoobtainhigheryields.Ifrainsdonotarriveontime,farmerswillloseallthemoneytheyhavespentonseeds,fertilizer,andotherinputs.Lackingsecurelandtenure,farmerswillnotinvestineffortstorestoresoilnutrientsandorganicmatter,ortoreducesoilerosion.Farmersandpastoralistsinrainfedsettingsfacechallengesandconstraintsthatwouldoverwhelmmostpeopleifplacedinsuchconditions.Yettheyworkasbesttheycantogeneratelivelihoodsandachievefoodandnutritionalsecurityfortheirhouseholds.Overtime,aspopulationhasincreasedinrainfedareas,thepressuresexertedonsupportingecosystemshavealsoincreased.Thusweseeextendedareasinwhichsoilnutrientsaredepleted,vegetationcoverandbiodiversityaredeclining,andlandisdegradedbysoilerosionandovergrazing.Weseeincreasingcompetitionforlimited
85
landandwaterresources,andwenotetheconstantordecliningratesofgrowthincropandlivestockyields.Itistimetoreversethesetrends,beforethechallengesandconstraintsoverwhelmeventhemostresilientandsuccessfulhouseholds.ItistimefortheresearchweproposeinthisRainfedSystemsSRP.5.2. ThescopeanddepthoftheopportunityGlobally,thereare15millionkm2ofrainfedcroplandand33millionkm2ofgrazinglands(Table5.1).Rainfedareasaccountfor80%ofglobalagriculturalarea,whilegeneratinganestimated60%to70%ofworldfoodproduction(CA,2007).Millionsofsmallholderhouseholdscultivatecropsandraiselivestockinrainfedareas,whereincreasingwaterscarcityandimpendingclimatechangearebringingnewstressestoenvironmentsalreadychallengedbyovergrazingandtheminingofsoilnutrients(Wanietal.,2009;Rockströmetal.,2010).Depletedsoilsproducelowyields,thuscreatingaviciouscircleinwhichreductionsinfarmincomefurtherconstrainfarm‐levelabilitytoaffordcriticalinputs.Weendeavorinthisresearchtoreplacethisviciouscirclewithavirtuousoneinwhichproductivityisrestoredthroughgreateruseofplantnutrientsandimprovementsinsoilmanagementpractices,thusenablingfarmerstoaffordadditionalinvestmentsthatwillenhancecropyieldsandprotecttheenvironment.Table5.1. Rainfedandirrigatedagricultureonthreecontinentsandglobally(millionkm2)
Landuse Africa AsiaSouthAmerica
World
km2 % km2 % km2 % km2 %
Rainfedagriculture 11.5 39 14.1 46 5.7 32 45.8 35Arableandpermanentcrops 2.5 8 5.4 17 1.3 7 15.3 12Permanentgrazinglands 9.1 31 10.9 35 4.5 26 33.6 26Irrigatedagriculture 0.1 0 2.2 7 0.1 1 3.1 2
Total 29.6 30.9 17.6 130.0
DatafromtheFoodandAgricultureOrganization,FAOSTAT,2008.Poverty,foodsecurity,humanhealthandwaterstressarecorrelated(Falkenmark,1986;Goklany,2009;Oluoko‐Odingo,2011).Inastudyofhouseholddatafrom367sub‐nationalunitsinAfrica,deSherbinin(2011)findsthataftercontrollingforincome,threevariablesaresignificantlycorrelatedwithchildmalnutrition:droughtprevalence,theproportionofhouseholdswithoutpipedwater,andtheprevalenceofdiarrhealdisease.Theproportionofunderweightchildrenexceeds30%inmostsub‐nationalunitsacrosstheAfricanSahel.TheUNMillenniumDevelopmentProjecthasidentifiedseveral‘hotspot’countrieswheremalnourishmentisprevalent(Eriksenetal.,2011).Manyofthesecountriesarecharacterizedbysemi‐aridanddry,sub‐humidhydro‐climates.Theseincludethesavannahsandsteppeecosystems,wheremostfoodisproducedinrainfedsettingsandwherewaterscarcityconstrainscropproduction(Rockströmetal.,2005).Ifwewishtoimprovechildnutritionandenhancefoodsecuritymorebroadly,wemustmanagelandandwaterwiselyinrainfedareas,whileincreasingtheoutputoffarmersandpastoralists.Cropproductionandanimalhusbandryprovidelocalsourcesoffood
86
and,moreimportantly,theygeneratetheincomeneededbysmallholderhouseholdstopurchasefoodinlocalmarkets.Thereisnobetterwaytoreducepovertyandenhancefoodsecurityintheworld’srainfedareasthantohelpsmallholderfamiliesincreasecropandlivestockproductivityinsustainablefashion.Thepotentialforimprovingproductivityseemsevident,givencurrentgapsbetweenactualandpotentialyields.Theaveragegrainyieldinsub‐SaharanAfricaisabout1tonperhectare,whileaverageyieldselsewhererangefrom2to10tonsperhectare(CA,2007).Thesegapsareduetoacombinationoffactorsinvolvingsoilandwatermanagement.IntheRainfedSystemsSRP,wewillexaminetheimpactsoflanddegradation,soilnutrientmining,waterscarcityandreducedbiodiversity.Wewillexaminealsotherolesofbiodiversityandecosystemservicesinsupportingcropandlivestockproduction.Andwewilldevelopinterventionsthatenablesmallholderhouseholdstoachievethegainsinproductivitytheyneed,whilealsobeginningtorebuildsoilnutrientandcarbonstocksandrestoringdegradedlands.Thereisscope,aswell,forincreasingtheextentofrainfedagricultureinsub‐SaharanAfrica,particularlyincountriessuchasAngola,theDemocraticRepublicofCongo,SudanandZambia(McKinsey,2009).However,historyhasshownthatland‐useconversioncanleadtosevereresourcedegradation.Wemuststudywaysofexpandingagricultureinrainfedareas,whilenotharmingthesupportingecosystems.Wemustalsolearnhowtoincreasecroppingintensityinrainfedareas,wherehouseholdaccesstofertilizerandotheressentialinputscurrentlyisinadequate.Wewillexamineboththebiophysicalaspectsofincreasingcropandlivestockproductivityinrainfedareas,andthepoliciesneededtoenhancefarm‐levelaccesstoinputs,financeandmarkets.
5.3. Research,investmentsandbettermanagementareneededSeveralauthorshavearguedthatinvestmentsinagriculturewillenhancefoodsecurityandliftfarmersandpastoralistsoutofpovertyonlyiftheprogramsfocusonincreasingsmallholderproductionofstaplecropsandlivestockproducts(Nin‐Prattetal.,2009).Sucheffortswillproducesustainableoutcomesonlyifothersecurityneedsandrisksareaddressedatthesametime.Intensificationofagriculture,withoutsufficientconcernforsupportingandregulatingecosystemservices,canresultinlanddegradation,windandwatererosion,andthelossofbiodiversity.Thelow,averagecerealyieldsobservedinsub‐SaharanAfricamaskconsiderablevariationacrossregionsandcountries.Maizeyieldsobtainedbythehighestquintileoffarmhouseholdscanbe20timesthoseofthelowestquintile,withinasingledistrictofKenya,MozambiqueorZambia(Jayneetal.,2010).Thevariationisduetodifferencesinculturalpractices,soilfertility,inputuse,watermanagementandothercharacteristicsofproductionthatdiffersubstantiallyamongsmallholderfarmers(Vanlauweetal.,2006;Tittonelletal.,2008;Okumuetal.,2011).Thevariationimpliesthatourscienceandoursolutionsmustaddressspatialdifferencesinbiophysicalparametersandadministrativedifferencesintheinstitutionsthat
87
influencefarm‐levelandhouseholddecisions.Agenericapproachtostimulatingadoptionofalternativemanagementoptionswillnotbesufficient.Forfarmers,theopportunitytomoveoutofpovertyisnotassociatedwithasingleproductionfactor,butratherwithasystemthatinvolvescropchoices,landandwatermanagement,storageandtransport,andaccesstomarkets.Farmersalsoconsiderthepolicyenvironmentinwhichtheyoperate.Thus,toreducepoverty,wemust:1)providemenandwomenfarmerswithbetterknowledgeandtechnicalinformation;2)motivatethemtoadopttechnologiesthatincreaseproductivity;and3)implementthepoliciesandinstitutionsthatimprovetheirrepresentationandaccessandenablethemtosucceed.Whileembarkingonthisresearchprogram,wewillgivedueattentiontoemergingissuesandopportunitiespertainingtoagricultureandlivelihoodsinrainfedareas.Forexample,wewillstudytheinterfacebetweenintensificationandecosystemservices,andexplorethewaysinwhichbiodiversitycontributestosustainingrainfedproductionsystemsformenandwomenfarmers.Wewillexaminethedebateregardingwhetherornotselectedlandsshouldbesetasidefromagriculturetopreservebiodiversity,orwhethersomeformsoffarmingcanenhancebiodiversity(Ewers,etal.,2009;PerfectoandVandermeer,2010;Phalanetal.,2011).Wewillalsoexaminethepotentialimpactsofinternationalinvestmentsinfarmland,knownbysomeas‘landgrabbing,’onlandandwaterresourcesinrainfedareas(RobertsonandPinstrup‐Andersen,2010;Borrasetal.,2011).Moreimportantly,wewillalsoexaminethepotentialimpactsonthelivelihoodsofsmallholderhouseholds,suchastheimpactsonwomenandyouth,thataredisplacedfromtheirlandandloseaccesstowaterandotherresourceswheninternationalinvestorsdeveloplargeareasoflandindevelopingcountries(ChaudhuriandBanerjee,2010;Li,2011).5.4. AcompellingrolefortheCGIARAsweimplementthisSRP,wewillbuilduponpreviousworkoftheTropicalSoilsandBiologyandFertilityunitoftheInternationalCenterforTropicalAgriculture(CIAT),ICRISAT,andtherecommendationsoftheComprehensiveAssessmentofWaterManagementinAgriculture(CA,2007).The700researchersengagedintheAssessmentconcludedthatlargegainsinproductivityandnotableimprovementsinlivelihoodscouldbeachievedinrainfedareasifweengageincollaborative,interdisciplinaryresearchinvolvingsoils,nutrients,waterandtherolesofecosystemsinsupportingcropandlivestockagriculture.Thisispreciselytheprogramwepropose.ThenewCGIAR,withitswealthofexperienceinagricultureandNRM,isuniquelypreparedtoconductinterdisciplinaryresearchregardingthescienceandpolicydimensionsofeffortstoincreasecropandlivestockproductivityinrainfedareas,whileprotectingecosystems.ThenewcollaborationsweforminthisSRPwillstrengthenresearchlinkagesbetweenbiophysicalandsocialscientists,andspurinnovativethinkingaboutagricultureinrainfedsettings.Forexample,wewillenhanceourresearchoutputbyjoiningtogetherspecialistsonwaterharvestingandresearcherswhostudysupplementalirrigation.Suchpartnershipswillbeenhancedfurtherbyinvolving
88
soilscientists,agronomists,agroforestryexperts,andlivestockspecialists.Withtheinclusionofscientistswhostudybiodiversityandecosystemresilience,wewillhaveassembledworld‐classteamsreadytoconducttheinterdisciplinaryanalysesthatareneededtorealizeourvisionofthrivingfarmersandpastoralists,supportedbyvibrantnaturalandagriculturalecosystems.5.5. BuildingonasolidresearchfoundationManyresearchersinCGIARcentersalreadyhavesubstantialknowledgeofandinsightintothechallengesfacingfarmersandpastoralistsinrainfedareas.ManyhavealsostudiedNRMandecosystemscienceinsuchsettings.Theexistingliteratureprovidesahelpfulunderstandingoffoursubjectareasthatwillbecentralinourresearcheffort:improvingsoilfertility,improvingwatermanagement,enhancingpastoralsystems,andvaluingecosystemservices.Wedescribeeachoftheseinturn.5.5.1. ImprovingsoilfertilityManyresearchershaveexaminedissuespertainingtosoilfertilityinrainfedareas,particularlyinsub‐SaharanAfrica,andalsoinSouthAsia(Sahrawatetal.,2009).Theirresultspointtostartingpointsforourresearch,andtherangeofissueswemustconsidertoensurethatourresearchquestionsandapproachesareappropriate.Amongthemanyissuesandinterventionsexaminedinpreviousstudies,wehighlightjustafewthatwefindparticularlyrelevant.Vanlauweetal.(2010)advocateintegratedsoilfertilitymanagement(ISFM)insmallholderAfricanfarmingconditions.ISFMisdefinedasasetofsoilfertilitymanagementpracticesthatnecessarilyincludetheuseoffertilizer,organicinputsandimprovedgermplasm(e.g.seeds),combinedwiththeknowledgeofhowtoadaptthesepracticestolocalconditions.ThegoalofISFMistoimproveproductivitybymaximizingtheagronomicuseefficiencyofappliednutrients.Kibblewhiteetal.(2008)describetheimportanceofsoilsintheprovisionofecosystemservicesinagriculturalandnon‐agriculturalsettings.Nutrients,water,organiccarbonandbiotaareimportantcomponentsofthoseservices,whichincludenutrientcycling,carbontransformation,soilstructuremaintenanceandregulationofbiologicalpopulations.ISFMinvolvesmanagingsoilsinamannerthatrecognizestheimportantrolesoftheseecosystemservices.Taboetal.(2006)andTwomlowetal.(2010)examinethepotentialproductivitygainsfrommicro‐dosingoffertilizer(anISFMtechnique),inconjunctionwithwaterharvesting,insub‐SaharanAfrica.Theauthorsrecommendwideradoptionofmicro‐dosinginotherchallengingenvironments.ReijandThiombiano(2003)alsoexaminethepotentialgainsofmanagingsoilfertilityandwaterwithinasingleperspective,ratherthanseparately.HaggbladeandTembo(2003)examineconservationagriculture,inwhichculturalpracticesmatchsmallholderneedsandcapacities.Adoptionofconservationagriculture
89
hasbeenlimitedinsub‐SaharanAfrica,andnewresearchisneededtodeterminetheconditionsrequiredforsuccessfulimplementation.Sangingaetal.(1997)promotesoybean–maizecroppingsystemsthatprovidefarmerswithdualsetsofbenefitsinvolvingcroprotationandmarketentry.Severalauthorshaveexaminedmeasuresforimprovingsoilconditionsthroughmaize–legumeintercropping,andbyreplacingslash‐and‐burnagriculturewithslash‐and‐mulchsystemsonhillsidesinCentralAmerica(AyarzaandWélchez,2004;Castroetal.,2009;CIAT,2009).5.5.2. ImprovingwatermanagementOweisandHachum(2006)examinethecombinedmanagementofrainfallandirrigationwaterinsettingswheredeficitirrigationcanenhanceproductivity.Theauthorsnotetheimportanceofconsideringalsotherolesofplantnutrientsandcultivars.Theyshowthatcropyieldscanbeincreasedsubstantiallyinsomesettingswhenapplyingaslittleas100mmto300mmofwatertoalleviatestressduringdryspells.SupplementalirrigationhasenabledfarmersinMorocco,SyriaandTunisiatoplantresponsivewheatvarietiesandapplymoreinputs,thusenablingthemtoachieveyieldsof5–6tonsperhectareinrainfedsettings(BenMechliaandMasmoudi,2003).Bycombiningfarmwaterharvestingwithsupplementalirrigation,thefarmersalsoreducederosion.InInnerMongoliaandGansuProvince,China,farmersdoubledtheiryieldsofpotatoesbychangingfromconventional,supplementalirrigationtopartialroot‐zonedrying(Xieetal.,2011).Waterharvestingandwaterstorage(inthesoil,inpondsandreservoirs,orinaquifers,throughgroundwaterrecharge)canhelpfarmersadapttoclimatechange(OweisandHachum,2006).Severalauthorshaveengagedinresearchatthewatershedscale,oftenexaminingbothbiophysicalandeconomicdimensionsofagriculturalandnaturalresourceissues.Forexample,somehaveexaminedmeasurestoachievedesiredchangesinwatersheds,includingtraditionalpolicyandlandreforminstruments,market‐basedincentives,andbenefit‐sharingmechanisms(Wunder,2005,Wanietal.,2008).SeveralinterventionsinbenchmarkwatershedsinChina,India,Syria,ThailandandVietnamhavedemonstratedthepossibilityofprovidingtangibleeconomicbenefitstosmallandmarginalfarmers,whoaremostlywomen,throughenhancedrainwater‐useefficiencyandtargetedincome‐generatingactivities(Wanietal.,2008,).5.5.3. EnhancingpastoralsystemsExistingresearchishelpfulinunderstandingcriticalaspectsofrangelandproductivity,watermanagement,landdegradation,andtheroleofecosystemsinsupportingcropandlivestockproductioninrainfedareas.Yetknowledgegapsexist,aspastoralsystemshavelongoccupiedthemarginsofmainstreamagriculturalresearch.Pastoralsystemsarehighlydynamicandundergorapidchangeinresponsetomanyfactors,suchaslossofaccesstowaterandlandresources,inadditiontoclimatevariability(Campbelletal.,2006;Hobbsetal.,2008;WISP,2008).Pastoralistscopebydiversifyingintonon‐livestockrelatedactivitiestosecuretheirhouseholdincomes(Littleetal.,2008),astrategythatisdebatedinlightoffurtherlossoflandandwater
90
resources,climatechange,andlowinvestmentinpastoralareas(Hobbsetal.,2008;DevereuxandScoones,2006;BirchandGrahn,2007).However,thereisnounderstandingoftheimplicationsofthesedriversofchangeontheabilityofrangelandstosupportpastoralandnewlivelihoodactivities(SanfordandScoones,2006).Accesstolandandwaterresourcesoverwidestretchesoflandiscriticaltothemaintenanceofpastorallivelihoodsandthesurvivaloftheircommunities(Niamir‐Fuller1998;Buttetal.,2009).Pastoralistaccesstocriticalzonesbetterendowedwithwaterresources,suchasrivervalleysandhighlands,isincreasinglythreatenedbyencroachmentofagriculture,includingirrigatedandrainfedfarming,andtheestablishmentofconservationareas(AngassaandOba,2008;LampreyandReid,2004).Resolutionofthesecompetingclaimsrequirescarefulplanningandpolicynegotiationatlocal,nationalandregionallevels.Yettechnicalandpolicyinterventionsatanylevelmeetconstraintsatupanddownexistingadministrativehierarchies(LampreyandReid,2004).Debateremainsovertheextenttowhichrangelandsaredegradedandwhatscopethereisforrestoration.Restorationofdegradedrangelandsandsustainableimprovementsintheirproductivitywillnotsucceedwithoutcommunityinvolvement(WISP,2008;Mortimore2009),aspastoralsystemsaredynamicandlocallyspecific.Localcommunitiesknowtheirneedsbest(DestaandCoppock,2004),asherdershaveadeepunderstandingoftherangelandsystemstheyhaveusedforgenerations(ObaandKaitira,2004).Participatoryland‐useplanningwithherdersisapotentiallyviable,yetlittleexplored,approachtosuccessfulrangelandrestorationandmanagement(Reidetal.,2000;Reidetal.,2009).Opportunitiesforgeneratinggreatersocialbenefitsarehighlycontext‐specificandareafunctionofvariabilityinherdsize,environment,marketaccess,rangecondition,attitudestowardsrisk,propertyrightsregimes,andtheabilitytomovetodifferentgrazingareas(BakerandHoffman,2006;Campbelletal.,2006;SanfordandScoones,2006;Buttetal.,2009).Pastoralismisacomplexsocioecologicalsystem(Cioffi‐Revilla,2010),andcomplexitymustbeconsideredwhenexploringlivelihood‐enhancingsolutions.5.5.4. ValuingecosystemservicesSeveralresearchersintheCGIARhaveadvancedunderstandingofthevalueofecosystemservicesinsupportingagriculturalproduction,improvingsmallholderlivelihoodsandachievingsustainability(Frisonetal.,2011).Researchershavealsoexaminedtheroleofbiodiversityinthecontrolofpestsanddiseases,andtheimportanceofwithin‐cropdiversitytosmallholderfarmers(Jarvisetal.,2007,2008).Smale(2008)andDrucker(2007,2010)haveinvestigatedtheeconomicsofbiodiversitymaintenanceincropandlivestockproduction.Othershaveexaminedtheroleofbiodiversityinimprovingsustainabilityandenhancingresilience,whilealsoconsideringthepoliciesthatmightbehelpfulinensuringthatbiodiversityismaintainedinagriculturalsettings(Jacksonetal.,2010;Halewood,2011).
91
5.6. OurTheoryofChangeforrainfedsystemsMenandwomenfarmerswillnotinvestinmanagingnaturalresourcesorprotectingecosystemsunlesstheyseeaclearfinancialgainwithinareasonabletimeframe,andtheyareassuredthatthegainwillbetheirstoreceive.Thus,wemustdeterminetherightmixofpolicies,incentives,andtheassignmentsofpropertyrightstolandandwaterifwewishtomotivatefarm‐levelinvestmentsindesirableproductionpractices.Wemustalsoreducethefarm‐levelcostsandrisksassociatedwithtechnologyadoptionandtheuseoffertilizerandothercostlyinputsinrainfedsettings.Andwemustdevelopmechanismsthatenhanceinteractionsinvolvingdifferentgroupsoffarmers,governmentagenciesandresearchpartners.Landandwaterresourcesarebecomingscarcer,owingpartlytoincreasingdemandsforfood,feedandbiofuels.Newlegislationandenforcementwillbeneededinsomecountriestoensurethatsmallholderfarmersretainaccesstotheresourcestheyneedtosupporttheirlivelihoodactivities.Sucheffortsshouldincludeconsiderationofincentivestoencouragefarm‐levelandregionalinvestmentsthatwillenhancetheprotectionofsupportingecosystems.Substantialinvestmentsareneededtoreverselanddegradationandbeginrebuildingsoilnutrientandcarbonstocksinrainfedareas,particularlyinsub‐SaharanAfricaandSouthAsia.Atthesametime,thecostofinactionissubstantial.Theopportunitycostsoftheagriculturalandlivelihoodbenefitsforegone,aslanddegradationtakesitstolloncropandlivestockproductivity,likelyaremuchlargerthanthecostofrestoringdegradedlands.Andthatcostcanbesharedamongpartnersengagedintherestorationeffort,suchasgovernments,internationaldonors,andnonNGOsthatpromotesustainableimprovementsinlivelihoodsinchallengingenvironments.InpreparingthisTheoryofChange,wehaveidentifiedfourleverspertainingtothescientificandpolicyissueswewilladdressandthecountriesinwhichwewillwork:1. Recommendingpolicies
Basedontheresultsofourscientificstudies,wewilldeveloppolicyrecommendationstoenhancelivelihoodsofbothmenandwomenthroughwisermanagementoflandandwaterresourcesinrainfedareas.Wewillengageinformativediscussionswithcommunityrepresentatives,donorsandpublicofficialsacrosstheregionsinwhichwework.InAfrica,wewillbuildstronglinkswithintheCAADPprocessandotherregionalpolicyandinvestmentinitiatives.
2. Supportingdevelopment
Wewillworkwithdevelopmentpartnerstoidentifycontextualbarrierstochange,toenhancetheplanningandeffectivenessofprogramsandpromotetheadoptionofspecificinterventions.Wewillprovidedataandanalysisthatallowpredictionoftheon‐farmandoff‐siteimpactsoflarge‐scaletechnical,financialandpolicyinterventions.Wewilldevelopwatershedmodelsandmonitoringprogramstoenhanceunderstandingofsustainableresourcemanagement.
92
3. Promotingparticipation
Wewillpromoteparticipatoryapproachestoplanning,monitoringandevaluation,inwhichmenandwomenfarmersengagewithlocaldevelopmentpartnersastheyimprovetheiragronomicpractices.Thiswillincreasetheattentiongiventoindividualandcommunityvalues,whilealsoempoweringhouseholdstonegotiateinstitutionalarrangementswithrelevantauthorities.
5.7. OurlinkswithotherSRPsandCRPsWithinCRP5,wewillinteractmostcloselywithresearchersintheBasinsandInformationSystemsSRPs.RegardingotherCRPs,wewillinteractmostcloselywithCRP1.1(Integratedagriculturalproductionsystemsfordryareas),CRP1.2(Integratedsystemsforthehumidtropics),CRP2(Policies,institutions,andmarketstostrengthenassetsandagriculturalincomesforthepoor),andCRP7(ClimateChange,AgricultureandFoodSecurity).WewilladdvaluetotheinformationdevelopedinCRP1.1andCRP1.2atthefarmandfieldlevels,byincorporatingthoseresultsinourresearchatwatershedandlandscapescales.Thefarmandfieldresultswillbehelpfulasweexamineopportunitiestoimprovelanduseplanningandwecraftpublicpoliciesthatprovideincentivesformanagingnaturalandagriculturalecosystemsinsustainableways.WewillalsoincorporatetheresultsofCRP2,regardinginstitutions,policy,andgender.Recommendationsregardingmarketincentivesandinstitutionalchangewillbeparticularlyrelevanttoourworkoneffortstointensifyagricultureinrainfedareas.Inreturn,theinformationwedeveloponlanddegradation,andtheconstraintsandopportunitiespertainingtoagriculturalintensification,willcontributetothepolicyanalysisconductedinCRP2.WewillintegratetheoutputsofCRP5withthoseofCRP3(onwheat;maize;rice;roots,tubersandbananas;grainlegumes;drylandcereals;andlivestockandfish),toenhanceadoptionofmanagementpracticesthatwillincreaseproductivity.TheresultsproducedinCRP7willalsobehelpfulasweconstructscenariosdepictingalternativelandandwatermanagementinterventionsinrainfedareasofAsiaandAfrica.Wemustconsiderthepotentialimpactsofimpendingclimatechangeonhydrologyandcropproductioninrainfedareas,asweconductourresearch.Theinsightwegainregardingrestorationofdegradedlandscapes,theimprovementofpastoralsystems,andtherebuildingofsoilcarbonstockswillserveasinputstoCRP7researchonmitigationandadaptationtoclimatechange.WewillalsointeractwiththeCRPresearcherswhoaredevelopingcropvarietiesthatarebetteradaptedtovariationsinnaturalresourceconditions.WeenvisionconstructingscenariosthatincludecombinationsofimprovementsinNRMandtheavailabilityofnewcropvarietiesbettersuitedforfutureconditions.
93
5.8. ResearchpartnersPerhapsoneofthegreatestassetsoftheRainfedSystemsSRPwillbeourabilitytoworkoutsidethesilosthathavetraditionallylimitedtheaddedvalueofresearchonsoils,waterandnutrientmanagement.Indeed,wewillformtrulyinterdisciplinaryresearchteamsinvolvingtraditionalpartners(NARES,ARIsandCGIARcenters)andothersinvolvedinagricultureandNRMandwithcloselinkswithcommunities.WewillalsodevelopcloselinkswithpertinentUNagenciesinanongoingefforttogenerateandextendthediscussionofinternationalpublicgoods.Duringtheinceptionphasewewilldefinepreciserolesforexistingandnewpartnerswithrespecttoeachoftheproblemsets.Weenvisionfourtypesofpartnershipsasweengageinthisresearch:1)coreresearch;2)implementation;3)influenceandoutreachpartners;and4)internationalconventions.Table5.1providesexamplesoftheorganizationslikelytobeinvolved.InternationalconventionsInadditiontodevelopingresearchpartnerships,suchasthosedescribedabove,wewilldevelopstronglinkswithselectedinternationalconventions.Givenourfocusonlanddegradationandourinterestindeterminingoptionsforbalancingthedevelopmentofdiverseecosystems,includingwetlandsandthedrymarginsbetweenagriculturalandpastoralsystems,weenvisionhelpfulallianceswiththeUNconventionstocombatdesertification(UNConventiontoCombatDesertification;UNCCD),promotebiologicaldiversity(UNConventiononBiodiversity;UNCBD),andprotectwetlands(RamsarConventiononWetlands).IWMI’scurrentpartnershipwithRamsarwillserveasahelpfulguideinestablishingnewrelationships.AsanInternationalOrganizationPartner(IOP)ofRamsar,IWMIscientistsparticipateintheScienceandTechnicalReviewPanel,activelycontributingtoexpertworkinggroupsaddressingtheissuesof:1)wetlandsandpovertyalleviation;2)wetlandsandagriculture;3)wetlandsinventoryandassessment;and4)wetlandsandclimatechange.5.9. WherewewillworkWewillworkinselectedregionsofAfrica,AsiaandLatinAmerica,conductingresearchtogenerateinternationalpublicgoodsregardingpressingissuesinrainfedareas.Weprovideafewexamplesoftheissueswewilladdress,byregionandfarmingsystem.• InsubSaharanAfricaandSouthAsiawewillexaminemeasurestorestore
degradedlandscapesandimprovesoilhealthbyrebuildingnutrientstocksandimprovingwatermanagement.
• InEastandWestAfricaandSouthAsiawewillexaminethebalancebetween
effortstoimprovelivelihoodsandeffortstoenhanceecosystemservices.• AlsoinEastandWestAfricawewilldeterminehowbetterland‐useplanningthat
supportsmobilityandprovidesaccesstodry‐seasongrazingareascanreduceconflictsovercompetinglanduses,whileimprovinglivelihoodsincropandpastoralsystems.
94
• InLatinAmericaandSoutheastAsiawewillexaminewaystointensifyproduction
inrainfedricesystemsandmixeduplandcroppingsystems,whilemaintainingcriticalecosystemservicessuchasfloodregulation,soilretention,andpestanddiseasecontrol.Wewillalsoexaminewaysofintensifyingagriculturalproduction,whileretainingbiodiversityinthetransitionzonesbetweenforestsandintensivecroppingareas.
• InCentralandWestAsiaandNorthAfrica,wewillexaminethepotentialfor
intensifyingagricultureinfavorablerainfedsettingsandenhancingtheresilienceoffarmingcommunitiesinlessfavorablesettings,whileincreasingourunderstandingoftheconsequencesofintensificationonecosystems.
95
Table5.1.CRP5’slikelypartnersontheRainfedSystemsSRPRegion/Basin CoreResearch Implementation OutreachSouthernAfrica(Limpopo–Zambezi)
AmericanUniversityofBeirut;Univ.ofNaturalResourcesandAppliedLifeSciences(BOKU);SwedishUniversityofAgriculturalSciences(SLU);WageningenUniversityandResearchCentre(WUR);Univ.ofFreeState(UFS),RSA;Univ.ofZimbabwe(UZ);BundaCollegeofAgriculture–UniversityofMalawi;UniversityofBonn;
CatholicReliefServices(CRS);WorldVision;CooperativeforAssistanceandReliefEverywhere(CARE);InternationalFertilizerDevelopmentCentre(IFDC);InternationalPlantNutritionInstitute(IPNI)
IUCN;WorldResourceInstitute(WRI);ConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD);UNFrameworkConventiononClimateChange;AfricanEcosystemResearchNetwork(CAS‐UNEP)
WesternAfrica(VoltaandNiger)
TheInternationalInstituteforGeo‐InformationScienceandEarthObservation(ITC);ColoradoStateUniversity(CSU);UniversityofColorado;WageningenUniversityandResearchCentre(WUR);InstituteforAgriculturalResearch(IAR),Nigeria;
Instituted’EconomieRuralIER);InstituteNationaldelaRechercheAgronomiquedeNiger(INRAN),Niger;Institutedel’EnvironnementetdeReschercheAgricoles(INERA),BurkinaFaso;VétérinairesSansFrontières(VSF);SOSSahel;
IUCN;WorldResourceInstitute(WRI);UNConventiontoCombatDesertification(UNCCD),ConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD);UNFrameworkConventiononClimateChange;AfricanEcosystemResearchNetwork(CAS‐UNEP);AnimalProductionResearchingDepartment(UNEP‐DIPA);FAOLivestockEmergencyUnitsWorldInitiativeforSustainablePastoralismunderIUCN(IUCN‐WISP);
EastAfrica(Nile) InternationalFertilizerDevelopmentCenter(IFDC);Univ.ofNaturalResourcesandAppliedLifeSciences(BOKU);CatholicUniversityofLeuven,Belgium;SwedishUniversityofAgriculturalSciences(SLU);WageningenUniversityandResearchCentre;NationalResourceConservationService(NRCS);ColoradoStateUniversity(CSU);UniversityofColorado;UCDavis;MakerereUniversityKampala(MUK),Uganda;AddisAbabaUniversity(AAU);Univ.ofNairobi(UON);MoiUniversity,Kenya;KenyattaUniversity,Kenya;SokoineUniv.ofAgriculture(SUA),Tanzania;
CatholicReliefServices(CRS);SelianAgriculturalResearchInstitute(SARI),Tanzania;MlinganoAgriculturalResearchInstitute(MARI),Tanzania;AyoleAgricultrualResearchinstitute(AARI),Tanzania;EthiopiaInstituteofAgricultureResearch(EIAR);AmharaRegionalAgriculturalResearchInstitute(ARARI),Ethiopia;KenyaAgriculturalResearchInstitute;InstitutedesSciencesAgronomiqueduRwanda(Rwanda
IUCN;WorldResourceInstitute(WRI);ConservationInternational(CI);UNConventiontoCombatDesertificationUNCCD),ConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD);UNFrameworkConventiononClimateChange;AfricanEcosystemResearchNetwork(CAS‐UNEP);AnimalProductionResearchingDepartment(UNEP‐DIPA);FAO
96
AgriculturalResearchInstitute)(ISAR);UCB,DRCongo;CooperativeforAssistanceandReliefEverywhere(CARE);GrameenFoundation;InternationalPlantNutritionInstitute(IPNI)
LivestockEmergencyUnits;WorldInitiativeforSustainablePastoralismunderIUCN(IUCN‐WISP);
SouthAsia(IndusandGanges)
StateAgriculturalUniversities,India;JawaharlalNehruUniversity(JNU);Univ.ofAgriculturalSciencesBangalore(UAS)
IndianCouncilofAgriculturalResearch(ICAR);BharatiyaAgroIndustriesFoundation,India;WatershedOrganizationTrust,India;SevaMandir,India;SMSehgalFoundation,India;AgaKhanFoundation
MiddleEast(TigrisandEuphrates)
GeneralCommissionforScientificAgriculturalresearch(GCSAR),Syria;EducationandExtensionOrganization(AREEO),Iran;GeneralCommissionforScientificAgriculturalresearch(GCSAR),Syria;NationalCenterforAgriculturalResearchandExtension(NCARE),MinistryofAgriculture,Jordan;
SoutheastAsia(Mekong)(moreforCIPthanCIAT)
ChineseAcademyofAgriculturalSciences(CAAS);GuizhouAcademyofAgriculturalSciences(GAAS)
SoutheastAsia(Mekong)(ForCIAT)
ChineseAcademyofTropicalAgriculturalSciences(CATAS);ChineseAcademyofAgriculturalSciences(CAAS);ChineseAcademyofSciences(CAS);GuangxiSubtropicalCropsResearchInstitute(GSCRI);YunnanAcademyofAgriculturalSciences(YAAS)GuangxiAcademyofAgriculturalSciences(GAAS);VietnamAcademyofAgriculturalSciences(VAAS)andconstituentinstitutes;TayNguyenUniversity(TNU);ThaiNguyenUniversityofAgricultureandForestry(TNUAF);NongLamUniversity(NLU);HueUniversityofAgricultureandForestry(HUAF);RoyalUniversityofAgriculture(RUA)ofCambodia,CambodianAgriculturalResearchand
MinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment(MARD)ofVietnamplusProvincialandDistrictauthorities;MinistryofAgricultureandForestry(MAF)andProvincialandDistrictAgricultureandForestryOffices(P/DAFO);NationalAgricultureandForestryExtensionService(NAFES);ThaiTapiocaDevelopmentInstitute(TTDI);ThaiDepartmentofAgriculturalExtension(DOAE);NorthernAgricultureandForestryCollege(NAFC)in
ADBandIFADLoan/Investmentprojects;CARE;CatholicReliefService(CRS);Oxfam;WorldVision(WV);ChristianReformedWorldReliefCommittee(CRWRC);AdventistDevelopmentandReliefAgency(ADRA);andotherNGOsandDevelopmentProjects
97
DevelopmentInstitute(CARDI);KasetsartUniversityThailand(KU);KhonKaenUniversity(KKU);ChiangMaiUniversity(CMU);ThaiDepartmentofAgriculture(DOA);YezinAgricultureUniversity(YAU),Burma;DepartmentofAgriculturalResearch(DAR)Burma;NationalAgricultureandForestryResearchInstitute(NAFRI);NationalUniversityofLaos(NUOL);CommonwealthScientificandIndustrialResearchOrganisation‐AustralianAnimalHealthLaboratory(CSIRO‐AAHL);UniversityofQueensland(UQ);UniversityofNewEngland(UNE);CharlesSturtUniversity(CSU);JapanInternationalResearchCenterforAgriculturalScience(JIRCAS);InstitutdeRecherchepourleDéveloppement(IRD);CentredecoopérationInternationaleenRechercheAgronomiquepourleDéveloppement(CIRAD);
LuangPrabang;BattambangUniversity(BBU);GeneralDirectorateofAgriculture(GDA)Cambodia;ProvincialDepartmentsofAgricultureinCambodia;SNV;Helvetas;GesellschaftfürInternationaleZusammenarbeit(GIZ)
CentralAsia(AmuDaryaandSyrDarya)
SENNIRI,Uzbekistan; IUCN
LatinAmericaandCaribbean(Andesbasin,SouthAmericasavannasandCentralAmericahillsides)
InstitutodeEcologia(IoE),Mexico;TropicalAgronomicCentreforResearchandHigherEducation(CATIE),CostaRica;MuseuParaenseEmilioGoeldi(MPEG);EMBRAPAAmazoniaOriental;UniversidadFederaldoPara(UFPA),UniversidaddelaAmazonia(Florencia),UniversidadTecnologicaPereira(UTC),UniversitéAntillesGuyane,INRAGuadeloupe,NationalUniversityofAgriculture(UNA),Nicaragua;NationalSchoolofForestSciences(ESNACIFOR),Honduras;NationalUniversityofColombia(UNAL),Colombia;UniversityofWesternAustralia(UWA),Australia;SwissFederalInstituteofTechnology–Zurich(ETHSwitzerland);UniversityofCalifornia,Davis;JapanInternationalResearchCenterforAgriculturalSciences(JIRCAS),Japan;InternationalMaizeandWheatImprovementCenter(CIMMYT);CornellUniversity;IntegratedManagementofSoilConsortiuminCentralAmerica(MIS)
NicaraguanInstituteforAgriculturalTechnology(INTA/CENIA),Nicaragua;DirectionofScienceandFarmingTechnology(DICTA),Honduras;MinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment(MADR)Colombia;ColombianCoorporationforAgriculturalResearch(CORPOICA);ConsortiumfortheSustainableDevelopmentoftheAndeanEco‐region(CONDESAN),Peru
IUCN;FoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations(FAO),CentralAmerica
98
5.10. FiveyearsandfiveproblemsetsWehaveselectedfiveProblemSetsthatwilldetermineourresearchfociduringthenextfiveyears,asoutlinedinsections5.10.1–5.10.5.5.10.1. ProblemSet1:RecapitalizingAfricansoilsandreducingland
degradationThesoilsinrainfedagriculturalsystemsprovideimportantecosystemservicesthatunderpinagriculturalproduction.Theystoreandcyclewaterandnutrientsthatarecriticalintheproductionofcropsandforagesforlivestock.Soilsharbororganismsthatfixnitrogenandmakeothernutrientsavailableforcrops.Theyhavearolealsointhetransformationofcarbon,whichmaintainssoilstructureandfertility.Despitethecriticallyimportantroleofsoils,farmlandandgrazingareashavebeendegradedovertime,andnutrientshavebeenmined,ratherthanreplenishedeachseason.Landdegradationiscausedlargelybyunsustainablelandmanagementpracticesthatresultinthelossofnutrientsduetoerosionandsoilnutrientmining,lossofsoilcarbonandtheassociatedlossofsoilbiota.Onseverelydegradedlands,applicationsofnitrogen,phosphorusandpotassiumhavelimitedeffectsoncropyields.Thus,eveniffarmersonsuchlandscouldaffordsupplementalfertilizer,theadditionalnutrientswouldnotnecessarilyincreasetheirnetreturns.WewillexaminetechnicalinterventionsandpolicyoptionsforrestoringnutrientbalancesinAfricansoilsandreducinglanddegradation.Wewillconsidertheimplicationsofpopulationpressure,therolesofinputandoutputprices,andthelackofinformationavailabletomenandwomenfarmersandpastoralistsregardingsoilconstraints,nutrientbalancesandlanddegradation.Wewillconsideralsothepotentialroleofcarbonsequestrationprograms,whichmayenhancesoilfertilityandsoilmoisturestatus(WorldBank,2010).Wewilldetermineifcarboncreditsandotherpaymentforenvironmentalserviceprogramsmightbehelpfulinmotivatingfarmerstorestorethecarbon,nutrientandwatercyclesofdegradedsoils(Thomas,2008;Ferraro,2009;Jack,2009;Swallowetal.,2010).Wewilldevelopmethodsforidentifyingnutrientlimitationscheaplyandefficientlyatagivenlocation,toreducetheriskoflargefinanciallosseswhenapplyingfertilizer.Wewillalsoexamineopportunitiesforincreasingbiomassproductionatthefarmlevelandacrossagriculturalandpastorallandscapes,thusprovidinggreateropportunitiesforrestoringsoilorganicmatter.GuidinghypothesisWecanrestoreagriculturalproductivityondegradedlandswithin5to10yearsbyprovidingfarmerswithaffordableaccesstofertilizerandhelpingthemtoimplementpracticesthatrestoredesirablelevelsofcarbon,phosphorus,nitrogen,andlimitingmeso‐andmicro‐nutrientsinsoils,whileminimizingtheimpactonsupportingecosystems.
99
Examplesofresearchquestions1. Whatarethebestwaystoreplenishcarbon,phosphorus,nitrogenandpotassiumin
depletedsoils?2. Whataretheimplicationsofmeso‐andmicro‐nutrientdeficiencies,andhowcan
thesebeidentifiedandameliorated?3. Howcanweidentifyandamelioratesoilsthatarenotresponsivetosimplefertilizer
packages?4. Whatopportunitiesexistfordevelopingorganicandbio‐fertilizers?5. Whatisthepotentialfordevelopingbiologicalformsofnitrogenfixation?6. Whatisthepotentialforbiocharproductioninrainfedareas?7. Whichrestorationtechniquesareavailable,andwhicharemostappropriate?8. Whatproductionmethodsaremostappropriateforuseonrestoredlands?9. Whatincentiveswouldincreasethelikelihoodofadoptionbypoormenandwomen
farmers?10.Whatpolicyconstraintsdiscourageadoption,andhowmightthoseberesolved?11.Whatisthecarbonsequesteringpotentialinrainfedareas,whatisthefeasibilityof
implementingcarboncreditprogramsacrossextensivelandscapes,andhowmightfarmhouseholdsbenefit?
TheimpactpathwayforthisProblemSetisfurtherdetailedinTable5.2.
100
Table5.2.ImpactPathway:RecapitalizingAfricansoilsandreducinglanddegradation
Issues Leversofchange Researchoutputs Outcomes PotentialimpactContributiontoSRFoutcomes
Poorsoilsthatshownosignificantresponsetoapplicationofmacro‐nutrientsareapervasiveproblem,andrequireadedicatedefforttorestoresoilfertility.Degradationistheresultofunsustainablelandmanagementincombinationwithvulnerablesoilsorsoilsoflowinherentsoilfertility.Thisleadstolossofsoilcarbonanddegradationofsoilstructure,withconsequencesforavailablesoilwaterandthebiologicalactivitythatunderpinsagriculturalproduction.Solutionsmustcombineintegratedsoilfertilitymanagement(ISFM)withsoilconservationmeasures,land‐useoptionsandland‐useplanningoptionsforarea‐wideintervention.
• Informationonlanddegradationstatusandassociatedcostsraisesawarenessofassociatedproblemsandincreasespreparedness
• EffectivelinkageswithinternationalinitiativessuchasUNCCDandCAADP
• Informationonlocalvariationinlanddegradationandsoilproductivitytotargetinvestments
• Benefitsfromcarbonsequestrationinagriculturallandstobegeneratedthroughcarboncredits
• Documentationofsustainablelandmanagementpracticeswithassociatedcostsandpredictedbenefits.
• Assessmentoflanddegradationstatusandanalysesofsoilandlandhealthproblemsatvariousscales;identificationofareasavailableforexpansionofagriculturallandthroughrestorationofdegradedareasandthroughlandconversion.
• Reviewandevaluationofintegratedsolutionstorestoringdegradedsoils,includingsoilconservation,ISFMandwater‐conservationtechnologies
• Improvedpasturesandagroforestrysystems
• Toolsforland‐useplanningandarea‐wideapproachestorestoredegradedagriculturallandscapes
• Evaluationoflocalorganizationalstructuresforrehabilitationofdegradedlandscapes
• Evaluationofpoliciesandnationalactionplanstoaddressdesertification,landdegradationanddrought.
• Increasedawarenessofseverityandacutenessoflanddegradationwillgeneratepolicysupportandsecureinvestmentsincombatinglanddegradationandrestoringdegradedlands
• Detailedinformationonlanddegradationstatusandidentificationofeffectivemanagementpracticeswillresultinmoreeffectiveinterventions
• Properincentivestructuresandprovenmanagementpracticeswillenhanceadoptionbyfarmersofpracticesforrestoringsoilfertility
• Adoptionofeffectivemanagementwillrestoresoilfertilityovertimeandincreasetheareaofproductivesoils.
• Soilresourcebaseexpandedandimproved,improvingthelivelihoodsofupto5millionhouseholdsinruralareas
• Increasedproductionprovidingfoodsecurityandincomeopportunitiesforanestimated5millionhouseholds
• Reducedvulnerabilityandincreasedresilienceofanestimated1millionruralhouseholds.
Sustainablemanagementofnaturalresources;foodsecurity.
101
5.10.2. ProblemSet2:RevitalizingproductivityonresponsivesoilsNotallsoilsinrainfedareasaredegraded.Manysoilshavethepotentialtosupportgoodyields,butfarmerslacktheinputsandinformationneededtorealizethatpotential.Weconsidersuchsoilstoberesponsive,astheywillproducegoodyieldsiffarmersapplytherightinputsandmanagetheirfieldsappropriately,andifadequaterainfallarriveswithgoodtiming.Tobesure,therearemanyuncertaintiesinrainfedareasthateventhebestsoilscannotovercome.YetinthisProblemSetweemphasizeanddevelopthepotentialofresponsivesoils,anddemonstratetheimprovementsincropandlivestockproductionmadepossiblebyprovidingmenandwomenfarmerswiththeinputsandinformationtheyneedtogeneratebetteryields.Ifsuccessful,thegainsinaggregateproductivityacrosslargeareasofAsiaandAfricawillbesubstantial.OurresearchinthisProblemSetwillinvolvecombinationsofagronomic,hydrologicandeconomicanalysis.Wewillbeginbylocatingresponsivesoils,usingtheAfricaSoilsInformationService.Wewillthenexaminemethodsofincreasingfertilizeruseonresponsivesoils,whileacknowledgingthecostsandinherentrisksinvolvedforfarmers,withaparticularfocusonunderstandinggender‐basedconstraints.Wewillalsostudypotentialchangesincropchoicesandwilldeveloprecommendationsregardingcroppingpatterns,plantnutrientsandwaterrequirementsforuseonresponsivesoils.,Tosupporthigherproductivity,wewillexaminethepotentialforimprovingwater‐harvestingactivitiesinrainfedareas.Wewillalsoproposeenhancementsinfarm‐levelaccesstoinputandoutputmarkets,andimprovementsinland‐tenureregimes,sothatbothmenandwomenfarmerswillhavethenecessaryincentivesandopportunitiestoinvestinrevitalizingtheproductivityofresponsivesoils.GuidinghypothesisSubstantialgainsinfarm‐levelproductivityandtheaggregateoutputofcropandlivestockproductscanbeachievedbyprovidingmenandwomenfarmersandpastoralistswiththeinformationandinputsneededtorevitalizetheproductivityofresponsivesoilsinrainfedareas.Examplesofresearchquestions1. WhatisthecurrentextentofresponsivesoilsinselectedrainfedareasofAsia,Africa
andLatinAmerica?2. Whatarethebindingconstraintsthatlimitcropandlivestockproductivity?3. Howcanthosebindingconstraintsberelaxed,whilealsoenhancingtheecosystem
servicesthatsupportagriculturalproduction?4. Whatinvestmentsandpolicyalternativeswouldbehelpfulinsupporting
widespreadimprovementsinaccessbymenandwomenfarmerstoinputandoutputmarkets,intheinterestofpromotinggreateruseoffertilizerandprovidingopportunitiestoreceivehigherpricesforcropandlivestockproducts?
TheimpactpathwayforthisProblemSetisfurtherdetailedinTable5.3.
102
Table5.3.ImpactPathway:ImpactPathway:RevitalizingProductivityonResponsiveSoils
Issue Leversofchange Researchoutputs Outcomes PotentialimpactContributiontoSRFoutcomes
Manysoils,includingthosewithhighpotential,producesmallyieldsbecausefarmerslackinformation,knowledgeandskills,andtheyhavelimitedaccesstoinputandoutputmarkets.Manysoilsareconstrainedbynutrientlimitationsbutwouldrespondtonutrientapplication.Ifthesesoilscanbeidentifiedandmanagedappropriately,significantincreasesinyieldarepossiblewithoutenvironmentaldegradation.
• Providinginformationandknowledgeonintegratedsoilfertilitymanagement(ISFM)tohelpfarmersachieverealisticproductiontargets
• TrainingtoimprovefarmerskillstoimplementISFM
• Riskinsurancemechanismstoprovideincentivesforinvestmentinproduction‐enhancingtechnologies
• Establishingfarmerorganizationstoimproveaccesstomarkets,landandwaterresources,andbetterlinkingoflocalenterprises
• WorkingwithCAADPtoencouragepoliciestosupporttheseactions.
• Assessmentoflocalvariationinyields,yieldpotential,locallandandsoilhealthstatus,riskofdrought,erosionrisk,agronomicpractices,andsocioeconomiccharacteristics
• Analysesofyieldgapsanddiagnosesofproductionconstraints;responsestonutrientapplication,driversofchange;resource‐useefficiencyatdifferentscales;analysesoflocalpoliciesandincentives,institutionsandfarmerorganizations
• ReviewofISFMoptionsandtechnologiestoimprovenutrientavailabilityandplantuptake,andtoimprovesoilfertility;land‐useoptionsforcereal‐legumeintercroppingandrotations,crop‐livestocksystemsandarea‐wideintegrationofenterprises
• Decisionsupporttoolsfordevelopmentpractitionersandfarmers
• Monitoring‐and‐evaluationtoolsforfarmperformance,resource‐useefficiencyandeffectivenessoflocalorganizations.
• Developmentpractitionersandgovernmentagents,awareofproductionpotentialandmajorconstraints,targettheirinterventionsandinvestmentsforsite‐specificsolutions
• Suiteofmanagementoptionssustainablyincreaseproductivity
• Incentivesdevelopedtoenablefarmerstoadopttheseoptions;bettercropinsuranceproducts
• Farmersimprovetheirproductivitybyadoptingimprovedtechnologyandimprovingsoilfertilitymanagement.
• ProductionincreasebecauseofimprovedISFM,triplingyieldofmajorfoodcropsforpotentially15millionfarmersandhouseholdmembers
• Moresustainableproductionandimprovedresilience
• Significantincomeandfoodproductionbenefitsfor15millionfarmers.
Foodsecurity;sustainablemanagementofnaturalresources;povertyreduction
103
5.10.3. ProblemSet3:Increasingagriculturalproductionwhileenhancingbiodiversity
Wewillexaminethebenefitstocropandlivestockproductionofdiversifyingagricultureinwaysthatreduceriskandenhanceresilience.Diversificationcanincludeexpandingthegeneticdiversitywithinagriculturebyincreasingthenumberofcropvarietiesandlivestockbreeds,andplantingtreesacrossagriculturallandscapes.Suchchangescanimproveproductivityandreducetheimpactsofuncertainrainfall,plantdiseaseandpestinfestations.Wewillexploreopportunitiesforachievingdesirablelevelsofagriculturalbiodiversity,inconjunctionwithimprovementsinsoilandwatermanagementpractices.Wewilldeterminehowtoachieveagriculturalintensification,whilepreservingorenhancingbiodiversity,withinwatershedsandacrosslandscapes.Inconductingthisresearch,wewillconsiderthepolicydimensionsandgenderaspectsofeffortstoenhancebiodiversityinproductionsystems,asweendeavortostrengthenthesocialinstitutionsthatsupportbiodiversityenhancement(Jarvisetal.,2011).GuidinghypothesisItispossibletoincreaseagriculturaloutputandenhancebiodiversityinrainfedareasthroughimprovementsinsoilandwatermanagementpractices.Examplesofresearchquestions1. Whatisthestateofecosystemservicesthatunderpinagriculturalproductionand
howdowemap,monitorandvaluethoseservices?2. Whatarethemostimportanttrade‐offsbetweenshort‐termandlong‐termgains
duringagriculturalintensification,includingthosepertainingtotheprovisionofecosystemservices?
3. Howcanmonitoringandevaluatingecosystemservicesimprovedecision‐making?4. Howcanbiodiversitybeenhancedandharnessedtoincreasetheprovisionof
ecosystemservicesincludingpollination,pestanddiseasecontrol,andmaintainingbiomasstoregulatewatercyclingandsoilretention?
TheimpactpathwayforthisProblemSetisfurtherdetailedinTable5.4.
104
Table5.4.ImpactPathway:Increasingagriculturalproductionwhileenhancingbiodiversity
Issues Leversofchange Researchoutputs Outcomes PotentialimpactsContributiontoSRFoutcomes
Agriculturalintensificationmayresultindegradedlandscapesinwhichtheecosystemservicesthatareessentialforsustainingagriculturalproductionarecompromised.Thisisespeciallyrelevantforlow‐andmedium‐inputagriculture.Thelossofecosystemfunctionisassociatedwithlossofbiologicalandgeneticdiversityandbeneficialorganisms.Thismayrefertousefultreesinthelandscapethatprovidefuelwoodandfruits,ortothelossofmedicinalplants,thedisappearanceofpredatorsandpollinators,andthelossofbelow‐groundbiodiversity.
• Mechanismsforsharingbenefitsfromecosystemservicesandrewardmechanismsforecosystemserviceswillstimulateinvestmentinresourceconservationandreduceexternalinputs
• Raisingawarenessandincreasingknowledgeonbiodiversityisimportantforsustainableagriculturalproduction
• Regulatoryframeworksandestablishingprotectedandrestrictedareas;arrangementsforcompetingclaims.
• Integratedassessmentanddiagnosisoflandscapeintegrity:livelihoodsandwellbeingofpeople;foodsecurityandincomegenerated;compositionandstructureofthelandscape,biodiversityandecosystemservices(pollination,regulatingofplantanddiseases,soilerosioncontrol,regulationofgreenhousegasemissions,regulatingofwaterbalance)
• Analysesanddiagnosesoflandhealth:landscapecompositionandstructureasadeterminingfactorforecosystemfunctioningandhumanwellbeing;modelingthisrelationship;toolsforlandscapedesign
• Reviewandevaluationofoptionsforreconstructinglandscapes
• Participatorymethodsforlandscapeandenvironmentalplanning;evaluationofoptionsforPaymentforEnvironmentalServicesandsharingbenefitsfromnaturalresources.
• Managementofecosystemservicesandenvironmentalqualityismainstreamedindevelopmentprograms
• Healthyenvironmentthatprovidesfoodsecurity,shelterandsustainedecosystemservices
• Reducedvulnerabilityandincreasedresilience
• Improvedsustainabilityoffoodproduction,reducedlanddegradationandhalteddesertification,andmulti‐functionallandscapes.
• Significantcontributiontosustainablemanagementofnaturalresources
105
5.10.4. ProblemSet4:Enhancingavailabilityandaccesstowaterandlandforpastoralists
Increasinglypastoralistsareconfrontedwithreducedavailabilityofandaccesstowaterresources.Asthedemandsforfoodandbiofuelsincrease,pastoralistsareatriskofbeingdeprivedofaccesstotheirtraditionalresources,withlimitedpossibilitiestoseekreplacementsourcesofforageandwaterfortheirlivestock.Theseland‐usechangesareoftenmotivated–whilebypassingtheissueofwhohastherightstotheseresources–bytheargumentthatcrop‐basedsystemsaremoreproductive.Thismightbetrueinyearsofgoodrainfallforthemorewater‐endowedpartsofthelandsusedbypastoralists,butpastoralismoffersmoreprofitableuseofthelandscapeatlarge.Deprivationofmenandwomenpastoralistsfromtheirlandsandresourcesleadstoundesirableoveruse,landdegradationanddiminishedproductivity.Clearlythereisaneedtostoptheinfringementonthelandandwaterresourcesusedbyandbelongingtopastorallandusers.Wewillhelppastoralistssecurerightsandaccesstotheseresourcesandgenerateevidenceontheresource‐useeconomicsofpastoralproduction.WewillbeginbyconveningstakeholdersinselectedregionsofEastandWestAfrica,tolearnoftheseeminglyintractableconstraintsfacingfarmersandpastoralistsinrainfedareasinlightofincreasingpopulationdensity,risingfoodprices,andincreasingcompetitionforlimitedlandandwaterresources.GuidinghypothesisSecuringaccesstoandimprovedwatermanagementwillenablepastoraliststosustainandimprovelivestockproductivityandenjoybetterlivelihoods.Examplesofresearchquestions1. Howdocompetingclaimsforlandandwateraffectpastoralandagro‐pastoral
livestockproductionsystemsandassociatedlivelihoods?2. Howdothebenefitsofthesecompetinglanduses,includingthevarioustradeoffs,
comparewithlandskeptunderpastoralandagro‐pastoralmanagement?3. Whataretheopportunitycostsofpastoralistsandagro‐pastoralistsnolongerbeing
abletouselandandwaterresourcesbecauseofinfringementsupontheirrightsbyoutsiders?
4. Whatcompensationwouldbereasonableandwhatarethesenewresourceuserswillingtopayforthelostopportunity?
5. Towhatextentarelivestockproductionandlivelihoodbenefitslostasaresultoflivestockdamagingsoilstructureandreducingtheirwater‐storingcapacity?
6. Whatrainwatermanagementoptionsandpracticesexistthatwillimproveforageproductionandwateruse?
7. Howwilltheproposedagendatosecurerightsofpastoralistsimpacteancillaryecosystemservicesandinternationalpublicgoodssuchasclimateregulationandbiodiversityconservationandwhatopportunitiesexistforpastoraliststobenefitfromtheserights?
106
8. Aredifferentgenderandgenerationsaffecteddifferently,andhowdoweensuretheequitableaccesstoandbenefitfromexistingpastoralmanagementpracticesandopportunitiestochangethese.?
9. Whatarecurrentpoliciesandinstitutionalarrangementsunderwhichlossofaccesstopasturesoccursandwhatlimitspastoralistseffectivenesstosecureaccessrights?
10.Whatopportunitiesexistforimprovingpoliciesandinstitutionalarrangementstosecureaccessrightstolands,waterandforage?
11.Whatwillbethelikelyimpactsofclimatechangeonwateravailabilityandaccess,andwhatstrategiesmightmitigatethoseimpacts?
TheimpactpathwayforthisProblemSetisfurtherdetailedinTable5.5.
107
Table5.5.ImpactPathway:Enhancingavailabilityandaccesstowaterandlandforpastoralists
Issues Leversofchange Researchoutputs Outcomes PotentialimpactsContributiontoSRFoutcomes
• Raisinglivestockisaneffectiveformoffoodproductionandlivelihoodgenerationinareaswheresoilandwaterresourcesarenotsufficienttosupportcropproduction.Yetsuchareasareincreasinglyconvertedforcropandbiofuelproduction,thusincreasingriskandimpairingpastoralistlivelihoods.Availablelandsarethenovergrazedanddegraded.
• Providingevidencethatraisinglivestockismoreproductivethanotherlandusesinmanyareas
• Supportingpastoralcommunitieswithscience‐basedargumentsandadvocacytosecurelandtenureandwateraccessrights
• Providingrecommendationstorestorethewaterbalanceofdegradedlandstoincreasevegetationbiomassproduction
• Demonstratingthevalueofrestoringecosystemservicesthatsupportlivestockproduction.
• Assessmentofdriversofchangeandimpactsofland‐,water‐andvegetation‐relatedconstraintsleadingtoriskinpastoralsystems
• Reviewofoptionstoreduceriskthroughsecuringrightstolandandaccesstowater,andimprovingmanagementofland,waterandvegetation,includingtheenablingpoliciesandincentivesrequiredtoadopttheseoptions
• Action‐basedresearchtosupportinitiativesthatsecurerightsandimprovetheuseofnaturalresourcesandsustainthebenefitsfromecosystemservices
• Monitorandevaluate,withcommunitiesanddevelopmentpractitioners,theeffectivenessofongoinginterventionsaimedattheabove,andenhancetheresearch‐for‐developmentcycle.
• Governmentpoliciessupportrightstoland,waterandvegetation,andenhanceincentivestoreduceriskandincreasebenefitsfromecosystemservicesinaridlands
• Developmentpractitionersinformedaboutopportunitiestoreduceriskrelatedtolossofaccesstonaturalresourcesandthepotentialtoacquirebenefitsfromecosystemservices
• Livestockkeeperssecuretheirrightstoland,waterandvegetation,andadoptimprovedlandandecosystemmanagementtoreduceriskandincreaseincome.
• Livestockkeepersbenefitfromsecuredrightstoland,waterandvegetationresources,andenhancedecosystemservices
• Greaternationalfoodandlivelihoodsecurity–includingforpastoralcommunities–andlessrelianceonfoodimports
• Globalcommunitybenefitsfrompastoralcommunitiesmanagingdrylandsinsuchawayastoprovideglobalpublicgoods,includingenhancedbiodiversityandclimateregulation.
• Foodsecurity;sustainablemanagementofnaturalresources;povertyalleviation;riskreduction
108
5.10.5. ProblemSet5:Reducingriskbyprovidingfarmerswithsupplementalirrigation
Wewillexaminethepotentialforsubstantiallyincreasingcropyieldsthroughthepracticeofsupplementalirrigation.Ourworkwillbuildoncurrentknowledgeregardingthepotentialyield‐increasingbenefitsofsupplementalirrigationandrainwaterharvesting(Rockströmetal.,2010,Wanietal.,2008).Wewillextendthatworktoconsideralsothepotentialgainsinincome,andimprovementsinlivelihoods,formenandwomenmadepossiblebyirrigatinghigher‐valuecrops.Wewillalsoexamineimplicationsforsustainability,equity,andtheprotectionandenhancementofecosystemservices.GuidinghypothesisProvidingsufficientwatertoenablesupplementalirrigationwillreducetheinherentrisksoffarminginrainfedareas,thusmotivatingmenandwomenfarmerstoincreasecropyieldsbyapplyingeffectiveamountsoffertilizerandothervariableinputs.Examplesofresearchquestions1. Whatarethepotentialincreasesincropyieldsmadepossiblebyproviding
supplementalirrigation?2. Whatwillbethechangesinyieldvariabilitywithsupplementalirrigation?3. Whatnon‐waterconstraintsmightbecomebindingwhenfarmerspractice
supplementalirrigation?4. Willsupplementalirrigationbesufficienttoencouragemenandwomenfarmersto
changecroppingpatterns,orwillcurrentcropchoicesprevail?5. Whatwillbethelikelyimpactsonindividualandhouseholdincomesandfood
securitywithsupplementalirrigation?6. Whatisthelikelihoodthatsupplementalirrigationcanbesustainedinselected
areas,giventhatthedemandforwaterisincreasinginmanyregions?7. Howcanwaterharvestingenhancesoilwaterandprovidewaterstoragetosupport
supplementalirrigation.8. Whatarethelikelyconsequencesofupstreamdevelopmentsinsupplemental
irrigationandwaterharvestingondownstreamwaterusers?TheimpactpathwayforthisProblemSetisfurtherdetailedinTable5.6.
109
Table5.6.ImpactPathway:Reducingriskbyprovidingfarmerswithsupplementalirrigation
Issues Leversofchange Researchoutputs Outcomes PotentialimpactsContributiontoSRFoutcomes
• Waterscarcityconstrainsagriculturalproductioninaridandsemi‐aridlands.Thiswaterscarcityiscausedbylimitedrainfallandcompetingclaimsforwaterresources.Climatevariabilityandlowhouseholdincomesareputtingincreasingnumbersofrainfedfarmersandpastoralistsatriskofhungerandpoverty.
• Persuadinggovernmentsandfarmersofthefoodsecurity,nutritionandlivelihoodbenefitsofsupplementalirrigation
• Persuadinggovernments,NGOsandtheprivatesectorofthebusinessandpoverty‐reducingbenefitsfromthisstrategy;buildonAsianexperienceofwaterharvestingtodeliversimilarsystemstoAfrica
• Securingrightstowaterandimprovedwaterusetoincreaselivestockproductioninaridlands.
• Assessmentofimpactoflossofaccesstolandandwaterandcurrentrainwater‐useefficiency(RWUE)onlivestockproduction
• Analysesof(i)driversofchangereducingaccesstowater,and(ii)livestockproductionachievableunderoptimalaccesstowaterandoptimalRWUE
• ReviewofoptionstosecurewateraccessandenhanceRWUE,includinganalysesofincentivestolandownerstoadopttheseoptions
• ProvideadviceonpoliciestosecurerightstowaterandcreateincentivestooptimizeRWUEinpastorallands
• DeliverinformationtosupportdevelopmentpractitionersandpastoraliststosecurerightstowaterandenhanceRWUE.
• Governmentpoliciessupportrightstowaterandcreateincentivestoincreaseagriculturalproductivityinaridlands
• Farmersandpastoralistsinvestingreateragriculturalproductivity,forexamplebyusingwater‐harvestingtechniques.
• Securedwaterrightsandimprovedagriculturalproductivityfor15millionmenandwomenpastoralists
• Lessrelianceonfoodimports
• Pastoralistslesspronetolossoflandandwaterresources.
• Livelihoods;nutrition;foodsecurity
110
5.11. WhatwewillachieveinthesecondfiveyearsInyears6through10,wewillconsolidateandextendourresultspertainingtotheinitialfiveProblemSets.WewillbuildlinkageswiththeBasinandInformationSystemsSRPstoincorporateourfindingsintointegratedlandandwaterinformationproductsthatwillbemadeavailabletofarmersviamobilephonetechnology.Wewillalsosynthesizenewlessonslearnedabouttherelationshipsbetweenecosystemservicesandagriculturalintensificationintosetsofregionallyfocusedpolicyandmanagementguidelines.5.12. ImplementationplanThefirststepinimplementingthisRainfedSRPistoconvenetheCGIARpartnerstointegratetheirongoingactivities.Thisentailsplanningworkatthesamesites,establishingsynergiesbetweenprojects,andplanningnewprojectsthatfullyintegratesoil,waterandecosystemservices.WewillalsoexamineopportunitiesforfurthercollaborationamongCRPsatcommonresearchsitesandwewillestablishstrategicpartnershipswiththirdparties.WhilefocusingonourfiveinitialProblemSets,wewillalsoconductthreeoverarchingactivities:1)monitoringandassessment;2)technologydevelopmentandpractice;and3)decisionsupportanddissemination.Themonitoringandassessmentactivitiesarecurrentlycenteredonbuildingasoilinformationserviceforsub‐SaharanAfrica.However,weplantofurtherexpandtheseactivities,increasingthedensityofobservationonthegroundandmoreaccuratelypredictinglandandsoilproperties.Wealsoplantoincludeobservationsonwaterresourcesandabove‐andbelow‐groundbiodiversity,suchthatinformationservicescanbeextendedbeyondsoilproperties.Wehopealsotoexpandtheseactivitiestootherregions,suchasCentralandWestAsia,NorthAfrica,CentralandSouthAmerica,andSouthandSoutheastAsia,partlybuildingonexistinginitiatives.Wewillalsodevelopwatershedmodelsandmonitoringprotocolsthatwillenhanceunderstandingofland‐useimpactsinareasofdegradedlandsandstressedecosystems.TheRainfedSRPlinkswiththeSRPonInformationSystemsforsitecharacterization,spatialtargetingofinterventions,modelling,andmonitoringframeworksforassessinginterventionimpacts.Wewillestablishandfurtherdeveloppartnershipswithinternationalorganizationsthathaveaninterestinresourceassessment,suchastheWorldResourcesInstitute(WRI),ConservationInternational(CI),IUCNandothers.Developmentandevaluationofagriculturaltechnologieswillrequirefieldtestingonexperimentstationsandincreasinglyonfarmers’fields.TheseactivitieswillbeconductedincollaborationwithCRPs1.1,1.2and1.3,andtheNARES.Wewillfocusprimarilyontechnologiesandpracticesthatmaintainandrestoresoilfertility,improvewater‐useefficiency,reducesoilerosion,andrestoresoilcarbon.Wewillpromoteinvestmentintechnologiesthatwethinkareimportant,suchasintegratedsoilfertilitymanagementformajorcropsinthedifferentagro‐ecologicalzonesofsub‐SaharanAfrica,andasupplementalirrigationpackageforwheatinrainfedagro‐ecosystemsofCentralandWestAsiaandNorthAfrica.
111
Decisionsupportanddisseminationactivitiesareundertakenverymuchinsupportofandtoimprovetheadoptionoftechnologiesandimprovedpractices.Becauseagriculturalinterventionsneedtocustomizedtolocalconditionsthereareahostoffactorsthatmustbeaddressedandunderstood:• Resourceandlivelihoodsituations(externalandinternal)
Theserefertothestateoftheresources(land,vegetation,soilandwater)andsocialandeconomicsettings(e.g.povertyincidence,on‐andoff‐farmincomesources,nutritionalindicators,genderedorganizationoffarmingandlandtenuresystems).
• BackwardlinkagesofthefullrangeoftechnologyoptionsThesearefactorsandconditionsthatdetermineadoption:whohasaccesstotechnologies(e.g.bygender,farmingsystemorincomelevel);theircost;institutionalconstraintsandopportunities(e.g.credit,extension,inputmarkets,infrastructureplanningprocessesandmanagementinstitutions,maintenanceandoperation,andthebroaderpolicyenvironment);therisksinvolved;andtherisk‐mitigationstrategiesadopted.
• ForwardlinkagesTheseincludelocalandregionalagriculturalmarketingsystemsandpricestructures,accesstothesesystems,theroleofgenderinagriculturalmarketing,communication,cold‐chains,andthebroaderpolicyenvironmentinwhichthemarketsoperate
• ExternalitiesThepositiveandnegativeimpactsoftechnologiesatthewatershedandlandscapelevelsandtheenvironmental,socialandinstitutionalsustainabilityissuesinthecontextofclimatechangeandtheadaptivemanagementcapabilitiesofsupportinginstitutions.
5.13. Researchoutputsandoutcomes5.13.1. IncreasingawarenessOutputs:Casestudiesandsynthesisofecosystemservicesmeasurement,valuationandtradeoffanalysisforvariousscenariosofdevelopmentinrepresentativemixedrainfedlandscapes.Outcomes:Publicsocietyindevelopingcountries,awareoftheimportanceandstateofagriculturalproductiontheunderpinningecosystemservices,requestsbettergovernanceofthisnaturalcapital.5.13.2. RecommendingpoliciesOutputs:Assessmentofthestateofthesoilresourcebaseandscenarios:biophysicalassessmentofsoilfertility,water‐useefficiencyonrainfedlands,andland‐useoptionstoenhancethestateofthesoilandwaterresourcebase,includingeconomics.Analysisofeffectsofpolicyonlandandwaterallocationandfarm‐levelincentivesanddisincentivesforecosystem‐sustainingpractices.Ecosystemservicesmeasurementandvaluationtosupportpolicy‐relevantinsightsintothefeasibilityofusingpaymentsforecosystemservicesforselectedpurposes.
112
Outcomes:Governments,awareofthestateoftheiragriculturalproductiontheunderpinningecosystemservices,reconsidertheirpoliciesanddevelopstrategiesthatimproveequityandallowtheruralpoortosustainablymanagenaturalresourcesand,whererequired,restorethesoilsandecosystemservicesthatsupportagriculturalproduction.5.13.3. SupportingdevelopmentOutputs:Assessmentofcosts,benefitsandinstitutionalandpolicychallengesoflivelihood‐enhancinginterventionsabletorestoredegradedlandscapesanddiversifyprovisionofecosystemservices.Predict,usingavarietyofquantitativeandqualitativemodeling(SWAT,InVest),thedirectandoff‐siteimpactofdevelopmentplans.Outcomes:Developmentpractitionersdisseminateeffectiveinterventionsthataresupportedbyincentivessufficientlylargetoallowtheiradoptionbytheruralpoor.5.13.4. PromotingparticipationOutputs:Participatorylanduseplanningandecosystemservicesassessmenttechniquesaredeveloped,appliedtocasestudiesandsynthesized.Outcomes:Ruralpoorrespondtoincentivesandinformation,promotingbettermanagementoftheecosystemservicesthatsupportagriculture.
113
6. StrategicResearchPortfolio:ResourceRecoveryandReuse
Ourvision:wasteisaresource,andabusinessopportunityWeenvisionaworldinwhichsmallerandlargerenterprisesrecoverandrecyclewater,nutrientsandorganicmatterfromdomesticandagriculturalwastestreams.Thesebusinessesproducesafewater,fertilizerandenergyforinthebenefitoflocalmarkets,servingresource‐poorfarmers,householdsandindustries.Suchrecoveryandreuseactivitieshelpsustainurbanfoodsupply,generatejobsandenhancelivelihoodsformillionsofpoorhouseholdsinperi‐urbanareasofdevelopingcountries.Thewater,nutrientsandenergyrecoveredfromwastematerialsenablecostreductionorrecoveryinthesanitationservicechain,benefitingmillionsofpoorurbandwellers.Insum,weenvisionaworldinwhichwasteisaresource,anditsrecoveryandreuseareundertakenbycompaniesorpublic–privateentitiescreatinglivelihoodopportunities,improvingwastemanagementandenhancingfoodsecurityinasustainableandexcitingfashion.6.1. ThecompellingneedforthisresearchIncreasingurbanization,amidpersistentpovertyandfoodinsecurity,isplacingnewpressuresontheallocationanduseofland,waterandnutrientsinmanydevelopingcountries.Whilestrivingtoincreasefoodproductiontosupportlargerlocalandglobalpopulations,manyfarmersarefacinghigherpricesofplantnutrients,duepartlytoincreasingdemandsandhigherenergycosts.Atthesametime,theamountofnutrientsindomesticandagro‐industrialwastestreamsislargeandalsoincreasing.However,thosenutrientsaredumpedonlandfillsandlargelyunrecovered.Inmanyareas,untreatedwastewaterpollutesstreamsandlakes,whilefarmersnearbycultivatesoilssodepletedofnutrientsandorganicmatterthatcropyieldsareafractionoftheiragronomicpotential.Somethingisamiss.Whydowenotseeanycompostprojectinsub‐SaharanAfricaoperatingatmunicipalscaleorbeyonditssubsidizedpilotphase?WhatisneededtotransferthebusinessmodelsforexcretareusefoundatscaleinVietnamtoneighboringcountriesortoAfrica?Howcanwemakenearly20millionhectaresofwastewaterirrigationsafer,evenwheretreatmentisnotyetanoption?Howdoesthelarge‐scalefecalsludgereusebusinessobservedinIndiawork,andcoulditbeimprovedbymovingitfromtheinformalintotheformalsector?Answerstothesequestionsinvolvecomplextechnical,economic,ecologicalandsocialissues.Yetthepotentialgainstobemadeinaddressingtheseissuesareenormous.Ononeside,millionsofresidentsofpoorcountries–especiallywomenandchildren–areaffectedbyinadequatesanitationandunsafewaterquality.Ontheotherside,millionsoffarmersstrugglewithdepletedsoilsandwaterscarcity.Wehavethetechnicalknowledgetools,andfinancialmeanstoaddressthesecriticalissuesinthecoming10years,providedweconducttheresearchneededtoansweressentialquestions.Weneedtolearnmuchmoreaboutthepotentialfordevelopingviablewasterecoverybusiness