Improved Crop-livestock management systems for enhanced smallholder income and nutrition

N. Karbo (Chairman)

R. Abaidoo

E.O. Otchere

G. Gamor

H. Abu

S.S. Buah (secretary)M.S. AbdulaiM. AbdulaiBen. AlenyoregeI. Dzormeku

Market analysis- Collective marketing- Input delivery systems - Linking farmers to market

Gaps/entry points

Land use and management - (access to land is not considered a gap in the region)

- Access to inputs (especially fertilizer and improved seeds)

- Labour- Technologies (land preparation technologies)

Gaps/entry points

Extension delivery system Involvement of the private sector in the extension delivery

system. Training of community livestock workers (men and women

volunteers) Extension volunteers

Credit delivery- Giving credit to groups of farmers instead of individual

farmers

Gaps/entry points

Processing technologies (largely female-dominated activity)- Labour saving processing technologies (to reduce the

drudgery)

Gaps/entry points

Based on constraints, what do you see as key research areas to improve household productivity (crop-livestock-NRM-nutrition-markets)?

What available technologies and institutional arrangements do we have that can be integrated to improve productivity and NRM?

What specific activities will allow leveraging the power of integrated research?

- Which ones are region-specific?

- Which ones cut across regions

Task

Need to look at the interface among crops, livestock and soil and water relationships

Conceptual picture

Crops

Soil and waterLivestock

Access to land and water resources

- Project should collect secondary data (including case studies) to get a better understanding of the land and water issues in the region (i.e., land and water management/administration in the region) for integration.

Research ideas

Drought

Need to look at the weather forecasting systems in the region and improve upon it, if necessary.

Explore indigenous methods of weather forecasting

Research ideas

Are there adapted varieties for crop-livestock integration

Promotion of varieties that are drought tolerant or escape drought, e.g. quality protein maize varieties that produce good yield under drought and striga conditions.

Promotion of dual-purpose varieties – varieties that will produce fodder without comprising grain production

Introduction of vegetables

Research ideas

Causes of low productivity

Mindsets – Farmers consider farming as a way of life instead of a business entity

Poor soil fertility Striga infestation Pests and disease problems Weak extension system Labour constraints/distribution Poor farming practices High cost and accessibility to input

Research ideas

The importance of value addition at farmer level

Poverty trapTechnologies

Markets

Integrating crop and livestock production offers ways to increase production while

protecting the environment.

Varieties, crop diversification,Weather forecasting?

Quality of crop residue?Marketability

Feed, health, genetics?

Quality and quantity etc?

Quality and quantity etc?

Nutritional qualities? Income. Value addition? Time allocation

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