Conference onNew Directions for Smallholder Agriculture

Rudy Rabbinge

Increasing small farm technology and sustainable resource management24 January 2011

1. Trends in agriculture

2. Farming systems in various regions

3. Science and technologies for small farmers

4. Conclusions and recommendations

Contents

Contents

1. Trends in agriculture

2. Farming systems in various regions

3. Science and technologies for small farmers

4. Conclusions and recommendations

Megatrend (1): Productivity rise

• Land productivity x 5 - 6

• Labor productivity x 200 - 300

• Energy and other inputsx 2 - 4

800

1800

9000600

350

120

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

10000

1 2 3

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

KG/HA

MAN-HOUR

1400 1910 2000

Grain production in NL between 1400 and 2000

Megatrend (2): From craft to industry

• From adaptive (adapting to environment) to maximum control (fertilizer, pesticides, irrigation)

• Introduction of non-terrestrial agriculture• Greenhouse and substrate production• High level of value-added !!

Megatrend (3): Chain management

• From spade to plate• Reverse chain: consumer (or retail) driven• Quality, food safety, convenience foods, etc.• Logistic efficiency (on time delivery), unit cost of

production• Value-added on numerous stages of the chain

cumulative

Megatrend (4): Multiple objectives

• Environmentally friendly - no pollution- no waste

• Animal friendly• Landscape

Policy

Science

Industry society

New solution

s

Excellent research and unique facilitiesSynergistic expertise of research

groups Collaboration between research groups

An active, innovative industryA committed society

Networks with scientistsAcknowledgment of mutual

interests

Supporting policiesA facilitating government

Megatrend (5): An interactive knowledge model

Contents

1. Trends in agriculture

2. Farming systems in various regions

3. Science and technologies for small farmers

4. Conclusions and recommendations

Production systems

Diversified – mixed systems Complex – many crops and animals together Poor economies of scale Little use of technologies and input Technology not geared to mixed systems Low productivity and efficiency not competitive

Reduced risk to environmental stress Ensures (subsistence) livelihood Spiral of poverty ?

Land extensive Little use inputs

Farming systems in Africa

Source: Dixon et al, 2001

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Irrig

ated

Mai

ze m

ixed

Tree

crop

base

d

Comm

ercial

Spars

e/ar

id

Fores

t base

d

Cerea

l/roo

t cro

p ba

sed

Root c

rop

base

d

Highla

nd p

erenn

ial

Agro/

pasto

ral

Agricultural value added (worldbank)

Underweight children (CIESIN)

• Irrigated system

• Maize mixed system

• Tree-crop system

• Cereal-root crop mixed system

Priority Farming systems

Source: IAC-report Realizing the promise and potential of African Agriculture

Irrigated systemMaize mixed systemTree crop based systemCereal root crop mixed system

Hunger Hotspot (CIESIN)

Source: IAC-report Realizing the promise and potential of African Agriculture

Priority Farming systems

Production potential of SSA

Limiting conditions

• Small sized farmers

- Lack of credit

- Land tenure and property rights

- Access to markets

- Access to market information

- Education and extension

- No dedicated technologies

Contents

1. Trends in agriculture

2. Farming systems in various regions

3. Science and technologies for small farmers

4. Conclusions and recommendations

Features

• Long term – endurance• Complex mixed production systems• Knowledge intensive (on the shelf inappropriate)• Small volume• High cost• “Infant crop” - support• Local/regional markets• Niche markets for export

Science and technologies for smallholders

• An urgent need for technologies tailored for smallholders

• More attention for orphan crops• More attention for low cost technologies• More attention for farming systems approach• Precision agriculture• Leap frogging technologies to high productive systems• Ecological literacy at all levels

Science and technology for small farmers

• Capacity building• Agricultural colleges• Vocational education• In service training• Corporate responsibilities

Role of private sector and public sector

• Private sector

- More investment in primary production

- Lead the supply chains and focus on smallholders

- Strengthen the capacity building• Public sector

- Investment in knowledge infrastructure

- Strengthen cooperatives and competitive power

- Develop appropriate land use and voluntary guidelines

Contents

1. Trends in agriculture

2. Farming systems in various regions

3. Science and technologies for small farmers

4. Conclusions and recommendations

Recommendations

• Increase investments in agriculture and agricultural research

• Create functioning institutions• Create and retain a new generation of scientists• Initiatives of IFAD very welcome• Strengthen entrepreneurship at all levels• Promote best ecological means and ecological literacy

Thank you for your attention