the impact of conservation agriculture on food security in two districts of zimbabwe paul wagstaff,...

The Impact of The Impact of Conservation Agriculture Conservation Agriculture on Food Security in two on Food Security in two districts of Zimbabwedistricts of Zimbabwe

Paul Wagstaff,Agriculture Advisor, Concern Worldwide

Malachy Harty, International Development & Food Policy, UCC

Malachy Harty, Trocaire Development Review, 12/11/10

Problems with Conventional Agriculture

• Reduction of soil fertility and physical structure

Increased erosion

• High labour/ energy requirement - barrier to

participation for poor, sick or elderly farmers

Delayed planting

2


The Principles of Conservation Agriculture (CA)

• 1. Avoid Soil Disturbance– Planting basins– direct seed drills– rippers– jab planters

• 2. Soil Cover– Mulching with crop

residues– Cover crops

• 3. Crop Rotation Planting pits in Zimbabwe

3


Resiliance to Climate Change

Conservation

Improved soil structure – reduced erosion

Water retained in soil

Low impact - avoids problems of conventional agriculture

Low carbon system of food production

Potential value as a carbon sink, but results unclear

4


Challenges and Limitations of CA

• Retention of residues for mulch cover

• Different spacings for rotation crops

• Labour in first years

• Change of mindset

5


Gokwe North

Gokwe South

Nyanga

Zimbabwe

6

Comparison of maize yields grown in CA planting basins, Zimbabwe

(CIMMYT)

7

Value of Conservation Agriculture even if simply to plant on time!

Where do the yield benefits of Conservation Farming come from? (GART, Zambia)

8


Conservation Farming in Zimbabwe

• No draught animals so system based on preparing

planting basins during the dry season

• Intensive extension support

• 50 x 50m Conservation Farming plots (1/4 ha) per

household

• ½ maize, ¼ sorghum, ¼ groundnuts/ cowpeas

9


Overview of Household Economy Approach (HEA)

How people in different social and economic circumstances

get the food and cash they need

Hyper inflationary situation – cash values irrelevant

Crop production and income converted into kilo calorie

equivalents

2,100 kcal per person per day survival threshold

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FIGURE 4: Crop Production (GKN)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

CF V. PoorGKN

V. PoorGKN

CF PoorGKN

Poor GKN

KGs p

rodu

ced millet

cowpeas

groundnuts

sorghum

maize

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FIGURE 6: Sources of Food

0%20%40%60%80%

100%120%140%

CF V. PoorGKN

V. Poor GKN CF Poor GKN Poor GKN

% o

f ann

ual f

ood

need

sbarter

wild food

food aid

purchase

payment in kind

l'stock products

crops

Difficult political and economic situation, poor rains - all groups received food aid

Poor Conservation Farmers would have needed 50% less food aid than the control group.

The very poor control group had to undertake much more casual labour for food which may have resulted in taking children out of school, less time available to prepare food, take children to health centres, etc

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Results

CF farmers do not require food aid and are producing larger surpluses than conventional farmers

2010: INGOs will buy maize surpluses from the CF farmers to distribute to food deficit areas of Zimbabwe!

Concern currently expanding CA to Tanzania (EU), Zambia & Malawi (Accenture), Liberia

13


No magic bullets

Water Markets, trade, infrastructure Research Extension and education Health Financial services and insurance Inputs Land tenure Environment

14


the impact of conservation agriculture on food security in two districts of zimbabwe paul wagstaff,...

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