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This article examines the effect of membership in farmer groups (MFG) on the adoption lag of agricultural technologies and farm performance in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda. We use duration and stochastic production... more
This article examines the effect of membership in farmer groups (MFG) on the adoption lag of agricultural technologies and farm performance in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda. We use duration and stochastic production frontier models on farm household data. We find that long period of MFG reduces adoption lag and much more so if combined with sustainable extension service delivery from government or development agencies. Farmer groups function as an important mechanism for improving farm productivity through reduced technical inefficiency in input use. We discuss the policy implications under which farmer groups are a useful channel to reduce adoption lag, and by what means improved farm performance can be achieved.
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Highland bananas grown near the homestead in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo receive organic household residues and are often mulched. Farmers also tend to allocate their best land for banana cultivation. However, due to an increased... more
Highland bananas grown near the homestead in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo receive organic household residues and are often mulched. Farmers also tend to allocate their best land for banana cultivation. However, due to an increased demand for bananas, farmers have started establishing banana plots on less fertile land. An experiment was conducted to assess plant growth on plots further away from the homestead and with minimal amounts of organic matter input. Two sites with contrasting soil fertility were chosen. Soil samples taken at the onset of the trial were analysed. The organic matter input consisted of Loudetia sp., the dominant weed species found on marginal soils, while Tithonia diversifolia was added to facilitate the decomposition of Loudetia sp. Pared lateral shoots of the east African highland cooking banana ‘Barhabesha’ (AAA-EA) were planted. The treatments consisted of 2 kg of organic matter added in the planting hole at planting, 2 kg of organic matter applied ...
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This study aims to explain effects of soil textural class, topography, land use, and land use history on soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes in the Lake Victoria region. We measured GHG fluxes from intact soil cores collected in Rakai,... more
This study aims to explain effects of soil textural class, topography, land use, and land use history on soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes in the Lake Victoria region. We measured GHG fluxes from intact soil cores collected in Rakai, Uganda, an area characterized by low‐input smallholder (<2 ha) farming systems, typical for the East African highlands. The soil cores were air dried and rewetted to water holding capacities (WHCs) of 30, 55, and 80%. Soil CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes were measured for 48 h following rewetting. Cumulative N2O fluxes were highest from soils under perennial crops and the lowest from soils under annual crops (P < 0.001 for all WHC). At WHC of 55% or 80%, the sandy clay loam soils had lower N2O fluxes than the clay soils (P < 0.001 and P = 0.041, respectively). Cumulative soil CO2 fluxes were highest from eucalyptus plantations and lowest from annual crops across multiple WHC (P = 0.014 at 30% WHC and P < 0.001 at both 55 and 80% WHC). Methane fluxes...
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Research Interests: Environmental Science, Computer Science, Climate Change, Mathematical Programming, Productivity, and 10 moreFood Production, Agriculture, Food Security, Psychological Intervention, Agricultural Productivity, Trade Offs, Farming Systems, Participatory Approaches, Strengths and Weaknesses, and Springer Ebooks
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... Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 67 (2): 187-195. Bekunda MA, ST Nkalubo, H. Sseguya, PL Woomer and R. Muzira. 2001. ... 1999a. Monograph on geographic shifts in highland cooking banana (Musa, group AAA-EA) production in Uganda. ...
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Banana-bean intercropping systems are used by many small-scale farmers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to maximize land use and intensify crop production. A study was conducted at the INERA Mulungu research station to determine... more
Banana-bean intercropping systems are used by many small-scale farmers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to maximize land use and intensify crop production. A study was conducted at the INERA Mulungu research station to determine the effect of banana leaf pruning on banana (Musa spp.) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, Fabaceae) yield. The East African highland cooking banana 'Barhabesha' was established in April 2007 at a spacing of 2 by 3 meters. The treatments consisted of different levels of banana leaf canopy coverage (5 leaves [5L] and all leaves [ALL]) and leguminous crop varieties (the bush bean 'Ngwaku Ngwaku' and the climbing bean 'AND10') which were planted in the banana plot. Bean yields were assessed during 4 cropping seasons (2008B, 2009A, 2009B and 2010A). Banana leaf pruning did not have a significant effect on time from planting to bunch harvest in either legume intercropping treatment. Banana leaf pruning did not have a significant effect o...
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ABSTRACT There is an urgent need to increase agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa in a sustainable and economically-viable manner. Transforming risk-averse smallholders into business-oriented producers that invest in producing... more
ABSTRACT There is an urgent need to increase agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa in a sustainable and economically-viable manner. Transforming risk-averse smallholders into business-oriented producers that invest in producing surplus food for sale provides a formidable challenge, both from a technological and socio-political perspective. This book addresses the issue of agricultural intensification in the humid highland areas of Africa – regions with relatively good agricultural potential, but where the scarce land resources are increasingly under pressure from the growing population and from climate change. In addition to introductory and synthesis chapters, the book focuses on four themes: system components required for agricultural intensification; the integration of components at the system level; drivers for adoption of technologies towards intensification; and the dissemination of complex knowledge. It provides case studies of improved crop and soil management for staple crops such as cassava and bananas, as well as examples of how the livelihoods of rural people can be improved. The book provides a valuable resource for researchers, development actors, students and policy makers in agricultural systems and economics and in international development. It highlights and addresses key challenges and opportunities that exist for sustainable agricultural intensification in the humid highlands of sub-Saharan Africa.
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To feed a growing population, agricultural productivity needs to increase dramatically. Agricultural extension information, with its public, non-rival nature, is generally undersupplied, and public provision remains challenging. In this... more
To feed a growing population, agricultural productivity needs to increase dramatically. Agricultural extension information, with its public, non-rival nature, is generally undersupplied, and public provision remains challenging. In this study, simple agricultural extension video messages, delivered through Android tablets, were tested in the field to determine if they increased farmers' knowledge of recommended practices on (i) potato seed selection and (ii) seed storage and handling among a sample of potato farmers in southwestern Uganda. Using a field experiment with ex ante matching in a factorial design, it was established that showing agricultural extension videos significantly increased farmers' knowledge. However, results suggested impact pathways that went beyond simply replicating what was shown in the video. Video messages may have triggered a process of abstraction, whereby farmers applied insights gained in one context to a different context.
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The Great Lakes countries of East and Central Africa, including Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) are a secondary centre of Musa diversity, especially for East African highland bananas (Musa AAA-EA group) and... more
The Great Lakes countries of East and Central Africa, including Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) are a secondary centre of Musa diversity, especially for East African highland bananas (Musa AAA-EA group) and plantains (ABB). Musa cultivation in this region is characterized by low annual productions (5-30 t/ha). This is caused by biotic (pests and diseases) and abiotic (soil fertility and drought) factors. The impacts of these factors are, however, influenced by the different agronomic practices that are applied on farm. This study assessed the use of some key agronomic practices by Musa farmers across districts of Rwanda and Burundi, and the South and North Kivu provinces of eastern DR Congo. Farms in North Kivu were less intensively managed than those in Burundi, Rwanda and South Kivu. For example, farms in North Kivu were the least de-trashed (removal of dead leaves from the pseudostem, 66%) and de-suckered (63%) compared with 88% and 100% in Burundi...
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The effect of exogenous applications of potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and nitrogen (N) on the susceptibility of four banana cultivars to Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) was studied. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with normal concentrations... more
The effect of exogenous applications of potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and nitrogen (N) on the susceptibility of four banana cultivars to Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) was studied. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with normal concentrations of K at 783 mg/liter, Ca at 121 mg/liter, and N at 841 mg/liter was modified to contain various concentrations of K, Ca, and N. Each nutrient was varied singly, each with three replicate experiments. The concentrations were K at 78, 157, 391, 783, 1,565, and 3,913 mg/liter; Ca at 12, 24, 60, 121, 241, and 603 mg/liter; and N at 84, 168, 420, 841, and 1,682 mg/liter. Plantlets were generated in vitro on normal MS medium and later exposed to the nutrient concentrations for a total of 8 weeks. Thereafter, they were artificially inoculated with Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum using an insulin syringe. In each nutrient, plantlets exposed to higher nutrient concentrations significantly (P < 0.0001) accumulated more nutrient in their tissues compa...
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Data of farmer survey, posed questions (Respective section of paper "(i) Farmer survey"
Impact of adopting products promoted by the Consortium for Improving Agriculture-based livelihoods in Central Africa (CIALCA) on food and nutrition security was tested. Multistage sampling was used to select 7 project mandate areas, 5... more
Impact of adopting products promoted by the Consortium for Improving Agriculture-based livelihoods in Central Africa (CIALCA) on food and nutrition security was tested. Multistage sampling was used to select 7 project mandate areas, 5 villages/mandate area (stratified into action, satellite and control sites) and 913 households. Structured questionnaires were administered; analysis of impact based on comparison between stratums, differences in means tested by ANOVA and significance of difference obtained by Tukey's HSD multiple rank tests. Perception of adequate food sufficiency received a higher rating in action and satellite sites compared to control sites reason being improved agricultural technologies. For >60% of households, worsened food security was due to climatic conditions. Although a higher proportion of households in action and satellite was meeting calorie RDIs in DRC and Burundi the difference was insignificant from control sites. 53% of respondents in control s...
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Book chapter on smallholder systems analysis in the African Great Lakes Region
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Reduced climatic suitability due to climate change in cocoa growing regions of Ghana is expected in the coming decades. This threatens farmers' livelihood and the cocoa sector. Climate change adaptation requires an improved... more
Reduced climatic suitability due to climate change in cocoa growing regions of Ghana is expected in the coming decades. This threatens farmers' livelihood and the cocoa sector. Climate change adaptation requires an improved understanding of existing cocoa production systems and farmers' coping strategies. This study characterized current cocoa production, income diversification and shade tree management along a climate gradient within the cocoa belt of Ghana. The objectives were to 1) compare existing production and income diversification between dry, mid and wet climatic regions, and 2) identify shade trees in cocoa agroforestry systems and their distribution along the climatic gradient. Our results showed that current mean cocoa yield level of 288kg ha-1yr-1 in the dry region was significantly lower than in the mid and wet regions with mean yields of 712 and 849 kg ha-1 yr-1, respectively. In the dry region, farmers diversified their income sources with non-cocoa crops and...
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Research Interests: Environmental Science, Soil Science, Agronomy, Volcanic Geology, Coffee, and 15 moreUganda, Fertility, Agriculture, Kenya, Tanzania, Environmental Sciences, Nutrient Management, Volcano, RIFT, Soil Fertility, Soil Fertility Gradient, Banana, Bananas, Soil Fertility and Soil Nutrient Management, and Coffea arabica
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Research Interests: Business, Collaboration, Design Innovation, Agriculture, Central Africa, and 15 moreMedicine, Multidisciplinary, Knowledge, Humans, Organizations, Female, Male, Innovation systems agricultural innovation platforms, PLoS one, Agricultural Innovation System, Agricultural Research, Adult, Exponential random graph models, Cooperative Behavior, and Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Research Interests: Economics, Agronomy, Participatory Action Research, Management of Innovation, Agriculture, and 14 moreCentral Africa, Rwanda, Environmental Sciences, Burundi, Agricultural Systems, Innovation systems agricultural innovation platforms, Multi-Stakeholder Participation, Farming Systems, Agricultural Innovation Systems, Sub Saharan Africa, Institutional Innovations, Sustainable Intensification, Elsevier, and DR Congo
Significance We collated a unique dataset covering land use and production data of more than 13,000 smallholder farm households in 93 sites in 17 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. The study quantifies the importance of off-farm income... more
Significance We collated a unique dataset covering land use and production data of more than 13,000 smallholder farm households in 93 sites in 17 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. The study quantifies the importance of off-farm income and market conditions across sites differing strongly in agroecology and derives generally applicable threshold values that determine whether farm households have enough food available to feed their families. These results show there is a strong need for multisectoral policy harmonization and incentives and improved interconnectedness of people to urban centers and diversification of employment sources, rather than a singular focus on agricultural development of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.