Presented by S.S. Buah (CSIR-SARI) and N. Karbo (CSIR-ARI) at the Africa RISING West Africa Review and Planning Meeting Tamale, Ghana, 23-25 October 2012
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Key challenges in smallholder cereal-legume-livestock systems in the Guinea savanna of Ghana
1. Key challenges in smallholder
cereal-legume-livestock systems in
the Guinea savanna of Ghana
S.S. Buah (CSIR-SARI) and N. Karbo (CSIR-ARI)
Africa RISING West Africa Review and Planning Meeting Tamale, Ghana, 23-25
October 2012
2. Introduction
Rapid transformation of agricultural practices in
northern Ghana are due to:
Rapid human population growth
Increased pressure on land
Increase in agricultural intensification
Climate change
Increase incidence and severity of diseases, pests
and drought.
3. Introduction
Technologies that can enhance productivity need to be
developed.
At the same time, the natural resource base must be
preserved.
Thus, an integrated crop-livestock farming system
represents a key solution for enhancing livestock production
and safeguarding the environment through prudent and
efficient resource use.
4. Major challenges to agricultural production in
the Guinea savanna of Ghana
Poor soil fertility and water availability
Land use planning conflicts for integrated sytems
Pests and diseases of crops and livestock
Parasitic weeds such as Striga
5. Major challenges to agricultural production in the
Guinea savanna of Ghana
Credit and inputs
Drought
Competition between crops and livestock for
resources
Weak institutional mechanisms
6. Soil fertility and Water
Traditional farming systems are breaking down
under human and livestock population pressure.
Current fallow periods are not long enough to
replace exported nutrients
Soil organic matter is very low
Nitrogen (N) is the most limiting nutrient.
Phosphorus (P) is the second most limiting
nutrient
8. •Although mineral fertilizers can be used to replace nutrient losses, socio-economic constraints such as high prices and lack of credit limit their use.
•Smallholder farmers commonly apply too little fertilizer, either because they cannot afford more or because fertilizers are not readily available.
Soil fertility and Water
Smallholder farmers apply too little
fertilizer, either because they cannot afford
more or because fertilizers are not readily
available.
Both mineral fertilizers and organic inputs are
required to improve soil fertility
9. •Although mineral fertilizers can be used to replace nutrient losses, socio-economic constraints such as high prices and lack of credit limit their use.
•Smallholder farmers commonly apply too little fertilizer, either because they cannot afford more or because fertilizers are not readily available.
Soil fertility and Water
Integrated crop-livestock systems could improve
soil fertility in short fallow or continuous
cropping systems.
Increased use of organic and inorganic
fertilizers together with diversification of
cropping to include legumes are important tools
in restoring or sustaining soil fertility in northern
Ghana
10. •Although mineral fertilizers can be used to replace nutrient losses, socio-economic constraints such as high prices and lack of credit limit their use.
•Smallholder farmers commonly apply too little fertilizer, either because they cannot afford more or because fertilizers are not readily available.
Soil fertility and Water
Problems with availability of water for all year
round use for crop and livestock production
Bush fires
Socio-cultural problems
12. Land use planning conflicts
Crop production vs. grazing land for livestock
Urbanization
Bush fires
Policy void
13. Pests and diseases
Insect pests are a major constraint to legume
production, particularly cowpea.
Commercial production of cowpea in northern Ghana
is probably not feasible without the using insecticide.
Major insects of cowpea are flower thrips
[Megalurothrips sjostedti (Trybom)], the legume pod
borer (Maruca vitrata) and a range of pod-feeding bugs
14. Pests and diseases
Groundnut yields are traditionally low, due to several
constraints including pests and diseases.
Aphids (Aphis craccivora) are a serious pest as well
as a vector of virus diseases, such as the rosette
Major biotic constraint to groundnut production
include groundnut rosette disease (GRD), early leaf
spot (ELS), late leaf spot (LLS) and rust
15. Pests and diseases
Livestock diseases retard the introduction of
more productive breeding stock and new
technologies and creating an adverse impact on
crop-livestock integration
The most important diseases are vector-
transmitted parasitic and viral diseases.
16. Pests and diseases
Integrated pest management (IPM) involves
- integrating biological control,
- cultural practices such as modified planting date,
- disease- and pest-tolerant cultivars,
- and pesticides where necessary
This can increase the effectiveness of pest control
and reduce overuse of pesticides.
17. Parasitic weeds
Striga hermonthica on cereals
Striga gesnerioides on legumes
Both parasites are difficult to control because
they produce large numbers of seeds and up
to 75% of the crop damage is done before
they emerge from the ground.
18. Weed Control
s
• Striga hermonthica
Striga gesnerioides Alectra vogelli
19. Parasitic weeds
The increasing incidence of striga has been
attributed to
- poor soil fertility and structure
- intensification of land use through continuous
cultivation and
- an expansion of cereal production.
Striga damage can be reduced by growing tolerant
or resistant varieties
20. Parasitic weeds
Striga damage can be reduced by planting trap
crops such as groundnut, soybean, cowpea and
sesame that stimulate striga seed to germinate
without providing a viable host
Coping strategies of farmers include hand-
roguing, application of inorganic
fertilizer, manures, compost and crop rotations.
21. Credit and inputs
Inadequate credit
Weak seed systems
Lack of implements for mechanization
High cost and accessibility of fertilizers
Feeds and markets
Appropriate technologies
22. Drought
Trend of decreasing rainfall and increasing
temperatures
Probability of drought is highest at the start and
end of the growing season,
Timing of deficits is unpredictable
23. Drought
Several strategies have been developed for the
conservation of soil and water to maintain productivity
including
- rainwater harvesting,
- live barriers,
- supplementary irrigation,
- minimum tillage,
- mulching,
- bunded basins, and
- tree planting
24. Competition between crops and livestock
for resources
In smallholder farming systems there are conflicts
over the use of the precious crop residues for:
• soil cover and organic matter replenishment
• livestock feed
• housing,
• craft materials and
• energy source.
25. Competition between crops and livestock for resources
Crop residues provide highly valued fodder for
livestock in northern Ghana, particularly in the drier
Upper East region.
Feeding livestock, especially during the dry season is
a major constraint to livestock development in
northern Ghana
26. Stover removed and stored for fencing, fuel or roofing Stover removed and used for weaving baskets
Stover removed and stored for feeding livestock Stover removed and used for feeding livestock
28. Integrating crop and livestock production offers ways to increase production while
protecting the environment.
29. Cultural and economic value of livestock in in the
Guinea savanna zone
As an investment and insurance against risk,
Used for traction
Provide meat, milk, hides, and manure,
Used as means of transport.
can be converted into prompt cash in times of
need.
Used for ceremonies, paying bride price and
source of savings
30. Advantages of the integrated system
livestock and crops are produced within a
coordinated framework.
The waste products of one component serve as a
resource for the other.
Manure is used to enhance crop production;
crop residues and by-products feed the
animals, supplementing often inadequate feed
supplies, thus contributing to improved animal
nutrition and productivity.
31. Advantages of the integrated system
Maintenance of the soil productive capacity;
Product diversification and higher yields and
quality at less cost;
Reduction of crop pests (less pesticide use and
better soil erosion control); and
Reduction of rural urban migration and the
creation of new job opportunities in rural areas.
33. Weak institutional mechanisms
Weak linkages among research –extension and farmers
Poor communications among farmers, extension
agents, and researchers leading to low adoption of
promising technologies generated by research.
Extension workers do not possess adequate knowledge in
all crop and livestock production issues.
Weak research and extension messages towards systems
34. Weak institutional mechanisms
Attitudes
Mindsets
Policy issues
Institutional and technical concepts
Other projects are competing for the AEA’s time
35. Conclusions
Use of productive but more sustainable management
practices can help resolve these production problems.
With the majority of the population in Ghana dependant on
agriculture for their livelihoods, technological options that
increase agricultural productivity and help to buffer farmers
against the negative impacts of climate related and other
constraints should be promoted.
36. Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation
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