scholarly journals Upscaling Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis and Related Agroecosystems Services in Smallholder Farming Systems

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjorie Bonareri Oruru ◽  
Ezekiel Mugendi Njeru
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Mycorrhizal Symbiosis ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Smallholder Farming Systems

Smallholder farming systems form unique ecosystems that can protect beneficial soil biota and form an important source of useful genetic resources. They are characterized by high level of agricultural diversity mainly focused on meeting farmers’ needs. Unfortunately, these systems often experience poor crop production mainly associated with poor planning and resource scarcity. Soil fertility is among the primary challenges faced by smallholder farmers, which necessitate the need to come up with affordable and innovative ways of replenishing soils. One such way is the use of microbial symbionts such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), a beneficial group of soil microbiota that form symbiotic associations with majority of cultivated crops and play a vital role in biological soil fertility, plant nutrition, and protection. AMF can be incorporated in smallholder farming systems to help better exploit chemical fertilizers inputs which are often unaffordable to many smallholder farmers. The present review highlights smallholder farming practices that could be innovatively redesigned to increase AMF symbiosis and related agroecosystem services. Indeed, the future of global food security depends on the success of smallholder farming systems, whose crop productivity depends on the services provided by well-functioning ecosystems, including soil fertility.

scholarly journals Challenges of Smallholder Farming in Ethiopia and Opportunities by Adopting Climate-Smart Agriculture

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 192
Author(s):  
Gebeyanesh Zerssa ◽  
Debela Feyssa ◽  
Dong-Gill Kim ◽  
Bettina Eichler-Löbermann
Keyword(s):  
Land Tenure ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Smallholder Farming Systems ◽  
Smart Agriculture

Agriculture is the backbone of the Ethiopian economy, and the agricultural sector is dominated by smallholder farming systems. The farming systems are facing constraints such as small land size, lack of resources, and increasing degradation of soil quality that hamper sustainable crop production and food security. The effects of climate change (e.g., frequent occurrence of extreme weather events) exacerbate these problems. Applying appropriate technologies like climate-smart agriculture (CSA) can help to resolve the constraints of smallholder farming systems. This paper provides a comprehensive overview regarding opportunities and challenges of traditional and newly developed CSA practices in Ethiopia, such as integrated soil fertility management, water harvesting, and agroforestry. These practices are commonly related to drought resilience, stability of crop yields, carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas mitigation, and higher household income. However, the adoption of the practices by smallholder farmers is often limited, mainly due to shortage of cropland, land tenure issues, lack of adequate knowledge about CSA, slow return on investments, and insufficient policy and implementation schemes. It is suggested that additional measures be developed and made available to help CSA practices become more prevalent in smallholder farming systems. The measures should include the utilization of degraded and marginal lands, improvement of the soil organic matter management, provision of capacity-building opportunities and financial support, as well as the development of specific policies for smallholder farming.

scholarly journals Can Enhancing Efficiency Promote the Economic Viability of Smallholder Farmers? A Case of Sierra Leone

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4235
Author(s):  
Silvia Saravia-Matus ◽  
T. S. Amjath-Babu ◽  
Sreejith Aravindakshan ◽  
Stefan Sieber ◽  
Jimmy A. Saravia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Economic Viability ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Smallholder Farming

By developing meta-frontier efficiency and structural equation models, the paper examines whether farm economic viability is positively associated with technical efficiency in a highly food insecure context, such as that of rural Sierra Leone. The findings show that technical efficiency can be a sufficient but not necessary condition in determining economic viability of smallholder farming. It is possible to breach reproductive thresholds at the cost of reduced technical efficiency, when the crop diversification strategy of smallholders includes market-oriented high-value crops. This calls for a dual policy approach that addresses farmers’ internal needs for self-consumption (increasing efficiency of food crop production) while encouraging market-oriented cash crop production (diversification assisted through the reduction of associated transaction costs and the establishment of accessible commercialization channels of export related crops and/or high-value crops). The work also calls out for a move-up or move-out strategy for small holders to create viable farming systems in developing world.

Soil fertility management effects on maize productivity and grain zinc content in smallholder farming systems of Zimbabwe

2012 ◽  
Vol 361 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 57-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace M. Manzeke ◽  
Paul Mapfumo ◽  
Florence Mtambanengwe ◽  
Regis Chikowo ◽  
Takesure Tendayi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Zinc Content ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Maize Productivity ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Smallholder Farming Systems ◽  
Grain Zinc ◽  
Management Effects

scholarly journals Farmer Perception and Adaptation Strategies on Climate Change in Lower Eastern Kenya: A Case of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) Production

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Madegwa Yvonne ◽  
Onwonga Richard ◽  
Shibairo Solomon ◽  
Karuku George
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Finger Millet ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Random Number Generator ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Smallholder Farming

Eastern Kenya, a semi-arid region, is characterized by low and erratic rainfall, high temperatures, and low soil fertility. Climate change has further worsened the situation leading to frequent droughts and hence increased food insecurity. Traditional crops like finger millet are possible solutions to combating changing climate due to their drought resistance nature, ability to produce high yields with little inputs and high nutritional content. It is against this backdrop that a survey was carried out in Mwala and Katangi divisions of Machakos and Kitui counties, respectively, to assess farmer’s perception on climate change, coping and adaptation mechanisms in finger millet production systems in smallholder farming systems of lower eastern Kenya. Data was collected, using semi-structured questionnaire, from 120 farmers i.e. 60 in each division. A stratified random sampling procedure, with location as a stratum was used to select respondent’s households. A computer random number generator was used to select number of households in each stratum. Maize and beans were the most popular crops grown by over 98% of the farmers in both sub-counties. Farmers also grew drought tolerant legumes; cow peas, green grams pigeon peas and cereals; sorghum and finger millet. Temperature rise was ranked highest with 88% and 98%, followed by prolonged drought with 70% and 72%, irregular rainfall at 69% and 81% and increased wind intensity at 22% and 28% at Machakos and Kitui, respectively, as aspects of climate change perceived by farmers. Farmers had taken up early planting at 88.6% and 93.7%, use of organic inputs at 89% and 92%, introduced new tillage practices, by applying ridges and furrows and tied ridges at 45% and 54%, and by adopting irrigation at 13%, and 9%, as coping strategies to climate change in Machakos and Kitui, respectively.It can be concluded that farmers in Machakos and Kitui are aware of climate change and its negative effects on crop production. In a bid to minimize crop loss and food insecurity, they have taken up various soil moisture conservation and soil fertility enhancement technologies.

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