Farming Systems and Food Security in Africa Priorities for Science and Policy Under Global Change

Knowledge of Africa’s complex farming systems, set in their socio-economic and environmental context, is an essential ingredient to developing effective strategies for improving food and nutrition security.This book systematically and comprehensively describes the characteristics, trends, drivers of change and strategic priorities for each of Africa’s fifteen farming systems and their main subsystems. It shows how a farming systems perspective can be used to identify pathways to household food security and poverty reduction, and how strategic interventions may need to differ from one farming system to another. In the analysis, emphasis is placed on understanding farming systems drivers of change, trends and strategic priorities for science and policy.Illustrated with full-colour maps and photographs throughout, the volume provides a comprehensive and insightful analysis of Africa’s farming systems and pathways for the future to improve food and nutrition security. The book is an essential follow-up to the seminal work Farming Systems and Poverty by Dixon and colleagues for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Bank, published in 2001.

Part I Introduction1. Africa through the farming systems lens: context and approachJohn Dixon, Dennis Garrity, Jean-Marc Boffa, Adama Coulibaly, Medhat El-Helepi, Chris Auricht and George Mburathi2. Methods and data sourcesChristopher M. Auricht, John Dixon, Jean-Marc Boffa, Harrij van Velthuizen and Günther FischerPart II Analysis of farming systems3. Maize mixed farming system: an engine for rural growth and poverty reductionMalcolm Blackie, John Dixon, Maxwell Mudhara, Joseph Rusike, Sieglinde Snapp and Mulugetta Mekuria4. The agropastoral farming system: Achieving adaptation and harnessing opportunities under duressJean-Marc Boffa, John Sanders, Sibiri Jean-Baptiste Taonda, Pierre Hiernaux, Minamba Bagayoko, Shadreck Ncube and Justice Nyamangara5. The highland perennial farming system: Sustainable intensification and the limits of farm sizeJ.K. Lynam6. The Root and Tuber Crop Farming System: diversity, complexity and productivity potentialSamuel Adjei-Nsiah, Godwin Asumugha, Emmanuel Njukwe and Malachy Akoroda7. The cereal-root crop mixed farming system: a potential bread basket transitioning to sustainable intensificationAmir Kassam, Eric Kueneman, Rosemary Lott, Theodor Friedrich, NeBambi Lutaladio, David Norman, Martin Bwalya, Anne-Sophie Poisot and Saidi Mkomwa8. The highland mixed farming system of Africa: diversifying livelihoods in fragile ecosystemsTilahun Amede and Mulugeta Lemenih9. The tree crop farming system in the humid lowlands of Africa: stagnation, innovation and forest degradationJim Gockowski10. The pastoral farming system: Balancing between tradition and transitionJan de Leeuw, Philip Osano, Mohammed Said, Augustine Ayantunde, Sikhalazo Dube, Constance Neely, Anton Vrieling, Philip Thornton and Polly Ericksen11. The fish-based farming system: maintaining ecosystem health and flexible livelihood portfolios Olivier Hamerlynck, Wanja Dorothy Nyingi, Jean-Luc Paul and Stéphanie Duvail12. The forest-based farming system: highly diverse, annual and perennial systems under threatStefan Hauser, Lindsey Norgrove, Eric Tollens, Christian Nolte, Valentina Robiglio, and James Gockowski13. Large-scale irrigated farming system: The potential and challenges to improve food security, livelihoods and ecosystem managementTimothy Olalekan Williams, Jean-Marc Faurès, Regassa Namara and Katherine Snyder 14. The arid pastoral and oasis farming system: key centres for the development of trans-Saharan economiesMahamadou Chaibou and Bernard Bonnet15. Perennial mixed and island farming systems: exploiting synergies for maximum system productivityM. Mudhara, J.P. Lombard, A.R. Palmer and J. Dixon16. Urban and peri-urban farming systems: feeding cities and enhancing resilienceDiana Lee-Smith, Gordon Prain, Olufunke Cofie, René van Veenhuizen and Nancy KaranjaPart III Synthesis and conclusions17. Farming and food systems potentialsJohn Dixon, Jean-Marc Boffa, Timothy Olalekan Williams, Jan de Leeuw, Günther Fischer and Harrij van Velthuizen18. Ways forward: strategies for effective science, investments and policies for African farming and food systemsJohn Dixon, Dennis Garrity, George Mburathi, Jean-Marc Boffa, Tilahun Amede and Timothy O. Williams19. Conclusions: implementation of the farming systems approach for African food securityDennis Garrity, John Dixon and George Mburathi

John Dixon is Principal Adviser Research & Program Manager, Cropping Systems and Economics, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Canberra, Australia.Dennis Garrity is Senior Fellow at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), based in Nairobi, Kenya, UNCCD Drylands Ambassador, and Chair of the EverGreen Agriculture Partnership.Jean-Marc Boffa is Director of Terra Sana Projects and Associate Fellow of the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya.Timothy Olalekan Williams is Regional Director for Africa at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), based in Accra, Ghana.Tilahun Amede is Principal Scientist and Systems Agronomist at the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Nairobi, Kenya.Christopher Auricht is Managing Director of Auricht Projects, a niche international consulting firm based in Adelaide, Australia.Rosemary Lott is Director of Vegetation Connections Pty Ltd, and an Assistant Director, Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Canberra, Australia.George Mburathi is a former FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.