Rice production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has increaed ten-fold since 1961, whereas its consumption has exceeded the production and the regional self-sufficiency rate is only 48% in 2020. Increase in rice production has come mainly from increased harvested area. Yield increase has been limited and the current average yield in SSA is around 2 t ha−1.
The inventory of CSA approaches, practices, and technologies was compiled as an output of the CSA Writeshop that CCARDESA convened in October 2022 under the auspices of the AICCRA and GCCA+ projects with the primary objective of developing the CSA Handbook as well as a training manual for use in SADC region. The CSA Handbook has provided an elaboration of best-bet CSA options that have been categorized along the three pillars of CSA: increased productivity, adaptation, and mitigation.
As compared with single agronomic crop management practices during grain formation, knowledge about integrated agronomic management practices on grain mineral composition and grain technological properties in durum wheat is limited. This knowledge is important for determining management strategies aimed at increasing grain yield without affecting grain nutritional quality. Integrated agronomic practices such as foliar nutrient application × seeding rate × varieties combined with growing locations were investigated to evaluate the dynamics of yield and grain quality traits.
Abstract Flooded savannas are valuable and extensive ecosystems in South America, but not widely studied. In this study, we quantify the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) content and stocks in the Casanare flooded savannas. We sampled 80 sites at two soil-depth intervals (0-10 and 10-30 cm), where SOC values ranged from 0.41% in the surface and 0.23% in the sub-surface of drier soils to over 14.50% and 7.51%, in soils that experienced seasonal flooding.
Citizen Science (CS) is increasingly being integrated into advanced scientific approaches to address complex problems and produce real-time evidence-based information for decision-making. The CS approach has also been used as a tool to foster community-based monitoring and learning, particularly on the sustainability of productive landscapes/watersheds.
presentation about Bush encroachment that poses a pervasive challenge to Sub-Saharan Africa's rangelands, impacting ecosystem dynamics, biodiversity, and local livelihoods. This study comprehensively analyzes bush encroachment in the region, exploring its causes, impacts, and management strategies. Climate change, driven by global factors like fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, intensifies the greenhouse effect, contributing to encroachment. Land use practices, such as overgrazing and invasive species, further spur woody vegetation expansion.
This concept note is developed by the CGIAR Initiative for Diversification in East and Southern Africa (Ukama Ustawi). It highlights the significance of strengthening capacity in the science and practice of scaling innovation. The lack of a comprehensive and realistic understanding of innovation and scaling processes, coupled with limited scaling knowledge and capacity across individual, organizational and system levels hinder the effective scaling of innovations. Consequently, many promising initiatives fail to reach their full potential and address systemic issues at scale.
The document “Technical manual: Rice straw management towards circular economy and low emission in the Mekong Delta†introduces readers to the characteristics of rice straw, the current status of its treatment, and the management process for using rice straw in a circular way to reduce GHG emissions in rice production. This manual will be a handbook for farmers, extension officers, cooperatives, and others who are interested in rice production that is associated with circular greenhouse gas emission reduction.
The impacts of climate change in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), are already well known to farmers. Climate change affects women more negatively compared to men in five impact areas: (i) agricultural production; (ii) food and nutrition security; (iii) health; (iv) water and energy; (v) climate-related disaster, migration, and conflict. Over 2 million people in Kenya face the threat of food insecurity due to climate change. Maize production is particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Zambia has historically qualified as a regional model of stability and peace. However, this status is being undermined by several socio-political factors, including deeply entrenched patterns of social inequality and gender discrimination, high levels of poverty and youth unemployment, as well as recurring episodes of electoral violence. Climate and extreme weather events compound most of these vulnerabilities and even create new ones, generating societal dynamics that will likely increase social tensions with greater risk of insecurity.