Crop residues (CR) have become a limited resource in mixed crop-livestock farms. As a result of the increasing demand and low availability of alternative resources, CR became an essential resource for household activities, especially for livestock keeping; a major livelihood element of smallholder farmers in the developing world. Farmers’ decisions on CR use are determined by farmers’ preferences, total crop production, availability of alternative resources and demand for CR. Interaction of these determinants can result in pressures and trade-offs of CR use.

In this paper, we will explore the ways in which sustainable intensification interventions

often overlook fundamental social dynamics in rural landscapes. We provide evidence of

the underlying social, political and environmental contexts that affect farmers’ land-use

decisions. While there are numerous initiatives to promote a Green Revolution for Africa,

many tend to be dominated by technical fixes that fail to understand rural farmers’ condi

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tions or aspirations and focus narrowly on increasing productivity. These technical solu

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