Journal articles: 'Organic farming – Africa, Sub-Saharan'

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Stewart, Zachary P., Gary M. Pierzynski, B. Jan Middendorf, and P. V. Vara Prasad. "Approaches to improve soil fertility in sub-Saharan Africa." Journal of Experimental Botany 71, no. 2 (October 5, 2019): 632–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erz446.

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Abstract Soil fertility provides the foundation for nutritious food production and resilient and sustainable livelihoods. A comprehensive survey and summit meeting were conducted with the aims of understanding barriers to enhancing soil fertility in sub-Saharan Africa and providing evidence-based recommendations. The focus regions were West Africa, East Africa, the Great Lakes region, and Ethiopia. Overall recommendations were developed with four emerging themes: (1) strengthening inorganic fertilizer-based systems, (2) access to and use of quality organic inputs, (3) capacity building along the entire knowledge-transfer value chain, and (4) strengthening farming systems research and development across biophysical and socio-economic factors. The evidence-based process and methodology for prioritizing these recommendations makes these findings useful for setting out action plans for future investments and strategies. Access to inorganic fertilizer, its use, and related implementation issues were prominent considerations; nevertheless, biophysical and socio-economic barriers and solutions were identified as equally important to building soil fertility and natural resources. Soil management initiatives should focus on providing holistic solutions covering both biophysical and socio-economic aspects along the entire value chain of actors and creating an enabling environment for adoption. A broader view of soil fertility improvement using all available options including both inorganic and organic sources of nutrients and farming system approaches are highly recommended.

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Vanlauwe, B., K. Descheemaeker, K. E. Giller, J. Huising, R. Merckx, G. Nziguheba, J. Wendt, and S. Zingore. "Integrated soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa: unravelling local adaptation." SOIL 1, no. 1 (June 22, 2015): 491–508. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-491-2015.

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Abstract. Intensification of smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is necessary to address rural poverty and natural resource degradation. Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) is a means to enhance crop productivity while maximizing the agronomic efficiency (AE) of applied inputs, and can thus contribute to sustainable intensification. ISFM consists of a set of best practices, preferably used in combination, including the use of appropriate germplasm, the appropriate use of fertilizer and of organic resources, and good agronomic practices. The large variability in soil fertility conditions within smallholder farms is also recognized within ISFM, including soils with constraints beyond those addressed by fertilizer and organic inputs. The variable biophysical environments that characterize smallholder farming systems have profound effects on crop productivity and AE, and targeted application of agro-inputs and management practices is necessary to enhance AE. Further, management decisions depend on the farmer's resource endowments and production objectives. In this paper we discuss the "local adaptation" component of ISFM and how this can be conceptualized within an ISFM framework, backstopped by analysis of AE at plot and farm level. At plot level, a set of four constraints to maximum AE is discussed in relation to "local adaptation": soil acidity, secondary nutrient and micronutrient (SMN) deficiencies, physical constraints, and drought stress. In each of these cases, examples are presented whereby amendments and/or practices addressing these have a significantly positive impact on fertilizer AE, including mechanistic principles underlying these effects. While the impact of such amendments and/or practices is easily understood for some practices (e.g. the application of SMNs where these are limiting), for others, more complex processes influence AE (e.g. water harvesting under varying rainfall conditions). At farm scale, adjusting fertilizer applications to within-farm soil fertility gradients has the potential to increase AE compared with blanket recommendations, in particular where fertility gradients are strong. In the final section, "local adaption" is discussed in relation to scale issues and decision support tools are evaluated as a means to create a better understanding of complexity at farm level and to communicate appropriate scenarios for allocating agro-inputs and management practices within heterogeneous farming environments.

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Vanlauwe, B., K. Descheemaeker, K. E. Giller, J. Huising, R. Merckx, G. Nziguheba, J. Wendt, and S. Zingore. "Integrated soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa: unravelling local adaptation." SOIL Discussions 1, no. 1 (December 20, 2014): 1239–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/soild-1-1239-2014.

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Abstract. Intensification of smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is necessary to address rural poverty and natural resource degradation. Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) is a means to enhance crop productivity while maximizing the agronomic efficiency (AE) of applied inputs, and can thus contribute to sustainable intensification. ISFM consists of a set of best practices, preferably used in combination, including the use of appropriate germplasm, the appropriate use of fertilizer and of organic resources, and good agronomic practices. The large variability in soil fertility conditions within smallholder farms is also recognised within ISFM, including soils with constraints beyond those addressed by fertilizer and organic inputs. The variable biophysical environments that characterize smallholder farming systems have profound effects on crop productivity and AE and targeted application of limited agro-inputs and management practices is necessary to enhance AE. Further, management decisions depend on the farmer's resource endowments and production objectives. In this paper we discuss the "local adaptation" component of ISFM and how this can be conceptualized within an ISFM framework, backstopped by analysis of AE at plot and farm level. At plot level, a set of four constraints to maximum AE is discussed in relation to "local adaptation": soil acidity, secondary nutrient and micro-nutrient (SMN) deficiencies, physical constraints, and drought stress. In each of these cases, examples are presented whereby amendments and/or practices addressing these have a significantly positive impact on fertilizer AE, including mechanistic principles underlying these effects. While the impact of such amendments and/or practices is easily understood for some practices (e.g., the application of SMNs where these are limiting), for others, more complex interactions with fertilizer AE can be identified (e.g., water harvesting under varying rainfall conditions). At farm scale, adjusting fertilizer applications within-farm soil fertility gradients has the potential to increase AE compared with blanket recommendations, in particular where fertility gradients are strong. In the final section, "local adaption" is discussed in relation to scale issues and decision support tools are evaluated as a means to create a better understanding of complexity at farm level and to communicate best scenarios for allocating agro-inputs and management practices within heterogeneous farming environments.

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HAKUZIMANA, Janvier, Divin Jean Paul Munyambonera, and Jean de Dieu Habimana. "The Carbon Footprint Of Smallholder Dairy Farming In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review." International Journal of Progressive Sciences and Technologies 25, no. 1 (March 6, 2021): 476. http://dx.doi.org/10.52155/ijpsat.v25.1.2737.

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Agriculture sector is one of major sources of income and livelihood to many populations of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Over the past years animal production has been playing a vital role not only in generating revenues to farmers but also as a source of high qualitative proteins and essential micronutrients (i.e iron, zinc and vitamins) and boosting the agricultural productivity due to its importance in farmyards organic fertilization (i.e manure). Livestock production and Milk market in SSA are dominated by smallholder dairy farming (SDF) which employ nearly 70% of all livestock farmers. Despite its positive impact on people and SSA countries’ economy, SDF has been the major fastest growing agricultural contributors of GHG emissions such as CH4, N2O and CO2 (i.e 9t CO2e per tonne of milk; the highest in the world compared to other regions) thus accelerating global warming effect.Although several articles have investigated the impacts of livestock production on climate change, to the best of our knowledge the existing literature doesn’t contain any studies that provide insight review of smallholder dairy farming’s carbon footprint (CF) in SSA. This review paper is therefore aimed at critical analysis of current knowledge in terms of CF of smallholder dairy farming in SSA and effective mitigation strategies (dietary, manure and animal management) recently proposed to reduce CH4 and N2O emissions from ruminants. SSA was selected because of rapid rise of SDF in the region therefore it is expected to rapidly increase its GHG emissions in future if no sustainable measures are taken.The critical analysis, what is known and gaps in SDF from this review will help to inform the farmers, researchers, decision and policy makers interested in GHG emissions thus to provide the next direction in research and improvement of the sector for sustainability. Capacity building for raising awareness among farmers was identified as paramount to better understand the issue and the options to mitigate emissions on-farm. As longer as adaptation and mitigation strategies become paramount on national and regional agenda, SDF will make significant contribution to economies, improved livelihood and become sustainable livestock production systems in SSA at large.

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Bottazzi, Patrick, Sébastien Boillat, Franziska Marfurt, and Sokhna Mbossé Seck. "Channels of Labour Control in Organic Farming: Toward a Just Agroecological Transition for Sub-Saharan Africa." Land 9, no. 6 (June 22, 2020): 205. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/land9060205.

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Agroecological farming has long been described as more fulfilling than conventional agriculture, in terms of farmers’ labour and sense of autonomy. These assumptions must be reconsidered with adequate theoretical perspectives and with the empirical experience of recent studies. This paper introduces the concept of channels of labour control in agriculture based on four initiatives in Senegalese agroecological horticulture. We build on Bourdieu’s theory of social fields to elaborate a framework that articulates multiple channels of labour control with the type of capital or surplus values structuring power relations during labour processes. Although each of the four agroecological initiatives place a clear emphasis on improving farmers’ well-being, various top-down channels of labour control exist, maintaining most farmworkers as technical demonstrators rather than agents of transformation. These constraints stem from dependence on foreign funding, enforcement of uncoordinated organic standards, and farmers’ incorporation of cultural values through interplays of knowledge and symbolic power with initiative promotors. Pressure on agricultural workers is exacerbated by the context of the neo-liberalisation of Senegalese agriculture and increasingly difficult climatic conditions. A more holistic approach of agroecological initiatives is needed, including the institutionalisation of protected markets for their products, farmers’ inclusion in agroecosystem governance and inclusiveness in the co-production of agroecological knowledge, taking cultural patterns of local communities into account. Recent attempts to scale-up and politicise agroecology through farmers’ organisations, advocacy NGOs, and municipalities may offer new perspectives for a just agroecological transition in sub-Saharan Africa.

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Silvie, Pierre J., Pierre Martin, Marianne Huchard, Priscilla Keip, Alain Gutierrez, and Samira Sarter. "Prototyping a Knowledge-Based System to Identify Botanical Extracts for Plant Health in Sub-Saharan Africa." Plants 10, no. 5 (April 29, 2021): 896. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/plants10050896.

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Replacing synthetic pesticides and antimicrobials with plant-based extracts is a current alternative adopted by traditional and family farmers and many organic farming pioneers. A range of natural extracts are already being marketed for agricultural use, but many other plants are prepared and used empirically. A further range of plant species that could be effective in protecting different crops against pests and diseases in Africa could be culled from the large volume of knowledge available in the scientific literature. To meet this challenge, data on plant uses have been compiled in a knowledge base and a software prototype was developed to navigate this trove of information. The present paper introduces this so-called Knomana Knowledge-Based System, while providing outputs related to Spodoptera frugiperda and Tuta absoluta, two invasive insect species in Africa. In early October 2020, the knowledge base hosted data obtained from 342 documents. From these articles, 11,816 uses—experimental or applied by farmers—were identified in the plant health field. In total, 384 crop pest species are currently reported in the knowledge base, in addition to 1547 botanical species used for crop protection. Future prospects for applying this interdisciplinary output to applications under the One Health approach are presented.

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Niggli, Urs. "Sustainability of organic food production: challenges and innovations." Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 74, no. 1 (September 15, 2014): 83–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0029665114001438.

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The greatest challenge for agriculture is to reduce the trade-offs between productivity and long-term sustainability. Therefore, it is interesting to analyse organic agriculture which is a given set of farm practices that emphasise ecological sustainability. Organic agriculture can be characterised as being less driven by off-farm inputs and being better embedded in ecosystem functions. The literature on public goods and non-commodity outputs of organic farms is overwhelming. Most publications address the positive effects of organic farming on soil fertility, biodiversity maintenance and protection of the natural resources of soil, water and air. As a consequence of focusing on public goods, organic agriculture is less productive. Meta-analyses show that organic agriculture yields range between 0·75 and 0·8 of conventional agriculture. Best practice examples from disadvantaged sites and climate conditions show equal or, in the case of subsistence farming in Sub-Saharan Africa, higher productivity of organic agriculture. Hence, organic agriculture is likely to be a good model for productive and sustainable food production. Underfunding in R&D addressing specific bottlenecks of organic agriculture are the main cause for both crop and livestock yield gaps. Therefore, the potential for improving the performance of organic agriculture through agricultural research is huge. Although organic farming is a niche in most countries, it is at the verge of becoming mainstream in leading European countries. Consumer demand has grown over the past two decades and does not seem to be a limiting factor for the future development of organic agriculture.

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Hien, E., W. T. Kabore, D. Masse, and P. Dugue. "Sustainable Farming Systems in the Sub-Sahelian Zone of Burkina Faso -." Sustentabilidade em Debate 1, no. 2 (December 22, 2010): 125. http://dx.doi.org/10.18472/sustdeb.v1n2.2010.1686.

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Rapid population growth and climatic change threatens the sustainability of natural resources. Farming practices can mitigate environmental change and degradation. The aim of this research conducted in Yatenga region was to describe and to analyse manure practices management. In 2005, a survey was carried out to assess the evolution of farming practices. A survey was initially conducted with a sample of 44 farmers, selected randomly in the three neighbouring villages. Subsequently, 18 farms were selected for in-depth interviews. The grain yield was measured and the different practices of soil and water conservation developed by farmers were compared. According to the enquiries, two practices, called “zaï” and “djengo”, were largely used in cereals production. The “zaï” practice, known as a traditional technique for restoration of degraded soil, is characterized by the capture of runoff by micro-watersheds and a localized organic matter supply at the soil-plant system scale. The “djengo” practice is based on the same principle of the “zaï” practice but was applied on the sandy soil as traditionally “zaï” concerned the degraded and crusty soils. The two practices could increase grain crop production but moreover could limit the risk of crops failure. In addition, our observations also showed that frequent tree regenerations occurred in plots and watersheds where “zaï” or “djengo” practices were used. This study highlights the necessity of better controlling soil, water and organic matter to improve agrosystem sustainability in sub Saharan Africa.

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Chianu, Jonas Nwankwo, and Hiroshi Tsujii. "Integrated Nutrient Management in the Farming Systems of the Savannas of Northern Nigeria: What Future?" Outlook on Agriculture 34, no. 3 (September 2005): 197–202. http://dx.doi.org/10.5367/000000005774378856.

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Integrated nutrient management (INM) is being promoted in Sub-Saharan Africa. The authors examined INM practices among farmers in the savannas of northern Nigeria in the hope of making suggestions to improve the impact of INM practices on soil fertility. The results indicate that, although the various components of INM are available in the farming systems, only a partial integration is occurring with limited impact on soil fertility. The major constraints include: the harsh savanna environment, lack of supportive institutions and labour, high fertilizer prices and inadequate availability of organic manure. Strip cropping of improved sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and dual-purpose cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) and integrated fertility management using neem foliage and half the recommended fertilizer rate have great potential. The study recommends more research, extension and policies to enhance the adoption and impact of INM practices.

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Niggli, Urs. "Incorporating Agroecology Into Organic Research –An Ongoing Challenge." Sustainable Agriculture Research 4, no. 3 (July 12, 2015): 149. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/sar.v4n3p149.

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Agroecology – as a scientific discipline and as an approach to sustainable farming practice – has objectives similar to those of organic agriculture. The paper sharpens the profile of both concepts and identifies strengths and weaknesses. The overarching challenge of both is to minimize trade-offs between food and fiber production on the one hand and non-commodity ecosystem services on the other hand. A comparison of the two approaches may well be inspiring, especially for the future development of organic food systems. Best use of human, social and natural capital characterizes organic farmers, especially in developing countries, as documented by many case studies from sub-Saharan Africa. That also applies to organic farms in temperate zones, although usually more external inputs are used in organic farming there. While the profitability of organic farms is comparable to or slightly higher than that of conventional ones, per area food production is lower by an average of 20 to 25 percent in temperate zones. Overly restrictive production standards are often mentioned as the cause, but also a lag in production techniques. One of the main approaches of organic agriculture to augment productivity is ecological or eco-functional intensification. Thereby, the goal is to maintain the ecological and social qualities of the farms and to increase food output. The future development of organic agriculture can be characterized by a comprehensive culture of innovation embracing social, ecological and technological innovations. Such a concept of innovation includes dynamic interactions between farmers and scientists in order to strengthen system resilience and make better use of basic research from a wide range of scientific disciplines.

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Pechal, Jennifer L., M. Eric Benbow, Arox W. Kamng’ona, Andrews Safalaoh, Kingsley Masamba, and Jeremiah Kang’ombe. "The Need for Alternative Insect Protein in Africa." Annals of the Entomological Society of America 112, no. 6 (September 11, 2019): 566–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saz046.

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Abstract As the global population is expected to reach 9 billion people by 2050, food production must increase by 60% to meet demand. Increasing agricultural commodities to meet this demand for food products exacerbates several issues of human concern, such as over-fertilization and natural resource depletion. Further, changes in diets due to uncertainty in local crop availability change our food forecast. We are, however, poised to overcome agriculture and nutrition challenges, and become food secure by 2030. One challenge is to produce protein in a cost-effective, sustainable manner, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Protein is an essential key ingredient of livestock feeds, and is necessary for animal growth, body maintenance, and producing offspring. The use and optimization of farming insects for protein-rich livestock feed is a transformative area of agriculture-based research that will contribute to improved food security and meeting global sustainable developmental goals. The resulting need is to minimize the anthropogenic impacts through research-driven approaches that will improve sustainable agricultural practices. This need will be addressed with insects. Larvae of certain insects feed on decomposing organic matter and can reduce associated bacterial (including pathogens) populations. The resulting larvae can be dried, milled, and used as feed for livestock, including poultry and aquaculture. Optimizing insect life history traits and their associated microbes as novel feed for livestock is currently understudied, but has tremendous impact to increase agricultural sustainability, improve feed security, and be easily introduced into local food production chains in Africa.

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Okeyo, Jeremiah M., Jay Norton, Saidou Koala, Boaz Waswa, Job Kihara, and Andre Bationo. "Impact of reduced tillage and crop residue management on soil properties and crop yields in a long-term trial in western Kenya." Soil Research 54, no. 6 (2016): 719. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr15074.

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Sustainable farming practices are required to address the persistent problems of land degradation and declining crop productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Approaches such as reducing tillage and retaining crop residues as mulch are potential entry points for smallholder farmers to move towards sustainability. In this study, we assessed the impact of reduced tillage (RT) compared with conventional tillage (CT), each combined with crop residue reapplication, on soil quality indicators and crop yields under an 8-year trial in western Kenya. Our results indicate that RT combined with crop residue reapplication enhanced soil physical quality through increased macroaggregate (>2000µm) proportions and mean weight diameter. Similarly, lower respiratory quotient values indicate that soil microbes under RT have better substrate-use efficiency than those under CT. Nevertheless, soil organic carbon (C), potentially mineralisable C, microbial biomass C and mineral nitrogen contents were all higher under CT with crop residue incorporated into the soil. Maize grain yield and aboveground biomass were also higher under CT. Thus, despite RT showing potential to improve soil physical properties, CT performed better. A stepwise approach is proposed towards the practice of conservation agriculture under resource-constrained smallholder farming conditions, starting with increased biomass production to provide crop residue for soil cover, followed by RT approaches.

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Kleemann, Linda. "An Overview and Discussion of Solution Proposals for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Sub-Sahara Africa." Sustainable Agriculture Research 2, no. 4 (August 15, 2013): 48. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/sar.v2n4p48.

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The development of the agricultural sector and the improvement of the food security situation are seen as essential components to sustainable development in Sub-Sahara Africa. However, continuing population growth, impacts of climate change and environmental degradation add to an unprecedented combination of pressures that threaten existing efforts and solutions. This article discusses the relation between the challenges of making agriculture more sustainable and meeting food security needs. Several solutions proposals are discussed and organic farming as one of them is used to develop decision criteria. Due to its involvement of all three dimensions of sustainable development, economic, social and environmental organic farming could be one possible approach to create a more sustainable agricultural system.

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Khan, Zeyaur R., Jimmy O. Pittchar, Charles A. O. Midega, and John A. Pickett. "Push-Pull Farming System Controls Fall Armyworm: Lessons from Africa." Outlooks on Pest Management 29, no. 5 (October 1, 2018): 220–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1564/v29_oct_09.

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Fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda invaded Africa, with the first detections being reported in Central and Western Africa in early 2016, and now affects at least 40 countries in Africa, causing up to total crop loss amounting to over $6.2 billion p.a. FAW is an invasive polyphagous pest that causes damage to economically important crops and has recently been reported in the Indian sub-continent. Effective control of FAW through use of synthetic chemical pesticides and genetically modified crops such as Bt maize faces challenges including improper use, unaffordability by smallholder farmers and development of resistance by the pest. Additionally, dispersal of FAW larvae into the lower maize plant canopy keeps them out of reach of topical insecticide applications. Integrated pest management (IPM) packages like the push-pull technology which eliminate pesticide use, and deploy natural processes are more suitable and cost-effective. Push-pull is a farming system intensification approach that involves attracting insect pests with trap plants (pull) such as Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) or Brachiaria grass, while driving them away from the main crop using a repellent intercrop (push), Desmodium spp., commonly known as desmodium, and attracting natural parasitoids and predators to the field. In the rhizosphere, chemicals secreted by desmodium roots inhibit attachment of germinated striga to maize or sorghum roots and abort germination of striga seeds which are rapidly depleted in the soil. Moreover, it improves soil fertility by fixing nitrogen, improving carbon sequestration, organic matter, moisture retention, and soil biota, and prevents further degradation of soil. The climate-adapted push-pull technology significantly reduces plant damage by FAW and is the first IPM management tool for the pest in Africa, and is well suited to agro-ecosystem intensification needs of smallholder mixed farming systems in Africa and beyond. Both the African and the Asian continents provide favourable climatic conditions for sustained reproduction of the FAW, which is expected to result in severe damage to crops; and being a new pest in both continents, it might have few natural enemies. Conventional control methods have limited effectiveness, as explained above. Therefore, an IPM approach that is compatible with mixed cropping farming systems of small and medium scale farmers is necessary. The climate adapted push-pull is the first demonstrated IPM management tool for the FAW in Africa. The technology combines this with other concomitant benefits including control of stemborers and the parasitic striga weeds, improvement of soil health through factors such as nitrogen fixation by desmodium, natural mulching, moisture retention and improvement of soil organic matter and soil biota. The combined benefits, including control of FAW, result in ecologically sustainable higher crop yields, and well suited to agro-ecosystem intensification needs of smallholder mixed farming systems in Africa and beyond.

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Nicolay, Gian L. "Understanding and Changing Farming, Food & Fiber Systems. The Organic Cotton Case in Mali and West Africa." Open Agriculture 4, no. 1 (March 8, 2019): 86–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/opag-2019-0008.

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Abstract Science should be capable of covering issues as diverse as farming systems, technology, innovation, climate change adaptation, poverty alleviation, extension, policy and practice, as they all relate to sustainable agriculture and development. Some years ago, the call for a new farming systems approach was raised to accommodate the principles of interdisciplinary, systems thinking and participatory research. Society calls for systems performance that provides stability and sustainability (SDGs!), multi-scale and territorial approaches and looks for solutions for critical issues such as employment, migration and inclusion/exclusion at the global level (World Society). We propose here a way in dealing with this complexity by addressing the mentioned problem from the communication and symbolic perspective, i.e. to consider the "object" within agricultural science but mainly observe the dedicated systems of communication. By using the concept of social systems, we can accommodate under it systems as diverse as farms, extension organizations, innovation patterns, (agricultural) sciences, policy and politics, farmer and indigenous knowledge, markets and value chains, but always in the form of communication. As such, we remain within a discipline with the potential to evolve towards a promising sub-discipline of agricultural sciences (or of sociology?). The relatively new farming approach of certified organic in combination with agroecology is relevant for family farms and small-scale entities. It depends much more on societal support for extension, technology development and policy coherence than commercial farms. Organic agriculture, with its standards, technological requirements and consumer preferences is nested in socio-economic and political networks, which makes it challenging for researchers to integrate the various components. This challenge applies particularly to countries with poorly developed institutions, weak organizations and within the context of poverty and rural exodus. We therefore use a unified approach under a single scientific system. This system observes, analyses and reports on communication aspects of involved (observed!) social systems (including networks and interactions) within the society of any given nation, including the realities of globalized markets. We are developing a case study based in Mali, in which we apply this method. The case is describing a planning process involving cotton farmers from the Sikasso region, the cotton industry, public and private extension systems, farmer organizations, local governments, the NARS (IER), FiBL, donors and the national institutions involved in climate change adaptation and food security. Various technological options of production (conventional, organic) and farming systems are available. The reflexive use of science dealing with human behavior may facilitate the pragmatic participation of researchers from various disciplines in addressing the uncertainties and opportunities that lie ahead of us and achieve the required impacts together with the practitioners.

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Stull, Valerie J., Marjorie Kersten, Rachel S. Bergmans, Jonathan A. Patz, and Susan Paskewitz. "Crude Protein, Amino Acid, and Iron Content of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) Reared on an Agricultural Byproduct from Maize Production: An Exploratory Study." Annals of the Entomological Society of America 112, no. 6 (September 11, 2019): 533–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saz024.

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Abstract Edible insects offer environmental and nutritional benefits, as they are characteristically nutrient-dense, are efficient biotransformers of organic material, and emit fewer greenhouse gasses than traditional livestock. Cultivating Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm) as ‘minilivestock’ is one possible means of increasing access to insect protein for food insecure populations. Tenebrio molitor growth and nutrient content varies with diet and rearing conditions, but little is known about the precise impact of poor quality feedstocks, such as maize crop residue (stover). Stover is widely available across sub-Saharan Africa where maize is a common dietary staple. Early instar larvae were reared under controlled conditions on three feed substrates: a standard control; a mixed soy, maize grain, and stover diet; and a 100% stover diet. Larvae reared for 32 d were analyzed for total amino acid profile, crude protein, and iron content. Larvae fed the three diets contained all essential amino acids for human nutrition and compared favorably to other traditional protein sources. The mixed diet contained 40% stover by weight and yielded amino acid values similar to the control diet, suggesting that some grain feedstock could be replaced with stover without hampering nutrient content. A second experiment demonstrated that T. molitor were able to complete metamorphosis and survive on a 100% stover diet for multiple generations. These results suggest that stover could be a suitable dietary component for T. molitor, which could facilitate the development of low-cost insect farming systems in low-resource settings that stand to benefit from increased access nutrient-dense edible insects.

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Abukari, Ammal, and Rahamatu Abukari. "Awareness of Integrated Soil Fertility Management Practices in the Savelugu Municipal of the Northern Region of Ghana." Rural Sustainability Research 43, no. 338 (August 1, 2020): 35–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/plua-2020-0005.

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AbstractIn sub-Saharan Africa intensifying small-scale farming is essential in addressing poverty related issues in rural communities and the degradation of natural resources. Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) are the best practices used to improve the productivity of crops whilst maximizing agronomic efficiency of inputs applied and hence contributing to sustainable intensification. ISFM usually include the appropriate use of inorganic fertilizer and organic resources, good agronomic practices and appropriate use of germplasm. The survey was carried-out on the awareness of Integrated Soil Fertility Management practices in the Savelugu Municipal of Northern Ghana to study the awareness of integrated soil fertility management practices amongst farmers through the administration of questionnaires. A multistage method of sampling was used in selecting thirty (30) respondents randomly from five (5) selected communities namely Jana, Yapalsi, Diari, Nabogu and Gushie to make up a total sample size of 150 respondents. Frequency distribution and percentages were used to represent the data. Correlation analysis was used to test for the relationship between awareness, educational level and household size. The survey showed that majority of the respondents at ages between 21 and 30 years were married and majority with household size of 3 to 5 as well as primary and secondary education. Farming activities were carried-out by hand (80%). Majority of the respondents (43.3%) were informed about ISFM through demonstrations and 20% of the farmers apply inorganic fertilizer. About 85.5% of the respondents were aware of ISFM. The research also revealed that ISFM improves production and supports finances of respondents. The assessment of respondents’ perception of ISFM revealed a positive agreement of the effect of ISFM on soil health as well as improved production. In conclusion, it is thus suggested that it is needful for the involvement of the government on the adoption of ISFM via Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) locally and or internationally for a suitable advancement and to guarantee a sustainable environment with a world-wide corporation for improvement.

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Mukhtar Iderawumi ABDULRAHEEM and Sulaimon Abidemi LAWAL. "Combined application of ammonium nitrate and goat manure: Effects on soil nutrients availability, Okra performance and sustainable food security." Open Access Research Journal of Life Sciences 1, no. 1 (August 30, 2021): 021–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.53022/oarjls.2021.1.1.0108.

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Many see organic agriculture as the most sustainable form of farming and as the paradigm for global food production in the future. One of the solutions to food insecurity and malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa is to promote local crops, encourage the use of locally source materials as amendment, improve their traditional system of production, and so diversify subsistence crop. The major reasons are the lack of knowledge and skill in land preparation and agronomic practices, weather uncertainties, pest outbreak and above all the use of fertilizer. Hence, this research will be carried out to investigate the effects of integrated application of Urea fertilizer and Goat Manure on soil Nutrient Availability and Okra performance. Field trials were conducted with four treatments replicated three times in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatments were Control (no Urea, no goat manure), 8t/ha-1 goat manure + 200kg/ha-1 urea fertilizer; 8t/ha-1 goat manure + 175kg/ha-1 urea fertilizer and 8t/ha-1 goat manure + 150kg/ha-1 urea fertilizer. Treatments were applied three weeks after planting by ring method with Urea and goat manure mixed. Soil physical and chemical properties, growth and yield parameters were evaluated. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range. 8t/ha-1 goat manure + 200kg/ha-1 urea fertilizer gave the highest plant height, leaf area as well as number of leaves than other treatment. However, the fruits weight, days of 50% flowering, number of fruit, fruits diameter and fruits length were significantly increased at 8t/ha-1 goat manure + 200kg/ha-1 urea fertilizer.

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Gashu, D., P. C. Nalivata, T. Amede, E. L. Ander, E. H. Bailey, L. Botoman, C. Chagumaira, et al. "The nutritional quality of cereals varies geospatially in Ethiopia and Malawi." Nature 594, no. 7861 (May 19, 2021): 71–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03559-3.

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AbstractMicronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) remain widespread among people in sub-Saharan Africa1–5, where access to sufficient food from plant and animal sources that is rich in micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) is limited due to socioeconomic and geographical reasons4–6. Here we report the micronutrient composition (calcium, iron, selenium and zinc) of staple cereal grains for most of the cereal production areas in Ethiopia and Malawi. We show that there is geospatial variation in the composition of micronutrients that is nutritionally important at subnational scales. Soil and environmental covariates of grain micronutrient concentrations included soil pH, soil organic matter, temperature, rainfall and topography, which were specific to micronutrient and crop type. For rural households consuming locally sourced food—including many smallholder farming communities—the location of residence can be the largest influencing factor in determining the dietary intake of micronutrients from cereals. Positive relationships between the concentration of selenium in grain and biomarkers of selenium dietary status occur in both countries. Surveillance of MNDs on the basis of biomarkers of status and dietary intakes from national- and regional-scale food-composition data1–7 could be improved using subnational data on the composition of grain micronutrients. Beyond dietary diversification, interventions to alleviate MNDs, such as food fortification8,9 and biofortification to increase the micronutrient concentrations in crops10,11, should account for geographical effects that can be larger in magnitude than intervention outcomes.

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Waswa, F., M. Mwamburi, I. I. C. Wakindiki, and R. Chemutai. "Soil Properties and Fertility Management within Ruiru Peri-Urban Area in Kiambu County, Kenya." Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management 24, no. 5 (June 24, 2020): 839–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v24i5.17.

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Peri-urban agriculture is a common practice around many towns and cities in Africa because of the ready urban market for farm commodities. However, it is constrained by a myriad of factors like lack of land tenure and poor soil fertility management strategies. This study focussed on soil physicochemical properties and fertility management in Ruiru Sub County, which is a peri-urban area, in Kiambu County of Kenya. Data was obtained from soil samples that were collected from ten small contact farms identified by the Sub-County Ministry of Agriculture and analysed for selected physicochemical parameters critical in soil fertility management. The results from this study indicated that most farmers were tenants growing leafy vegetables on small farms ~0.1 ha. Soil fertility was mainly maintained using organic manures, while tillage was done by hand. Both practices signal the limitations imposed by the small farm size and lack of land ownership. The soil pH was 6.3 ±0.87, which was ideal for protontransfer reactions in the soil and availability of nutrients for plant uptake. Soil fertility was mostly limited by the interaction of soil pH, K and Ca (30%), total N, OC and Zn (27%) and Cu (15%), Mg (10%) and P (9%). Therefore, the management of Ca fertilisation in this area is key because it is the Ca concentration of the soil solution that influences K and pH through ion exchange and K release. Key words: Organic manures, Inorganic fertilizers, Crop farming, Principle component analysis

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Binswanger, Hans, and Prabhu Pingali. "Technological priorities for farming in Sub-Saharan Africa." Journal of International Development 1, no. 1 (January 1989): 46–65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jid.3380010102.

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Binswanger, Hans, and Prabhu Pingali. "TECHNOLOGICAL PRIORITIES FOR FARMING IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA." World Bank Research Observer 3, no. 1 (1988): 81–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/wbro/3.1.81.

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Sumberg, James. "‘Good Farmers’ in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evolving Narratives." Outlook on Agriculture 40, no. 4 (December 2011): 293–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.5367/oa.2011.0067.

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In this paper, the example of cocoa production in Ghana is used to explore how the narratives portraying African farmers have changed over the last 70 years. These evolving narratives are explored through the notion of a ‘good farmer’. The argument is that, as the image of African farmers has been progressively rehabilitated (from ignorant and tradition-bound to skilled and research-minded), the image of formal research and extension has suffered. This reversal was associated with the progressive disempowering of formal agricultural research. With the recent renewed interest in agricultural development, narratives about African farmers are again evolving: ‘good farmers’ are now increasingly being defined as those who approach their farming as a proper business.

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McIntire, J., and G. Gryseels. "Crop-Livestock Interactions in Sub-Saharan Africa and their Implications for Farming Systems Research." Experimental Agriculture 23, no. 3 (July 1987): 235–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0014479700017129.

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SUMMARYHerding and farming environments in sub-Saharan Africa are described briefly. The relative importance of crops and livestock is described for each environment. A matrix of crop-livestock interactions is defined for each environment and the reasons for each type of relation are noted. Farming systems are defined as segregated or completely integrated, according to the degree of crop-livestock integration on the farm. Points at which farming systems research (FSR) might be undertaken to improve interactions between crops and livestock are noted for both systems.

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Weiner, Daniel, P. Pingali, Y. Bigot, and H. P. Binswanger. "Agricultural Mechanization and the Evolution of Farming Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa." Economic Geography 64, no. 4 (October 1988): 391. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/144242.

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Grosh, Barbara, Peter D. Little, and Michael J. Watts. "Living under Contract: Contract Farming and Agrarian Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa." Journal of Interdisciplinary History 27, no. 2 (1996): 368. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/205223.

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GREEN, D. A. G. "Agricultural Mechanization and the Evolution of Farming Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa." African Affairs 88, no. 351 (April 1989): 297–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a098179.

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TIFFEN, MARY. "Living Under Contract: Contract farming and agrarian transformation in sub-Saharan Africa." African Affairs 94, no. 376 (July 1995): 425–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a098844.

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Chianu, Jonas N., Justina N. Chianu, and Franklin Mairura. "Mineral fertilizers in the farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa. A review." Agronomy for Sustainable Development 32, no. 2 (October 7, 2011): 545–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13593-011-0050-0.

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Clayton, Eric. "Agricultural mechanisation and the evolution of farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa." Journal of Development Economics 31, no. 1 (July 1989): 195–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-3878(89)90039-4.

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Amissah-Arthur, Abigail. "Value of Climate Forecasts for Adjusting Farming Strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa." GeoJournal 62, no. 1-2 (January 2005): 181–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10708-005-8179-5.

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TIFFEN, MARY. "URBANIZATION: IMPACTS ON THE EVOLUTION OF ‘MIXED FARMING’ SYSTEMS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA." Experimental Agriculture 42, no. 3 (July 2006): 259–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0014479706003589.

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During the past two decades or so, rural population in Africa has increased slowly while urban population has grown dramatically. The hugely increased urban demand for cereals and pulses (which produce crop residues for livestock) and for livestock products is now the main force stimulating mixed farming systems in the semi-arid and sub-humid areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Grazing land has diminished, crop residues are becoming a more important element in raising livestock and fattening penned livestock has become profitable. The changes in land use, land tenure and the shift of livestock raising southwards in West Africa are illustrated. Farmers' adaptation to rapidly changing markets for their products and the factors of production are illustrated with examples from Senegal, Nigeria, Niger, and, by way of contrast, Kenya. The main challenges this sets to agricultural scientists are described. The livestock element in mixed farming system now requires careful economic analysis and participative research if scientists are to meet the evolving needs of farming as the urban sector enlarges.

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Coyne, Danny L., Laura Cortada, Johnathan J. Dalzell, Abiodun O. Claudius-Cole, Solveig Haukeland, Nessie Luambano, and Herbert Talwana. "Plant-Parasitic Nematodes and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa." Annual Review of Phytopathology 56, no. 1 (August 25, 2018): 381–403. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-phyto-080417-045833.

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Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a region beset with challenges, not least its ability to feed itself. Low agricultural productivity, exploding populations, and escalating urbanization have led to declining per capita food availability. In order to reverse this trend, crop production systems must intensify, which brings with it an elevated threat from pests and diseases, including plant-parasitic nematodes. A holistic systems approach to pest management recognizes disciplinary integration. However, a critical under-representation of nematology expertise is a pivotal shortcoming, especially given the magnitude of the threat nematodes pose under more intensified systems. With more volatile climates, efficient use of water by healthy root systems is especially crucial. Within SSA, smallholder farming systems dominate the agricultural landscape, where a limited understanding of nematode problems prevails. This review provides a synopsis of current nematode challenges facing SSA and presents the opportunities to overcome current shortcomings, including a means to increase nematology capacity.

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Tadesse, Wuletaw, Zewdie Bishaw, and Solomon Assefa. "Wheat production and breeding in Sub-Saharan Africa." International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management 11, no. 5 (November 18, 2019): 696–715. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijccsm-02-2018-0015.

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Purpose This paper aims to review the current status of wheat production, farming systems, production constraints and wheat demand-supply chain analysis; the role of international and national breeding programs and their approaches in wheat genetic improvement including targeting mega environments, shuttle breeding, doubled haploids, marker-assisted selection and key location phenotyping; and future prospects and opportunities of wheat production in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). Design/methodology/approach Relevant literature works have been used and cited accordingly. Findings Though traditionally wheat was not the leading staple crop in SSA, it is becoming an important food crop because of rapid population growth associated with increased urbanization and change in food preference for easy and fast food such as bread, biscuits, pasta, noodles and porridge. In 2013, total wheat consumption in SSA reached 25 million tons with import accounting for 17.5 million tons at a price of USD6 billion, while during the same period the region produces only 7.3 million tons on a total area of 2.9 million hectares. The low productivity (2t/ha) in the region is principally because of abiotic (drought and heat) and biotic (yellow rust, stem rust, septoria and fusarium) stresses which are increasing in intensity and frequency associated with climate change. Furthermore, increased cost of production, growing populations, increased rural-urban migration, low public and private investments, weak extension systems and policies, and low adoption rates of new technologies remain to be major challenges for wheat production in SSA. Wheat breeding in SSA is dominantly carried out by National Agricultural Research Systems, in partnership with the international research centers [International center for improvement of maize and wheat (CIMMYT) and International center for agricultural research in the dry areas (ICARDA)], to develop high yielding and widely adapted wheat genotypes with increased water-use efficiency, heat tolerance and resistance to major diseases and pests. Most of the cultivars grown in SSA are originated from the international research centers, CIMMYT and ICARDA. Practical implications This paper will help to promote available wheat technologies in SSA by creating awareness to wheat scientists, extension agents and policymakers. Originality/value This manuscript is an original review paper which has not been published in this form elsewhere.

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Rempel, Henry, and Ram D. Singh. "Economics of the Family and Farming Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: Development Perspectives." Canadian Journal of African Studies / Revue Canadienne des Études Africaines 26, no. 1 (1992): 180. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/485429.

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Glover, Steven, and Sam Jones. "Can commercial farming promote rural dynamism in sub-Saharan Africa? Evidence from Mozambique." World Development 114 (February 2019): 110–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.09.029.

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OYA, CARLOS. "Contract Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Survey of Approaches, Debates and Issues." Journal of Agrarian Change 12, no. 1 (December 13, 2011): 1–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0366.2011.00337.x.

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Nziguheba, Generose, Shamie Zingore, Job Kihara, Roel Merckx, Samuel Njoroge, Abigael Otinga, Elke Vandamme, and Bernard Vanlauwe. "Phosphorus in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa: implications for agricultural intensification." Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 104, no. 3 (September 24, 2015): 321–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10705-015-9729-y.

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Descheemaeker, Katrien, Tilahun Amede, and Amare Haileslassie. "Improving water productivity in mixed crop–livestock farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa." Agricultural Water Management 97, no. 5 (May 2010): 579–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2009.11.012.

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Droppelmann, Klaus J., Sieglinde S. Snapp, and Stephen R. Waddington. "Sustainable intensification options for smallholder maize-based farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa." Food Security 9, no. 1 (January 11, 2017): 133–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12571-016-0636-0.

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Hilson, Gavin. "ARTISANAL MINING, SMALLHOLDER FARMING AND LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION IN RURAL SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: AN INTRODUCTION." Journal of International Development 23, no. 8 (October 24, 2011): 1031–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jid.1829.

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Izac, A.-M. N., and M. J. Swift. "On agricultural sustainability and its measurement in small-scale farming in sub-Saharan Africa." Ecological Economics 11, no. 2 (November 1994): 105–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0921-8009(94)90022-1.

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Hishamunda, Nathanael, and Neil B. Ridler. "Farming fish for profits: A small step towards food security in sub-Saharan Africa." Food Policy 31, no. 5 (October 2006): 401–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2005.12.004.

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Hilson, Gavin. "Farming, small-scale mining and rural livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa: A critical overview." Extractive Industries and Society 3, no. 2 (April 2016): 547–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2016.02.003.

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Andersson Djurfeldt, Agnes. "Urbanization and linkages to smallholder farming in sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for food security." Global Food Security 4 (March 2015): 1–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2014.08.002.

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Makumi, Angela, Amos Lucky Mhone, Josiah Odaba, Linda Guantai, and Nicholas Svitek. "Phages for Africa: The Potential Benefit and Challenges of Phage Therapy for the Livestock Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa." Antibiotics 10, no. 9 (September 8, 2021): 1085. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10091085.

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One of the world’s fastest-growing human populations is in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), accounting for more than 950 million people, which is approximately 13% of the global population. Livestock farming is vital to SSA as a source of food supply, employment, and income. With this population increase, meeting this demand and the choice for a greater income and dietary options come at a cost and lead to the spread of zoonotic diseases to humans. To control these diseases, farmers have opted to rely heavily on antibiotics more often to prevent disease than for treatment. The constant use of antibiotics causes a selective pressure to build resistant bacteria resulting in the emergence and spread of multi-drug resistant (MDR) organisms in the environment. This necessitates the use of alternatives such as bacteriophages in curbing zoonotic pathogens. This review covers the underlying problems of antibiotic use and resistance associated with livestock farming in SSA, bacteriophages as a suitable alternative, what attributes contribute to making bacteriophages potentially valuable for SSA and recent research on bacteriophages in Africa. Furthermore, other topics discussed include the creation of phage biobanks and the challenges facing this kind of advancement, and the regulatory aspects of phage development in SSA with a focus on Kenya.

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Hillocks, R. J., J. W. M. Logan, C. R. Riches, A. Russell‐Smith, and L. J. Shaxson. "Soil pests in traditional farming systems in sub‐Saharan Africa—a review. Part 1. Problems." International Journal of Pest Management 42, no. 4 (January 1996): 241–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09670879609372002.

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Chikowo, Regis, Shamie Zingore, Sieglinde Snapp, and Adrian Johnston. "Farm typologies, soil fertility variability and nutrient management in smallholder farming in Sub-Saharan Africa." Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 100, no. 1 (August 15, 2014): 1–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10705-014-9632-y.

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von Fromm, Sophie F., Alison M. Hoyt, Markus Lange, Gifty E. Acquah, Ermias Aynekulu, Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, Stephan M. Haefele, et al. "Continental-scale controls on soil organic carbon across sub-Saharan Africa." SOIL 7, no. 1 (June 29, 2021): 305–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-305-2021.

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Abstract. Soil organic carbon (SOC) stabilization and destabilization has been studied intensively. Yet, the factors which control SOC content across scales remain unclear. Earlier studies demonstrated that soil texture and geochemistry strongly affect SOC content. However, those findings primarily rely on data from temperate regions where soil mineralogy, weathering status and climatic conditions generally differ from tropical and subtropical regions. We investigated soil properties and climate variables influencing SOC concentrations across sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 1601 samples were analyzed, collected from two depths (0–20 and 20–50 cm) from 17 countries as part of the Africa Soil Information Service project (AfSIS). The data set spans arid to humid climates and includes soils with a wide range of pH values, weathering status, soil texture, exchangeable cations, extractable metals and land cover types. The most important SOC predictors were identified by linear mixed-effects models, regression trees and random forest models. Our results indicate that geochemical properties, mainly oxalate-extractable metals (Al and Fe) and exchangeable Ca, are equally important compared to climatic variables (mean annual temperature and aridity index). Together, they explain approximately two-thirds of SOC variation across sub-Saharan Africa. Oxalate-extractable metals were most important in wet regions with acidic and highly weathered soils, whereas exchangeable Ca was more important in alkaline and less weathered soils in drier regions. In contrast, land cover and soil texture were not significant SOC predictors on this large scale. Our findings indicate that key factors controlling SOC across sub-Saharan Africa are broadly similar to those in temperate regions, despite differences in soil development history.

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Wang, Ke, Steven Goldstein, Madeleine Bleasdale, Bernard Clist, Koen Bostoen, Paul Bakwa-Lufu, Laura T. Buck, et al. "Ancient genomes reveal complex patterns of population movement, interaction, and replacement in sub-Saharan Africa." Science Advances 6, no. 24 (June 2020): eaaz0183. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaz0183.

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Africa hosts the greatest human genetic diversity globally, but legacies of ancient population interactions and dispersals across the continent remain understudied. Here, we report genome-wide data from 20 ancient sub-Saharan African individuals, including the first reported ancient DNA from the DRC, Uganda, and Botswana. These data demonstrate the contraction of diverse, once contiguous hunter-gatherer populations, and suggest the resistance to interaction with incoming pastoralists of delayed-return foragers in aquatic environments. We refine models for the spread of food producers into eastern and southern Africa, demonstrating more complex trajectories of admixture than previously suggested. In Botswana, we show that Bantu ancestry post-dates admixture between pastoralists and foragers, suggesting an earlier spread of pastoralism than farming to southern Africa. Our findings demonstrate how processes of migration and admixture have markedly reshaped the genetic map of sub-Saharan Africa in the past few millennia and highlight the utility of combined archaeological and archaeogenetic approaches.

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Journal articles on the topic 'Organic farming – Africa, Sub-Saharan'

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