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Africa Congress on Conservation Agriculture 18–21 March 2014 Lusaka, Zambia

Increasing conservation agriculture (CA) options for smallholder farmers in different agro-ecological regions of Zimbabwe. Walter Mupangwa, Christian Thierfelder & Munyaradzi Mutenje. Africa Congress on Conservation Agriculture 18–21 March 2014 Lusaka, Zambia. Farming Systems at Study Sites.

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Africa Congress on Conservation Agriculture 18–21 March 2014 Lusaka, Zambia

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  1. Increasing conservation agriculture (CA) options for smallholder farmers in different agro-ecological regions of Zimbabwe Walter Mupangwa, Christian Thierfelder & Munyaradzi Mutenje Africa Congress on Conservation Agriculture 18–21 March 2014 Lusaka, Zambia

  2. Farming Systems at Study Sites Mixed crop/livestock Conventional agriculture • Food crops: Maize, sorghum, pearl millet, groundnuts, bambaranuts, cowpea • Cash crops: Cotton, tobacco, soybeans • Crop associations: Full rotations of cereal/legumes rare, intercrops common Dry spells, low soil fertility

  3. CA options introduced Hand dug planting basins Animal traction ripline seeding • Study districts: Gokwe, Kariba and Zaka Animal traction direct seeding

  4. … CA options introduced • Crops grown: maize (SC513), soybean (Safari) and cowpea (CBC 2) • Maize rotated with cowpea (NR 4) and soybean (NR 3) in each cropping system • Equal fertilization: basal (7N:14P2O5:7K2O) @ 150 kgha-1 compound D & topdressing (34.5% N) @ 200 kgha-1 ammonium nitrate • Soybean inoculated, fertilized with soya-blend (6N:27P2O5:20K2O) at seeding @ 165 kgha-1 • Weed control: Glyphosate at seeding (2.5 l ha-1) in CA, manual weeding when necessary

  5. Results from 2010/11-2012/13 seasons

  6. Seasonal rainfall

  7. No significant differences in first season-NR 3 • Higher yields in DS in subsequent seasons-NR 3

  8. Yield responses variable – NR 4 • Higher yields in basins – NR 4

  9. Higher yield in AT CA options – NR 3 • Low yield in basins – low crop stand – NR 3

  10. No significant yield differences in first season - NR 4 • Higher yields in AT CA with time - NR 4

  11. Net benefits of cropping systems- NR 3 (2013)

  12. Net benefits of cropping systems- NR 4 (2013)

  13. Lessons learnt • Socio-economic benefits (e.g. reduced time and labor) increase farmer acceptance in the short term • Farmer-to-farmer exchange visits are effective for better understanding of new technologies • More training on CA equipment and herbicides – bad experiences with equipment/herbicides discourage farmers Farmer discussion during exchange visit

  14. Lessons learnt • CA equipment development: extensive participatory process – requires time to perfect equipment • CA equipment manufacturers require pre-financing • CA equipment still not widely available • Credit facility increases accessibility of equipment and adoption CA technology Prototype 1 Prototype 2

  15. Concluding Remarks • AT CA options offer alternative to increase crop productivity in different NRs • DS CA system gives the highest net benefits – reduced production costs + higher crop yields • Basin CA system gives the lowest benefits - higher production costs • Higher maize yields in basin system in NR 4 – rainwater harvesting • More investments in CA equipment development • Credit facility to encourage adoption of CA technologies

  16. Thank You

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