Centre for Anthropological Research ( CfAR ) University of Johannesburg 23 May 2013

1. What do we already know about the effectiveness of agriculture interventions on smallholder farming in Africa? A systematic review of reviews.Campbell Colloquium: Loyola University, Chicago Centre for Anthropological Research (CfAR)University of Johannesburg23 May 2013 Ruth Stewart, Marcel Korth, Hazel Zaranyika, Natalie Rebelo Da Silva , Laurenz Langer, Nolizwe Madinga

2. Outline • Brief overview of smallholder farming • Methodology adopted in this review of systematic reviews • What areas do the available reviews cover? • What do we already know about smallholder farming? • What are the gaps in the systematic review evidence? • What next?

3. Brief overview of smallholder farming • Significance of smallholder farming in Africa • Produce 80% food in developing countries • Majority of Africa’s farmers • Increasingly recognized by donors and governments as important • Definitions of smallholder farming • Family farms • Size based (2 hectares) • Resource poor • Mix of commercial and subsistence production • Lack of consensus http://secure.worldbank.org/photolibrary/shared/SiteResources/PhotoLibrary/Images/secure/LowRes/BJ001S08.jpg

4. Methodology for our review of reviews • Systematic review funded by CIDA - which interventions work best for smallholder farmers in Africa, especially young farmers? • 3 stage review: 1) Review of reviews 2) Map of impact studies 3) Focused synthesis • Searched for systematic reviews: • 7 Databases • 6 Systematic Review Libraries • Screened them using inclusion criteria: • Study design: systematic reviews with structured methodology • Population: smallholder farmers (noting studies targeting young farmers & female farmers) • Region: included or focused on Africa (Also captured individual impact studies from within reviews for our map of impact studies) http://secure.worldbank.org/photolibrary/servlet/main?contentMDK=20104453&startIndex=233&theSitePK=265652&piPK=145042&pagePK=145040&imgfilename=BF021S06

5. Methodology for our review of reviews • Coded included reviews using our framework • Extracted findings from each review and did a simple narrative synthesis

6. What were the included reviews about? • Included 14 relevant systematic reviews • One review on training • Nine reviews on innovation and new technology • One review on agricultural infrastructure • Four reviews on finance for farmers (one review is about both innovation and about infrastructure)

7. What were the included reviews about?

8. What do we already know about what works from these completed reviews? • These are findings from the reviews with relevance to smallholder farming • In our map of impact studies we will explore in more detail interventions which focused specifically on farmers • We haven’t conducted quality appraisal of these reviews – we are trusting what the review authors reported

9. What do we already know about training interventions? • But, we don’t know how sustainable these positive outcomes are

10. What do we already know about innovation and new technology interventions?

11. What do we already know about infrastructure interventions?

12. What do we already know about finance interventions?

13. Another way of thinking about the gaps in the current systematic review evidence base

14. What next? • 3 stage review: • 1) Review of reviews • 2) Map of impact studies conducted in Africa • 3) Focused synthesis • Our (pre)protocol for this map has just been peer reviewed through 3ie • We’re now re-focusing the scope of our map • And revising the framework • Currently searching and screening for impact studies • Map completed in July to inform decisions about where to focus our full synthesis (our 3rd stage) • Prepare full Campbell protocol • Draft report of our full Campbell review will be ready in early 2014

15. Thank you.Feel free to contact me if you have questions.hazelz@uj.ac.za +27 11 559 1909 http://secure.worldbank.org/photolibrary/servlet/main?contentMDK=90001258&startIndex=425&theSitePK=265652&piPK=145042&pagePK=145040&imgfilename=ET006S08

16. List of included studies Bayala J, SileshiGW, Coe R, Kalinganire A, Tchoundjeu Z, Sinclair F, Garrity D (2012) Cereal yield response to conservation agriculture practices in drylands of West Africa: A quantitative synthesis. Journal of Arid Environments (78): 13-25. Bennett M and Franzel S (2009) Can organic and resource-conserving agriculture improve livelihoods? A meta-analysis and conceptual framework for site-specific evaluation.ICRAF Occasional Paper No. 11. Nairobi: World Agroforestry Centre. Berti RP, Krasevec J, FitzGerald F (2004) A review of the effectiveness of agriculture interventions in improving nutrition outcomes. Public Health Nutrition,7 (5): 599-609. Cole S, Bastian G, Vyas S, Wendel C, Stein D (2012) The effectiveness of index based micro-insurance in helping smallholders manage weather-related risks. London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London. Duvendack M, Palmer-Jones R,Copestake JG, Hooper L, Loke Y, Rao N (2011) What is the evidence of the impact of microfinance on the well-being of poor people? London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London. Gunaratna NS, De Groote H, Nestel P, Pixley KV, McCabe GP (2010) A meta-analysis of community-based studies on quality protein maize, Food Policy, (35): 202–210 Girard AW, Self JL, McAuliffe C, Oludea O (2012) The Effects of Household Food Production Strategies on the Health and Nutrition Outcomes of Women and Young Children: A Systematic Review. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 26(Suppl. 1), 205–222.

17. List of included studies Hall C, Knight B, Ringrose S, Knox O (2012) What have been the farm-level economic impacts of the global cultivation of GM crops?Systematic Review No.CEE 11-002. IOB (2011) Improving food security.A systematic review of the impact of interventions in agricultural production, value chains, market regulation, and land security.IOB Study No 363. Masset E, Haddad L, Cornelius A and Isaza-Castro J (2011) A systematic review of agricultural interventions that aim to improve nutritional status of children. London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London. Rusinamhodzi L, Corbeels M, van Wijk MT, Rufino MC, Nyamangara J and GillerKE (2011) A meta-analysis of long-term effects of conservation agriculture on maize grain yield under rain-fed conditions. Agronomy Sustainable Development, (31): 657–673. Stewart R, van Rooyen C, Dickson K, Majoro M, de Wet T (2010) What is the impact of microfinance on poor people? A systematic review of evidence from sub-Saharan Africa. Technical report. London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, University of London. Stewart R, van Rooyen C, KorthM, Chereni A, Rebelo Da Silva N, de Wet T (2012) Do micro-credit, micro-savings and micro-leasing serve as effective financial inclusion interventions enabling poor people, and especially women, to engage in meaningful economic opportunities in low- and middle-income countries. A systematic review of the evidence. London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London. Waddington H,Snilstveit B, Hombrados J, Vojtkova M, White H (in press) Farmer Field Schools for improving farming practices and farmer outcomes in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews.