Contributions

Geography and beneficiaries

Of the 14 target and 15 spillover countries identified for GLDC, FP3 will continue to select with partners, key Agri-Food System (AFS) CRPs and other FPs a limited number of research sites to implement an integrated system research approach coupled with an out scaling strategy. Building on the work of the Phase I CRPs, FP3 will focus on the following integrated research sites: Rainfed ALS – Ethiopia, India, Sudan and Uganda; Agro-pastoral ALS – Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Kenya, Tanzania and Nepal as spillover countries; and Irrigated ALS – Nigeria. These include nine primary target countries, one spillover country and one research-hub country.

The direct beneficiaries of the CRP will be male and female resource-poor smallholder farmers, youth and other marginalized groups. Farmer associations, innovation platforms, NGOs, private-public partnerships, local and national governments will be assisted to take up, support and disseminate the newly integrated crop-tree-livestock options in their policies, strategies and activities as part of a transformative process towards sustainable intensification and diversification of agricultural production. NARES, local research and extension organizations will play important roles in adapting outputs to farmers’ conditions.

FP3.3 Impact Pathway and Theory of Change

The purpose of FP3 is to understand and support farming systems transitions to accommodate GLDCs in response to growing market demand (Figure FP3.1). Capitalizing on existing knowledge on IPM, intra- and intercropping and improved farmer’s system management practices, this FP additionally strives toward closing yield gaps and diversifying crop productions for balanced diets through improved agronomic and animal husbandry practices (sub-IDO 1.4.2) by taking a farm system perspective. Development of low-cost mechanization options suitable for increased resource (labor) use efficiency is a prerequisite for making such systems attractive and is thus a major focus of the FP. Leveraging the dual purpose of GLDC as food and feed, livestock-GLDC integration is explicitly addressed.

At first sight, the proposed R4D agenda addresses farming system challenges for which solutions exist. Therefore, emphasis will be placed on the integration of existing solutions against novel biophysical and social challenges. The reduction of biotic and abiotic stresses not only contributes to achieving a higher productivity but also provides an opportunity for farmers to reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides and thereby addressing health concerns. In this regard, FP3 will seek active partnerships with CRP-A4NH.

Figure FP3.1. FP3 Impact pathway

The FP contributes to (i) improved diets for poor and vulnerable people (IDO 2.1) through farmers integrating GLDCs in farming practices, increased resilience of farmers to climate change and other shocks (IDO 1.1) through diversification and management of biotic and abiotic stresses (ii) increased productivity (IDO1.4) and more sustainably managed agroecosystems (IDO 3.3) by maximizing synergies within farming systems (crop – livestock integration, nitrogen fixation, organic and mineral fertilizer applications, micro dosing, etc.), reducing biotic and abiotic stresses and alleviating the workload through low-cost mechanization and through this (iii) increased income and employment opportunities jointly with FP2 (IDO1.3) by freeing up time for non-farm activities and reaching more efficient use of inputs, translated into savings.

Key assumptions underlying FP3’s ToC are:

There is a demand for improved farm performance by farmers and their political representatives. This demand will be scrutinized against novel challenges, notably changing landownership, changing weather conditions, and pressure on land through urbanization.

Traditional solutions to economic challenges exist and through different stakeholders research and extension will make available new knowledge and technologies.

Behavioral change toward adoptions of improved GLDC-practices is possible through novel and context-specific learning approaches. Together with agricultural extension and advisory services, researchers will further develop these approaches to increase adoption and adaptation.

In collaboration with civil society, farm transition models will be developed that are culturally, socially acceptable, gender- and age-sensitive (importance of inputs from FP1) and compatible with other farm and non-farm livelihood activities.

In order to achieve the FP outcomes it is crucial for the developed tools and models to be practically applicable, adapted to farmers’ needs and contexts and affordable with a low cost-benefit ratio. Recurrent consultation of the target group (notably through participatory research) and working towards achieving those criteria during the intervention (in collaboration with FP1) is therefore essential for FP success in terms of impacts.