Development patterns under population pressure: Agricultural development and the cassava-livestock interaction in smallholder farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This paper identifies the pathways along which smallholder farming systems evolve in a context of population pressure in the cassava producing zones of Sub-Saharan Africa. The analysis indicates the existence of the cassava-livestock interaction. Particularly the use of cassava roots by pigs is important. Generally, two alternative development paths can be observed. Land scarcity induced by population growth is the driving force behind them. For countries like Ivory Coast and Ghana, intensification of arable crop production including cassava is prevalent while in the East African countries, mixed crop (cassava)-livestock systems are emerging. The case of Nigeria is peculiar as farming systems evolve along both pathways. In the absence of population pressure and land scarcity extensive crop production systems evolve, as in Zaire. It is concluded that emphasis should be placed on institutional support and research that will encourage the productivity and sustainability of either systems. In Nigeria both policy strategies may have to be adopted.