Abstract
Agroecological intensification (AEI) practices relying on on-farm diversity tend to close nutrient cycles and reduce dependency on external inputs in agricultural systems. These practices improve the productivity of banana-based systems in Uganda, but their extent of implementation differs between and within regions. However, the impact of AEI practices on a broader range of objectives including environmental and nutritional objectives, is hardly quantified. Additionally, recommendations to improve the farm performance, given these options, are lacking. We, therefore, analyzed the current farm performance for these broad range of objectives and explored optimal farm reconfigurations in two Ugandan districts, one in Central Uganda and one in Southwestern (SW) Uganda. Given the heterogeneity of smallholder farms, a farm typology based on the applied AEI practices was developed. It classified the subsistence farms in Central Uganda into two extreme groups with an average of 11.0 and 16.4 AEI practices applied per farm. Farms in SW Uganda were moderately intensified (i.e., 13.0 practices). The FarmDESIGN model revealed a higher species diversity, relatively higher profitability (2,039 – 3,270 $/ha/year) and nutritional yield on farms in Central Uganda. However, relatively high soil erosion levels (0.243 – 0.240) and negative nitrogen (N) balances (−72 to −50 kg N/ha/year) were indicative of unsustainable practices. In contrast, farms in SW Uganda were less diverse and more market oriented. Their commercial orientation allowed investments in soil fertility management, resulting in more sustainable [low soil erosion level (0.172) and positive N balance (5 kg/ha/year)], but less profitable (506 $/ha/year) systems. To improve farm performance, bananas and other perennials played a key role. Explorations with Calliandra calothyrsus (Calliandra) hedgerow or Mucuna pruriens (Mucuna) cover crop increased on-farm mulch production, improved sustainability indicators and profitability. We conclude that AEI practices can improve farm performance, and a more intensive use would be beneficial. In addition, the FarmDESIGN model provides a useful tool for redesigning these farms, proposing different redesigns depending on farmers' objectives (profitability, productivity or sustainability), and for evaluating ex ante the impact of new agricultural measures on farm performance.
Highlights
East African highland bananas and ABB type cooking/beer bananas (Musa spp.) are important components of the production landscape in Uganda (Gold et al, 2002; Nemecková et al, 2018), especially in the country’s Central and South-western region (UBOS and MAAIF, 2010)
As defined by Wezel et al (2015), “agroecological intensification (AEI) is a way of improving the performance of agriculture while minimizing environmental impacts and reducing dependency on external inputs through integration of ecological principles into farm- and system management.”
Practices like mulching, intercropping, crop rotations, integrated soil- and nutrient management, soil- and water conservation, integrated pest management and biological control strategies and a balanced and more efficient use of fertilizers are mentioned as possible AEI strategies by different authors (Gliessman, 2000; Côte et al, 2010; Karamura et al, 2013; Vanlauwe et al, 2013; Wezel et al, 2015)
Summary
East African highland bananas and ABB type cooking/beer bananas (Musa spp.) are important components of the production landscape in Uganda (Gold et al, 2002; Nemecková et al, 2018), especially in the country’s Central and South-western region (UBOS and MAAIF, 2010). Increased land pressure due to rising population densities (Fermont et al, 2008), soil fertility decline (Stoorvogel and Smaling, 1990; Bazira et al, 1997; Bekunda and Manzi, 2003), drought (Wairegi et al, 2010; van Asten et al, 2011) and biotic stresses of pests, diseases and weeds (Tinzaara et al, 2009, 2018) are reported to contribute to this yield decline. The practice is only profitable in regions with good farm gate prices (e.g., close to Kampala) and good crop responses (e.g., Southern-Uganda) (Wairegi and van Asten, 2010). Agroecological intensification (AEI) practices that enhance the profitability, sustainability and nutritional yield on smallholder farms could offer opportunities for substantial improvement of the performance of these farms. Practices like mulching, intercropping, crop rotations, integrated soil- and nutrient management, soil- and water conservation, integrated pest management and biological control strategies and a balanced and more efficient use of fertilizers are mentioned as possible AEI strategies by different authors (Gliessman, 2000; Côte et al, 2010; Karamura et al, 2013; Vanlauwe et al, 2013; Wezel et al, 2015)
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