Maize–legume strip cropping effect on productivity, income, and income risk of farmers in northern Ghana

Nurudeen Abdul Rahman,Irmgard Hoeschle‐Zeledon,Daniel Brain Akakpo,Bekele Kotu,Mary Otiwaa Asante,Asamoah Larbi,Shaibu Mellon‐Bedi

doi:10.1002/agj2.20536

Abstract

AbstractMaize (Zea mays L.)–legume intercropping is common cropping system among smallholder farmers in West Africa. However, little is known about the income risk reduction associated with maize–legume strip cropping in West Africa. A 3‐yr study was conducted in Upper West and Northern regions of Ghana to determine the effect of maize–legume strip cropping on productivity, income, and income risk using a randomized complete block design with five replications in each region. Seven treatments were used: sole crops of maize (M) cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] (C) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) (G), a combination of two rows of M and two rows of legumes (L) (2M:2C and 2M:2G), and two rows of M and four rows of L (2M:4C and 2M:4G). Maize–legume strip cropping options (2M:2L and 2M:4L) on the average saved 90–100% of agricultural land, significantly increased income by about threefold, and reduced risk of operating at a financial loss by 75% compared with sole cropping. Smallholder farmers, especially sole legume cropping farmers in the Guinea savanna of northern Ghana and similar agro‐ecologies in West Africa, could adopt maize–legume strip cropping systems (2M:4L or 2M:2L) to mitigate production risk and increase financial return.

Highlights

The annual population growth rate of Africa is about 2.6%, with a projected population increase of 1.3 billion by 2050Abbreviations: 2M, two rows of maize; 2C, two rows of cowpea; 2G, two rows of groundnut; 2L, two rows of legumes; 4C, four rows of cowpea; 4G, four rows of groundnut; 4L, four rows of legumes; C, cowpea; FSD, first-degree stochastic dominance; G, groundnut; L, legumes; M, maize; SERF, stochastic efficiency with respect to a function; SSD, second-degree stochastic dominance.(United Nations, 2017)
Results of the FSD are displayed below the shaded cells, and those of the SSD are displayed above the shaded cells (Table 4)
The 2M:4G strip cropping option was the best option in terms of the FSD criteria, implying that farmers will get the highest financial benefit if they go for this option

Summary

Introduction

This increase in Africa’s population would lead to high demand for food and land use, which poses a threat to the future of agricultural production in the region. This implies that more food will have to be produced from small land areas through efficient use of natural resources with less impact on the environment. Diversification and land use change strategies are among the most sustainable options for climate change adaptation. There is the need for a cropping strategy that increases productivity, income, and resource utilization per unit area of available arable lands to improve land use. One way to achieve these objectives is by intercropping (i.e., growing two or more crops on the same piece of land either in space or in time) (Ofori & Stern, 1987)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion