Sustainable Intensification Practices Reduce Food Deficit for the Best- and Worst-Off Households in Ethiopia and Mozambique

As sustainable intensification is a major pathway for improving agricultural productivity and reducing the environmental impacts of land use, the Government of Ethiopia and international development organizations have been promoting several practices and technologies for sustainable intensification. Using panel data from 368 farming households in Ethiopia from 2014, 2016, and 2019, this study gauges the poverty and food security impacts of Integrated Soil Fertility Management technologies and their combined use with conservation agriculture practices, specifically minimum tillage and crop rotation. We find significant positive effects of ISFM adoption in terms of increasing dietary diversity and food expenditure and reducing food insecurity. In terms of poverty, ISFM adoption decreases the probability of being poor, the poverty gap, and the severity of poverty. When combined with CA practices, we find that the effects are consistently larger for farmers who integrate ISFM and CA for all food security and poverty measures. Our findings strongly suggest that the adoption of ISFM technologies has significant positive implications for poverty reduction and improved food security. These benefits are likely to gain a considerable boost if ISFM technologies are applied together with CA practices.

Commercialization of food crops, such as maize can dynamically shift control over productive resources or accrued income from women to men. This can restrict women’s ability to access or buy productive inputs. However, scanty information is available on how changing gender roles and relations can affect smallholder farmers’ use of sustainable intensification practices. This study described how gender inequalities in access to resources and appropriation of gains affect the uptake of sustainable intensification (SI) practices among maize commercializing farmers in eastern Uganda. Qualitative Survey data collected from a random sub-sample of 72 (36 women and 36 men) maize farmers from 584 maize commercializing smallholder farmers survey participants, was subjected to thematic content analysis. It was intended to follow up four unique profiles of farmers; those who did not use SI practices, the ones who used only intensification (improve maize varieties and fertilizers) or sustainable practices (organic manure and maize-legume intercrop), and those who used joint, one or more sustainable intensification practices. Findings revealed all four profiles to be highly gendered. Only women did not use any SI practice, and only men used intensification practices due to gender roles, responsibilities, and tasks shaped by traditions that give men terminal control over productive assets and gained resources. Both men and women used sustainable and sustainable intensification practices because of the negotiation process and opportunities that gave women more rights over resources. Thus, social-cultural histories and values constrain married women from implementing innovations such as SI practices because these values restrict women’s authority over productive resources. It is recommended that for inclusive transformative interventions to be introduced successfully in rigid patriarchal contexts, it is vital to enhance the negotiation skills of women.

Are there systematic gender differences in the adoption of sustainable agricultural intensification practices? Evidence from Kenya

Sustainable intensification aims to minimize the negative impacts of the current agricultural system while maintaining productivity and economic outputs. This study demonstrates that contract farming is a potential mechanism to support many, but not all, farmers in adopting sustainable intensification practices. A discrete choice experiment on a hypothetical value chain contract introducing three sustainable intensification practices, namely extended crop rotation, reducing agrochemicals and planting flower strips, was conducted with a sample of 314 north-Italian wheat farmers. The results show that permanently eliminating glyphosate from the plot under contract is strongly resisted by farmers, while farmers have less strong preferences between introducing legumes or oilseeds in rotation, and between temporary or permanent flower strips. Findings also indicate that farmers who are more educated, are not members of cooperatives and who generally prefer more flexible sales arrangements are unlikely to be triggered to adopt sustainable intensification practices through contract farming. Overall, this study indicates that while voluntary contract arrangements can be a potential tool to increase uptake of sustainable intensification practices, they will likely need to be complemented with more public policy intervention in order to bring sustainable intensification practices to scale.

Increased productivity through sustainable intensification of agriculture is a major pathway to strengthening smallholder economies through food crop commercialization. However, due to engendered crop decisions where women tend to own and produce food crops mostly using sustainable practices, and men the cash crops that they produce using intensification practices, it thus remains unclear whether increased smallholder food crop production is attainable in an environmentally friendly manner. Therefore, this study sought to determine the influence of commercialization on the uptake of Sustainable Intensification Practices (SIP) in eastern Uganda. Survey data from a random sample of 584 smallholder maize farmers was subjected to binary logistic analysis in SPSS version 16. Results show commercialization (β = -2.567, p = 0.000), farmer’s sex (β = -1.761, p = 0.018), peer influence/ support (β = 1.937, p = 0.015), and autonomy to use productive assets (β = 1.741, p = 0.042) and earned income (β = 1.261, p = 0.034) statistically significantly influence farmer uptake of the SIP. It is demonstrated that commercialization inhibits uptake, and women were less likely to use SIP because of a lack of autonomy in decision-making regarding resource use. In conclusion, the uptake of SIP as embedded in gender relations governing resource use and distribution and, as such, enhanced women’s rights over the use of productive resources and earned income should be incorporated in policies and extension programs accompanying the delivery of sustainable intensification practices.

This study examined the effect of sustainable intensification (SI) technologies, specifically the use of improved maize seed varieties, of improved bean seed varieties (Nua45), crop rotation, maize-legume intercropping and doubled-up legume systems on farm income in Dedza district, Malawi. A Multistage sampling method was applied to sample 330 smallholder farmers. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to assess the causal effect of SI adoption on farm income. The results from the PSM analysis reveal that adoption of SI practices increased farm income by MWK 35 424.32 (US$ 48.45) per 0.57 hectares in 2020. Based on the findings, the study recommends increased investment in agricultural extension services through the recruitment and training of more extension officers in rural areas to enhance farmers’ access to timely and practical knowledge of SI technologies. In addition, the development and scaling-up of affordable credit schemes, such as input loans and microfinance packages tailored to smallholders, are essential to facilitate the uptake of improved seed and other SI-related inputs. Lastly, strengthening market linkages through the promotion of farmer cooperatives and contract farming arrangements is key to ensure access to quality inputs at fair prices and to secure reliable markets for produce.

In 2016, a study was conducted in Tanzania to assess the impact of radio and SMS in scaling-up smallholder participation in legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI) practices and technologies. The study aimed to answer the following research questions: (i) does participation in the campaign enhance farmers’ knowledge of legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification practices and technologies? (ii) what is the impact of the campaign on the adoption of legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification practices and technologies?; (iii) does exposure to multiple ICT-enabled channels result in larger gains (in terms of knowledge and adoption) than exposure to only one channel? (iv) is it more cost-effective to use radio or SMS alone or use them in combination? The results show that both awareness and adoption are boosted if SMS supports radio campaigns. However, radio alone is the most cost-effective approach. Each dollar spent on the radio campaign results in 2.1 farmers that have adopted at least one new practice, compared with 0.5 farmers for SMS and 0.4 farmers for radio and SMS combined. Other factors were also important in facilitating uptake of legume-based SAI practices, such as gender, age, education and land size, but were not statistically significant when rated against the communication channels used.

Emerging advances in sustainable intensification technologies have the potential to transform land use and crop management approaches in ways that can increase resource productivity and reduce adverse environmental impacts of agricultural production. This paper describes emerging technologies that can sustainably intensify food and renewable energy production. We apply the findings from studies examining the adoption of technologies with similar stylized features to provide insights about the incentives and barriers for the adoption of these emerging technologies. We also present a landscape‐based systems approach, based on welfare economics, to go beyond relying on a positive approach to explain observed adoption decisions to examining normative questions about the optimal mix, level, and location of adoption of these technologies to achieve desired societal outcomes. We conclude with a discussion of the insights from applied economics for the design of policy incentives to achieve these outcomes.

With only four years before the end date for the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition, the need to identify nutrition-sensitive and sustainable agricultural interventions that can address hunger and malnutrition cannot be more urgent. This paper assesses associations between sustainable intensification practices and dietary diversity in maize-based farming systems of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Using survey data from 1124 households, we apply an instrumental variable approach that allows to control for the fact that farmers self-select themselves into adopting sustainable intensification practices, making adoption endogenous. We also explore pathways from intensification to dietary diversity. We find significant positive associations between the adoption intensity of sustainable intensification practices (SIPs) such as minimum tillage, minimum tillage and crop rotation, and minimum tillage and intercrops and improved production and crop diversity and in turn, dietary diversity on average. These findings hinge on there being widespread adoption of SIPs. There is need for concerted efforts to address current bottlenecks that hinder widespread adoption and promote broader food group diversification to realize the nutrition related co-benefits associated with sustainable intensification.

Extensive livestock production is a major deforestation driver in the Brazilian Amazon. This study presents an assessment of the economic and environmental feasibility of sustainable livestock intensification in São Félix do Xingu municipality, a deforestation frontier with an area of more than 8.5 million hectares, and home to the largest cattle herd in Brazil. Proposed intensification was limited to approximately three animal units per hectare to avoid negative environmental impacts. Transition costs to sustainable cattle intensification were estimated for thirteen pilot farms taking into account adoption of good agriculture practices, pasture maintenance/restoration, and restoration of environmental liabilities. To move to sustainable intensification practices, a mean total annual investment of US$1335/ha ± US$619/ha would be necessary, varying from US$750 to US$2595/ha. Internal rate of return and net present value estimates indicated that the sustainable livestock intensification approach proposed was profitable in farms with more than 400 hectares of pastureland, but not in those where the pasture areas were smaller than 150 hectares. Livestock sustainable intensification also had the potential to promote social and environmental benefits, including a 54% increase in the number of contract workers, improvement of landowners’ managerial skills, and workers’ training, in addition to avoiding emission of 1.9 Mt CO2eq and sequestration of 0.36 Mt CO2eq. We conclude that the sustainable intensification of pasture areas has the potential to prevent further deforestation in the Amazon while generating social and other environmental benefits.

Oil palm production is expanding in traditional farming and forested areas, especially in West and Central Africa around the Congo Forest Basin and mostly characterized by declining yields and yield gaps. Due to typically non-binding land access, independent producers tend to prioritize extensification over intensification, which has negative environmental consequences. Sustainable intensification (SI) of smallholder production is a guiding paradigm that aims to increase yields while minimizing negative environmental impacts. In this study, we examine the relationship between producer organizations (POs), sustainable intensification practices (SIPs), namely mulching and intercropping, and oil palm yields in Cameroon. We estimate actual and counterfactual associations between POs, SIPs, production, and yields, drawing on farm- and household-level data collected through surveys and interviews with village chiefs and reference farmers. Empirically, we employ various regression techniques, including ordinary least squares, doubly robust estimators, instrumental variable estimators, recursive bivariate probit models, and switching regressions. Our findings reveal a positive association between POs and oil palm production and yields. The actual-counterfactual analysis demonstrates that POs not only benefit their members in terms of yield gains but also have the potential to benefit non-members if they were to join POs. Furthermore, POs are positively associated with the adoption of mulching and intercropping. Our results show distinct insights by gender when households are analyzed separately. We also find complementary evidence that PO membership is significantly associated with behavioral factors such as perceived self-efficacy, locus of control, hope and risk preference, suggesting that POs are a platform that shape behavioral conditions relevant for sustainable intensification and productivity. Overall, our study highlights the potential of POs as entry points for facilitating the adoption of SIPs and stimulating productivity increases in smallholder oil palm systems.

The data presented in this DiB article offers a full overview on the scientific sustainable intensification literature from 1997 to 2016. It consists of articles retrieved from the Scopus and the Web of Science databases that feature “Sustainable Intensification” (SI) as search term in title, abstract or author keywords. Information on bibliography, geographic focus and proposed sustainable intensification practices of each publication is recorded. The suggested sustainable intensification practices were assigned into 26 SI approaches constituting bundles of practices using a qualitative classification approach. The data is related to the research article entitled”Conceptualising fields of action for sustainable intensification. A systematic literature review and application to regional case studies” [1]. The information builds a baseline to assess the developments of the knowledge on SI and especially its practical implementation in depth. The database provides a comprehensive and structured overview of the SI literature and guidance for scholars and practitioners working on the topic.

Sustainable agricultural intensification practices (SAIPs) have been promoted to improve environmental services and farm productivity. However, whether implementations of SAIPs in isolation or in combinations increase economic efficiency of smallholder farmers is unclear. This study investigates the effects of SAIPs on costs and cost efficiency using stochastic frontier modelling techniques with an application to Ethiopian maize production. The econometric approaches account for heterogeneity across farms and heteroscedasticity in the variance of cost inefficiency. The results reveal that combinations of SAIPs appear to reduce cost and cost inefficiency variability but not when they are implemented in isolation. The average cost efficiency of the sample farms was about 80% indicating the presence of considerable room for improvement. Other factors that significantly change economic inefficiency are also discussed. Overall, the results demonstrate the relevance of exploiting synergistic effects of SAIPs in the wake of ever increasing cost of fertilizer, soil degradation and climate variability and enrich the discussion regarding the need to implement a portfolio of these practices rather than in isolation. Policies should support promotion of suites of SAIPs as packages and tackle factors hindering economic efficiency to enhance food security and incomes of smallholder farmers in developing countries. Key words: cost efficiency, sustainable agricultural intensification practices, soil degradation, climate variability, stochastic cost frontier, smallholder farmers, Ethiopia Acknowledgement : We gratefully acknowledge the Australian Government through Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) for funding this research. Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) and the International Wheat and Maize Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) are acknowledged for access to raw data. The Ethiopian National Meteorological Agency (ENMA) is also greatly acknowledged for access to climate data. We thank farmers, supervisors, enumerators and other technical staff and researchers from various partner institutions who contributed to the data collection process. All remaining errors are ours.

This study aims to analyze the impact of the combined adoption of sustainable pastoral intensification practices. Conducted in Kenya’s pastoral counties of Kajiado, Garissa, Isiolo, Marsabit, and Wajir, this study aims to understand how pastoral intensification practices can help mitigate the adverse effects of climate variability on pastoral livelihoods based on the sustainable livelihood framework. The study employed multistage sampling to obtain a representative sample of 1,053 households. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using a multivariate probit model. The findings indicate that adopting sustainable pastoral intensification practices significantly increase household resilience and income, which is crucial in the face of climate-related stressors such as prolonged droughts and unpredictable rainfall patterns. Specifically, the combined adoption of these practices results in higher net livestock income compared to nonadoption, thereby enhancing household resilience. Households with larger herds of livestock also experience increased net livestock income, further bolstering their resilience but creating risks of inequalities. Consequently, climate change policy should incorporate training programs for knowledge-sharing and foster research to develop new practices and refine existing ones to strengthen the adaptive capacity of pastoral communities.

Sustainable Intensification Practices (SIPs) continue to be generally acknowledged as a key factor for increasing agricultural productivity while being environmentally benign. SIPs assure the safety, quality, and availability of food. However, despite the potential benefit of SIPs, their adoption among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) – particularly mango growers – remains low. The low adoption of SIPs is generally attributed to differences in the biophysical and socioeconomic circumstances present on respective farms. Thus, this study investigates the adoption of SIPs and their determinants among mango producers in Kitui County, Kenya,Specific objective focusing on assessment of adoption of various SIPs in given counties,investigate factors determining adoption of SIPs and assessment of SIPs on production. using data collected from a cross-section survey of 438 mango farmers. The study adopted the t-tests and negative binomial regression analysis. The findings reveal that, on average, mango farmers adopted at least four (4) different SIPs. Modern crop management SIPs (5.0) having the highest mean of adoption, followed by soil management SIPs (3.0), and crop varieties and inter-crops SIPs (3.0). Water management SIPs (2.0), local crop management SIPs (2.0), and post-harvest management SIPs (0) had the least mean adoption. Comparing mango farmers who adopted SIPs versus those who did not reveals that those adopting various SIPs have significantly higher mango yields. The negative binomial regression indicates that access to market information, off-season selling, access to training, credit access, household income, distance to the tarmac, and cultivation period influences the adoption of SIPs. The results provide useful insights to direct further efforts required to encourage greater adoption of SIPs and strengthen the enabling environment for mango farmers. In addition policy makers are recommended to provide SIPs that enable farmers to produce mangoes throughout the year; Strengthen farmers SIPs capacity through training, Improve skills of extension officers and increase training's channel, Help farmers adopt measures that access credit. In addition, farmers to adopt the seed varieties that mature early to enable them sell their produce during off-season;