Low External Input Agriculture Research Articles

Would Indian Agriculture Benefit from a Stewardship Model?

Indian agriculture perpetuates – and therefore must reckon with – numerous threats to ecological, economic and social sustainability. These arise for the most part from the commodification of nature and the reliance on external inputs into increasingly industrialized forms of agriculture. Low external input agriculture like agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and the like, are viable alternatives that are more likely to deliver outcomes suitable to the structure of Indian agriculture. However, they too depend on the commodification of nature as the sole source of economic framing. An alternate framing, the Stewardship Economy, would build on stewardship, a ‘duty of care’ that values monetized and non-monetised products and services within the framing of rewards, framed as stewardship dividends, to farmers and other stewards of land and landscapes. Developing a stewardship economy as the framework for Indian agriculture would lead to a more resilient, equitable and optimistic future for Indian agriculture.

The Productivity and Profitability of Marshland Farming System: the Case of Ligawasan Marsh in Maguindanao

Wetlands have been used for agriculture because of their natural fertility. This is true in Ligawasan Marsh in Southern Philippines where residents have been farming as main source of livelihood. This study determines the productivity and profitability of rice, corn and mungbean as primary crops in a marshland community in Maguindanao. It was conducted during dry season combining quantitative and qualitative design. Triangulation method was applied using survey, key informant interview, focus group discussions and observation. There were 24 farmers who participated in the study. The average yields for rice, corn and mungbean were at 1.5 t ha−1,.78 t ha−1, and 0.32 t ha−1, respectively. Farmers earn Php 13,860.65 per ha for rice, 3,933.56 for corn, and Php 12,898.83 for mungbeans. Productivity and profitability is low compared to established data on yield and net income. Farmers, however, are spending very minimal which make them less dependent from external input. The average cost of production is lower than the established production cost. Farming in a marshland community is considered as low external input agriculture. There is a need to diversify farmers’ income including vegetable gardening, duck raising, and fishing and adopt a better cropping calendar.

Economic potential for conversion to organic farming: a net present value analysis in the East Mau Catchment, Nakuru, Kenya

This paper discusses the economic potential in terms of income changes that may result from conversion to low-external-input agriculture (LEIA) organic farming in a Kenya’s catchment area. A spreadsheet model applying the gross margin and net present value analysis was developed to estimate economic returns to labour and land of alternative smallholder cropping systems in the East Mau Catchment. The income and costs over a 10-year horizon associated with current cropping practices of a typical farm household cultivating 1.12 hectares of maize–bean intercrop, Irish potato, carrots, tomatoes, cabbages and kales mix were characterized based on field work conducted in 2008–2010. An “average” smallholder LEIA organic farm was simulated based on the conventional one, and its income discounted. A comparison was then made of the two farm types. Results indicate annual net present value returns to cropped land average Ksh 21,878/ha ($ 267/ha) and Kshs 22,561/ha (€ 275/ha) in 2010 values for conventional and prototype LEIA organic farming systems, respectively. Net returns are particularly sensitive to crop yields and price and cost of fertilizers and seeds. Further efforts should be made to provide an economic analysis of other LEIA organic farming practices such as composting, double digging and agroforestry in terms of additional labour costs resultant. The model can be extended to build more scenarios on the role of price premiums. Additionally, further research should be done to exploit the socio-demographic factors affecting the adoption of low-external-input systems.

English

The agro-climatic conditions in western Kenya present the region as a food surplus area yet people are still reliant on food imports, with the region registering high poverty levels. Depletion of soil fertility and the resulting decline in agricultural productivity in Mbale division has led to many attempts to develop and popularize Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) technologies that could restore soil fertility. These technologies bridge the gap between high external inputs and extreme forms of traditional low external input agriculture. Some of the ISFM components used by farmers are organic and inorganic inputs and improved seeds. However, the adoption of these technologies is low. The study aimed to examine the factors that influence the adoption of ISFM technologies by smallholder farmers in Mbale division, Kenya. The study was conducted in 9 sub-locations in Mbale division. Purposive sampling was used in selecting the 80 farmers to get the data based on a farm-household survey. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on the determinants of the adoption of ISFM technologies from the sampled farmers in the study area. The study sought to answer the research question: What factors influence the uptake of ISFM technologies by farmers in Mbale division? The hypothesis tested was that the adoption of ISFM technologies is not influenced by age, education, extension services, labour, off-farm income and farm size. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Cross tabulation was used for examining the relationship between categorical (nominal or ordinal) variables, and the bivariate correlations procedure was used to compute the pair wise associations between scale or ordinal variables. Probit regression was used to predict the socio-economic factors influencing the adoption of ISFM technologies among smallholder farmers. Results of the study indicated that education of household head, membership in social groups, age of the household head, off-farm income and farm size were the variables that significantly influenced the adoption of ISFM technologies. The findings show that there is need for a more pro-poor focused approach to achieve sustainable soil fertility management among smallholder farmers. The findings will help farmers, extension officers, researchers and donors in identifying region-specific entry points that can help in developing innovative ISFM technologies. Keywords: Soil fertility, adoption, smallholder farmer, integrated soil fertility management

Eco-functional Intensification and Food Security: Synergy or Compromise?

<p>There is an increased understanding that the challenges of producing enough food and biomass while preserving soil, water and biodiversity necessary for ecosystem services can not be solved by prevalent types of conventional agriculture and that agro-ecological approaches and ecological intensification is fundamental for our future food production. FAO has stated that “Ecosystem services sustain agricultural productivity and resilience” and advocates production intensification through ecosystem management. Terminologies such as agro-ecology and ecological/ eco-functional/sustainable intensification are being proposed for agricultural development, which builds on higher input of knowledge, observation skills and management and improved use of agro-ecological methods. Contrary, increased global demand for food, and non-food biomass has increased the pressure for intensifying land use and increasing crop yields based on conventional inputs, while still aiming at reducing environmental impact. There is a battle of discourse between these approaches in competition for – among others – research and development funding. The examples of improved local food security from introducing agro-ecological and low external input agriculture practices among smallholder farmers are many. However, upscaling remains a challenge and the ability of such eco-functional intensification to feed the increased urban populations in emerging economies remains an open question. A broader view of what is organic and conventional farming is necessary and the use of new understandings from ecology and molecular biology will be needed to create and profit from synergies between preserving and building on eco-systems services and providing increased food and biomass.</p>

The Influence of Institutional Factors on the Adoption of Integrated Natural Resource Management Technologies by Small Scale Farmers in South Western Kenya

The aim of the study was to examine the influence of institutional factors on the adoption of integrated natural resource management technologies by small scale farmers in Ndhiwa division, Kenya. Soil fertility depletion and the corresponding declining agricultural productivity in Kenya’s Ndhiwa division have led to many attempts to develop and popularize Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM) technologies that could restore soil fertility. INRM bridges the gap between high external input agriculture and extreme forms of traditional low external input agriculture. The main components of INRM in Ndhiwa division are chemical fertilizer, animal manure, green manure, stover lines and agro forestry. However the adoption of these technologies appears to be low resulting to probably the low production. It is not understood well why farmers who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods, either do not adopt or adopt the technologies and then abandon them. However it is acknowledged that soil depletion is a serious and slow process hence the determinants of the adoption of INRM technologies are critical. An ex-post-facto survey design which utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection was used in the study. For quantitative data collection, a sample of 220 small scale farmers selected using systematic random sampling from the small scale farmers in the Division were engaged. For qualitative data, 40 small scale farmers and 37 Key Informants selected using purposive sampling from the division were used. Results of the study indicated that land tenure, access to credit, access to inputs, access to market, mass media exposure and contact with extension were important variables which had positively and significantly influenced adoption of INRM technologies. The overall finding of the study underlined the high importance in strengthening social groups to enhance adoption of INRM technologies. The study will be significant to planners, policy makers, researchers, extension and farmers to build the case for interventions on INRM within the development sector for improved and sustainable agriculture and rural development.

Socio Cultural Determinants of the Adoption of Integrated Natural Resource Management Technologies by Small Scale Farmers in Ndhiwa Division, Kenya

The aim of the study was to examine the influence of socio cultural factors on the adoption of integrated natural resource management technologies by small scale farmers in Ndhiwa division, Kenya. Soil fertility depletion and the corresponding declining agricultural productivity in Kenya’s Ndhiwa division have led to many attempts to develop and popularize Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM) technologies that could restore soil fertility. INRM bridges the gap between high external input agriculture and extreme forms of traditional low external input agriculture. The main components of INRM in Ndhiwa division are chemical fertilizer, animal manure, green manure, stover lines and agro forestry. However the adoption of these technologies appears to be low resulting to probably the low production. It is not understood well why farmers who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods, either do not adopt or adopt the technologies and then abandon them. However it is acknowledged that soil depletion is a serious and slow process hence the determinants of the adoption of INRM technologies are critical. An ex-post-facto survey design which utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection was used in the study. For quantitative data collection, a sample of 220 small scale farmers selected using systematic random sampling from the small scale farmers in the Division were engaged. For qualitative data, 40 small scale farmers and 37 Key Informants selected using purposive sampling from the division were used. Results of the study indicated that households’ education status, gender, cosmopoliteness, leadership status, cultural beliefs and social norms were important variables which had positively and significantly influenced adoption of INRM technologies. The overall finding of the study underlined the high importance in strengthening social groups to enhance adoption of INRM technologies. The study will be significant to planners, policy makers, researchers, extension and farmers to build the case for interventions on INRM within the development sector for improved and sustainable agriculture and rural development.

Socio Economic Determinants of the Adoption of Integrated Natural Resource Management Technologies by Small Scale Farmers: Evidence from Western Kenya

The main aim of the study was to examine the influence of socio economic factors on the adoption of Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM) technologies that could restore soil fertility. INRM bridges the gap between high external input agriculture and extreme forms of traditional low external input agriculture. The main components of INRM in Ndhiwa division are chemical fertilizer, animal manure, green manure, stover lines and agro forestry. However the adoption of these technologies appears to be low resulting to probably the low production. It is not understood well why farmers who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods, either do not adopt or adopt the technologies and then abandon. An ex-post-facto survey design which utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection was used in the study. For quantitative data collection, a sample of 220 small scale farmers selected using systematic random sampling from the small scale farmers in the Division were engaged. For qualitative data, 40 small scale farmers and 37 Key Informants selected using purposive sampling from the division were used. Results of the study indicated that households education status, gender, access to credit and membership in social groups were important variables which had positively and significantly influenced adoption of INRM technologies. The overall finding of the study underlined the high importance of institutional support in the areas of extension, strengthening social groups and improving market and credit condition to enhance adoption of INRM technologies. The study will be significant to planners, policy makers, researchers, extension and farmers to build the case for interventions on INRM within the development sector for improved and sustainable agriculture and rural development.

Who will feed the world? The production challenge

This article focuses on the production challenge contained within the ambitious question of ‘Who will feed the world?’ By looking at the different players in developing countries’ agricultural systems: small-scale and large-scale producers and systems of production — LEI, low external input agriculture and HEI, high external input’ agriculture — it aims at exploring how to achieve sustainable agricultural growth, allowing for: food security, poverty reduction, and environmental protection. The article argues that debates which polarize small-scale versus large-scale models, or LEI versus HEI, have obscured the potential of building on complementarities. Drawing from case studies and a review of the current literature, the article calls for a four-pronged approach: supporting subsistence farmers; empowering small investor farmers; making large investments pro-poor; and building on complementarities between large and small farms. A variety of institutional arrangements could be used to combine the assets related to large-scale farms — capital, technology, and markets — with those of small-holder producers — land, labour, and local knowledge — to build sustainable food value chains.

Organic livestock production in Uganda: potentials, challenges and prospects

Development in organic farming has been stimulated by farmers and consumers becoming interested in healthy food products and sustainable environment. Organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which is based on the principles of health, ecology, care, and fairness. Organic development in Uganda has focused more on the crop sector than livestock sector and has primarily involved the private sector, like organic products export companies and non-governmental organizations. Agriculture in Uganda and many African countries is predominantly traditional, less mechanized, and is usually associated with minimum use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and drugs. This low external input agriculture also referred to as "organic by default" can create basis for organic farming where agroecological methods are introduced and present an alternative in terms of intensification to the current low-input/low-output systems. Traditional farming should not be confused with organic farming because in some cases, the existing traditional practices have consequences like overstocking and less attention to soil improvement as well as to animal health and welfare, which is contrary to organic principles of ecology, fairness, health, and care. Challenges of implementing sustainable organic practices in the Ugandan livestock sector threaten its future development, such as vectors and vector-borne diseases, organic feed insufficiency, limited education, research, and support to organic livestock production. The prospects of organic livestock development in Uganda can be enhanced with more scientific research in organic livestock production under local conditions and strengthening institutional support.

Effects of Agriculture on Climate Change: A Cross Country Study of Factors Affecting Carbon Emissions

Agriculture affects atmosphere by releasing green house gases and get affected in turn, from climate change. This paper reviews the literature on both the aspects and test empirically that what affects emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Data on carbon emissions, energy consumption and agriculture related national level variables are obtained for 120 countries from the World Bank's Green Data Book. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that agricultural land, irrigation, forest area, biomass energy, and energy use efficiency negatively affect the Carbon dioxide emission. But, fertilizer use and per capita energy use affect it positively. The analysis confirms that the people in rich countries are more responsible for carbon emission than the people in poor countries. It recommends for cross subsidization for low external input agriculture, particularly for organic farming in poor countries.Key words : Agriculture; Carbon emissions; Climate change; Energy consumption; GHGsThe Journal of Agriculture and Environment Vol:10, Jun.2009 Page: 84-102

The ecological dynamics of low external input agriculture: A case study of hill farming in a developing country

This paper on Low External Input Agriculture (LEIA) has explored how indigenous hill farming systems in a developing country setting of rural Nepal are functioning and which ecological properties of such systems could contribute to the development of Low External Input and Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA). Three cases were studied using direct field observation, group discussion and interviews, and the important practices of LEIA were ranked into eight classes to analyse the ecological sustainability of the hill farming systems. The study shows that the hill farming system is complex, diverse, heavily reliant on local resources and focuses on the renewability of production resources within the farm. All this can greatly contribute to make the system ecologically sustainable. However, demands for increased production put considerable pressure on farmers to apply external inputs which, if in excess, may jeopardise the whole system. A prerequisite for guidance in careful soil management is the strengthening of supportive research aimed at teaching farmers how to use external inputs. This must agree with the principles of sustainable agriculture and take into account the site-specific variations which are characteristic of Nepalese hill farming systems. We defined the term Ecological Dynamics as 'the pattern of changes in structure and/or forces in processes which govern the development of natural and artificial ecosystems'. This definition assists in identification of trends in ecological sustainability. Understanding indigenous farming systems reveals important ecological clues essential for the development of sustainable agriculture.

The Hidden Costs of Soil Mining to Agricultural Sustainability in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Machakos District, Eastern Kenya

Soil nutrient budget studies are increasingly becoming important in determining the magnitude of nutrient mining in sub-Saharan Africa and its impacts on food production. A study of farms practicing low external input agriculture (LEIA) and conventional farming practices was made with regards to soil nutrient management in the semi-arid areas of Eastern Kenya over a two-year period using nutrient monitoring (NUTMON) methodology. Multidisciplinary, multiinstitutional and multi-scale approaches were adopted and quantitative and qualitative data on nutrient flows and stocks were collected through monthly farm interviews. Secondary data on farm inputs and outputs as well as data on soil nutrient stocks (soil sampling and analysis) were also collected. Soil nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were being mined to comparable magnitudes in the two farming systems studied and 60% and 80% of farm income was based on nutrient mining in LEIA and conventional farms respectively. Although the use of farmyard manure was found to be the most cost-effective approach to replacing the mined nutrients within farmers' socioeconomic circumstances, it can only be effective within Integrated Nutrient Management framework that embodies the use of other soil fertility management technologies implemented within a conducive policy framework and broader livelihood strategies.

Assessing sustainability of low-external-input farm management systems with the nutrient monitoring approach: a case study in Kenya

In the search for Integrated Nutrient Management practices in response to the widely observed soil fertility decline in Sub-Saharan Africa, the potential of low-external-input and organic farming remains to be systematically examined. The nutrient monitoring concept was used to assess the impact of technologies on nutrient flows and economic performance at activity and farm household level in Machakos district, Kenya. The nutrient flows and balances and economic performance indicators of farms practising low-external input agriculture (LEIA) technologies for a number of years were compared with a group of farms practising conventional farm management. Based upon monitoring two farming seasons, it was concluded that both subsistence-oriented farm management systems result in serious N-depletion and that 60–80% of farm income is based upon nutrient mining. No significant differences could be found between the LEIA and conventional farm management group. Only if LEIA farm management reduces nutrient losses through leaching and gaseous losses can a positive impact on nutrient balance be expected. Off-farm income plays a crucial role, especially in the conventional management group, in keeping farm household income levels above the poverty line. High-level compost application treatments in maize are attractive if labour and organic inputs are available.

The economic valuation of farm animal genetic resources: a survey of available methods

Genetic erosion of domestic animal diversity has placed 30% of the world's breeds at risk of extinction, often as a result of government policy/programmes. Conservation and sustainable development of animal genetic resources (AnGR) require a broad focus that includes the many ‘adaptive’ breeds that survive well in the low external input agriculture typical of developing countries. Environmental economic valuation methodologies have an important role to play in supporting decisions regarding which breeds should be conserved and how this should be done. However, AnGR, in general, and valuation methods in particular, have received very little attention. This paper provides a survey of the methods available for the valuation of AnGR and the steps that must be taken in order to test some of the more promising methodologies in practice.

Dynamics of density fractions of macro-organic matter after forest conversion to sugarcane and woodlots, accounted for in a modified century model

Soil organic matter (SOM) is the major controlling factor of soil fertility for low external input agriculture. However, most models describing SOM dynamics are based upon pools which are not directly measurable. We developed a SOM submodule for the CENTURY model based on Ludox particle size density fractions. The turnover rates of these easily measurable fractions were determined by assessing their 13C isotope signatures in a chronose-quence under surgane after rainforest conversion. The net monthly decomposition rates of light (L), intermediate (I) and heavy (H) fractions of macro-organic matter (150 μm – 2 mm size) under sugarcane cultivated for 2–10 years following forest removal ranged from 0.0162 and 0.0154 month −1 for forest-derived L and I fractions to 0.0118 month −1 for H fractions, while for unfractionated forest soil organic matter it was 0.0068 month −1. The soil carbon of the CENTURY model was reconstructed and the ‘slow’ (SOM2) pool was divided into L, I, H and R fractions, where the R (resistant) fraction represents the 50–150 μm size fraction. The modified CENTURY model simulated the dynamics of L, I and H fractions as well as total organic carbon (C%) under sugarcane with a coefficient of determination ( R 2) of 0.90, 0.95 and 0.98, respectively. Without further adjustments the model was applied to woodlots of Gliricidia sepium and Peltophorum dasyrrachis. The model accounted for 60% of the variation in measured light (L) fraction in the 0–5 cm layer under Gliricidia and Peltophorum, but only for 40% of the variation in the I and H fraction data. Results thus show some progress in linking SOM models to measurable soil organic matter fractions, but are not yet satisfactory for the heavier fractions, more strongly associated with mineral particles. Experimental data for these fractions show a considerable spatial variability, possibly linked to activity of soil fauna, not covered by the model.

Principal land use changes anticipated in Europe

Major changes in land use may be anticipated in Europe in the decades to come as a result of technological, socio-economic and political developments as well as global environmental change. The type and effects of these changes will strongly depend on policy decisions which are governed, amongst others, by: (i) an increasing agricultural productivity; (ii) an increasing realization of the need to conserve bio-diversity and environmental quality for current and future generations; (iii) pressure from an increasingly urban population to emphasize non-agricultural forms of land use in terms of nature and landscape conservation; (iv) increasing market-driven demand for high quality produce made with environmentally friendly forms of management; and (v) increasing food demand on the world market as the world population doubles and purchasing powers increases, particularly in Asia. These developments occur now both in Eastern and Western Europe, even though historical developments during the last 50 years have been strikingly different in these two regions. Collectivization in Eastern Europe after World War II was associated with higher yields but also with unfavourable changes in land use and cropping patterns causing acidification, soil erosion, salinization and chemical pollution. The change to democracy in the late 1980s implied a change from an essentially quantity- to a more quality-oriented type of agriculture, like in Western Europe where an industrialized agriculture had also caused environmental problems. Emphasis is now being placed on rational land use, which includes optimization of farm size and the development and implementation of economically viable crop production techniques which result in high quality produce as well as limited adverse environmental side effects. However, these ideals are far from being realized. According to some studies, the technical possibilities of modern agriculture can theoretically in future provide an adequate volume of produce from only 30 to 50% of the current agricultural area in western Europe. This implies potential for other forms of land use in the remaining land area. However, other studies emphasizing low external input agriculture or extrapolation of historical trends, indicate that the current land area may be needed to produce adequate food, certainly when considering the future world market demand. This conclusion is also supported by the fact that theoretical production levels are often much higher than real levels, because of various agronomic and socio-economic factors. A major challenge for the decades ahead is to avoid uncontrolled developments of land use with possibly adverse socio-economic and environmental effects; the latter include the time-delayed release of harmful chemicals, currently held in some soils, into the environment and the enhanced emission of radiatively active trace gases from soils to atmosphere. Controlled developments yielding sustainable forms of agricultural land use in some areas and nature development in others, is to be preferred and should ideally be based on eco-regional approaches. The authors advocate initiation of comprehensive, exploratory studies for Europe in which sustainable production of major land units is defined as a function of different types of land management and in which Europe is seen as part of the world economy. Six exploratory studies are reviewed in this paper; however, none of these scenario studies has the necessary comprehensive character and none is based on adequate land data.

Conventional agricultural development models and the persistence of the pesticide treadmill in Latin America

SUMMARY After a brief history of pesticide use and impacts in Latin America, the paper analyzes how agricultural development programmes, from the Green Revolution to the promotion of non-traditional export crops, have perpetuated the pesticide treadmill in the region. A fundamental issue in the paper is to link the pesticide problem to the broader policy, institutional socio-economic and technical changes that must occur if agriculture is to be ecologically sound, economically viable and socially just. By using several examples of biological control and integrated pest management programmes as case studies, ways of promoting the transition of chemical intensive commercial agriculture to a more sustainable and low-external input agriculture are explored. In the policy realm, a series of requirements and incentives to initiate change towards ecological pest management are suggested, including: changing the political-economic structures, countering pressures from the agrochemical industry, disseminating IPM among farmers, broadening education and outreach in IPM.

Field Scale Spatial Analysis of pH on Sodium Soils in Northern Burkina Faso

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 97: 66–75, 1997. Microscale variations of soil properties may have a pronounced impact on crop yields in the low external input agriculture in the Sahel. Using classical and geostatistical methods, spatial patterns of soil pH at 0.0–0.10 m, 0.30–0.50 m and 0.70–0.90 m depth have been analysed and mapped based on two hundred and eighty-one samples collected at 10 m x 10 m grid nodes on a one hectare test plot on a clayey, sodium affected soil used for millet cultivation in northern Burkina Faso. The mean surface soil pH is 7.39 and semi-variance analysis shows that the nugget effect accounts for nearly 100% of the sample variance, and therefore surface pH exhibits no spatial dependency at the separating distance. The mean soil pH increases to 7.83 and 7.90 at 0.30–0.50 m and 0.70–0.90 m depth, respectively. However, the coefficient of variation also increases, and at 0.70–0.90 m the field has areas of both alkaline and acid soil. The range of influence for soil pH at 0.30–0.50 m was 60 m, increasing to 80 m at 0.70–0.90 m as a result of stronger dependency on geology. On application of the semivariograms, pH values between the grid points were interpolated by point kriging. The study illustrates that pH of sodium soils varies considerably and that millet roots may grow in a diversity of pH conditions. Furthermore, soil characterization depends very much upon the sampling strategies, but the determination of the range allows for choosing the minimum distance required for spacing of non spatially correlated samples. The application of chemical fertilizers are likely to produce very different effects given the chemically variable soil environment.

Mobilising Science and Technology to Get Agriculture Moving in Africa: A Response to Borlaug and Dowswell

Development Policy ReviewVolume 14, Issue 1 p. 89-103 Mobilising Science and Technology to Get Agriculture Moving in Africa: A Response to Borlaug and Dowswell Janice Jiggins, Janice Jiggins *Janice Jiggins is a development consultant based in the Netherlands, Past President of the Association of Farming Systems Research and Extension, and Adjunct Professor, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Coen Reijntjes is a member and Clive Lightfoot is Director of the Institute for Low External Input Agriculture, Leusden, Netherlands.Search for more papers by this authorCoen Reijntjes, Coen Reijntjes *Janice Jiggins is a development consultant based in the Netherlands, Past President of the Association of Farming Systems Research and Extension, and Adjunct Professor, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Coen Reijntjes is a member and Clive Lightfoot is Director of the Institute for Low External Input Agriculture, Leusden, Netherlands.Search for more papers by this authorClive Lightfoot, Clive Lightfoot *Janice Jiggins is a development consultant based in the Netherlands, Past President of the Association of Farming Systems Research and Extension, and Adjunct Professor, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Coen Reijntjes is a member and Clive Lightfoot is Director of the Institute for Low External Input Agriculture, Leusden, Netherlands.Search for more papers by this author Janice Jiggins, Janice Jiggins *Janice Jiggins is a development consultant based in the Netherlands, Past President of the Association of Farming Systems Research and Extension, and Adjunct Professor, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Coen Reijntjes is a member and Clive Lightfoot is Director of the Institute for Low External Input Agriculture, Leusden, Netherlands.Search for more papers by this authorCoen Reijntjes, Coen Reijntjes *Janice Jiggins is a development consultant based in the Netherlands, Past President of the Association of Farming Systems Research and Extension, and Adjunct Professor, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Coen Reijntjes is a member and Clive Lightfoot is Director of the Institute for Low External Input Agriculture, Leusden, Netherlands.Search for more papers by this authorClive Lightfoot, Clive Lightfoot *Janice Jiggins is a development consultant based in the Netherlands, Past President of the Association of Farming Systems Research and Extension, and Adjunct Professor, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Coen Reijntjes is a member and Clive Lightfoot is Director of the Institute for Low External Input Agriculture, Leusden, Netherlands.Search for more papers by this author First published: March 1996 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7679.1996.tb00412.xCitations: 18 AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume14, Issue1March 1996Pages 89-103 RelatedInformation