The
objective of the network is to enhance the dissemination
of conservation tillage practices in smallholder farming.
To achieve this objective, direct links to farming communities
and support to on-farm activities are required. Farmers
have to try different conservation tillage options and
select suitable options for their specific ecological
and socio-economic environments. For this purpose the
network secretariat supports partner organisations in
planning, implementing and assessing pilot activities.
Besides participative testing of technical options different
dissemination approaches are applied and refined. Focus
is on strengthening of farmers associations through mutual
learning.
A
range of factors influences farmers' decisions making.
The performance of a new technology is just one of them.
Based on the analysis of constraints and opportunities
a draft conceptual framework for the dissemination of
conservation tillage practices was developed (see figure
below). This framework is tested and refined in the pilot
activities.
In accordance with
the conceptual framework the pilot activities will focus
specially on the following issues:
Basket of technological
options
Dependant
on the climatic zone and the prevailing cropping systems,
conservation tillage practices will be tested using participatory
technology development (PTD) approaches. Amongst these
options figures use of rippers or direct planters, green
manures/covercrops, weed control, crop residue management.
Farmer centred
R&E approaches
Local
knowledge of soil and water conservation should be discovered
and integrated into the technology adaptation process.
Farmers
should be encouraged to innovate, i.e. to apply the basic
elements of conservation tillage according to their own
requirements and experiences.
Local institutional
capacity building
Farmers need to get
organised in order to be heard, to strengthen their market
position and to encourage each other when testing new
farming practices or own innovations. The pilot activities
should work primarily with existing farmer organisations
or support the formation of groups, especially women groups.
To assure transparency and accountability, preconditions
of group sustainability, group leaders need to be trained
in group management.
Involvement
of private sector
Farmers
need access to CT implements, and other farm inputs. The
private sector, especially implement manufacturers and
repair shops need to be involved in the process.
here
ACT co-operates with the Kenya Conservation Tillage Initiative
(KCTI). Pilot activities are carried out in the semi-arid
and mountainous Machakos region. Executing agency is the
Kenya Network for Draft Animal Technology (KENDAT). Focus
of the ground activities is testing of CT technologies,
mainly ripping; growing of high values crops, in this
case grafted fruit trees; support to the formation of
women groups. For more information please contact Dr.
Pascal Kaumbutho (kendat@africaonline.co.ke)
South Africa:
here
ACT co-operates with the "Broadening Agricultural
Services and Extension Delivery Project" (BASED)
in the Limpopo Province. The region is mainly semi-arid
and mountainous. Focus of the activities is the development
of conservation tillage implements (planters) for tractors
and animal traction; the adaptation of CT practices and
support to farmer innovations; group formation and training
(predominantly women groups. For more information please
contact Dr.
Paolo Ficarelli (base.gtz@pixie.co.za) or Dr.
Edward Chuma (chuma@africaonline.co.zw)
Zimbabwe:
here
ACT co-operates with the Institute of Environmental Studies
(IES) and the Agricultural Extension Service (AGRITEX).
These institutions have worked already for years on the
development of conservation tillage technologies and farmers
centred extension approaches. Focus of the activities
is therefore the development of an extension manual and
other information material. Field activities are centred
around Maswingo, southern Zimbabwe, a semi-arid area,
with water conservation being one of the chief objectives.
For further information contact Isaiah
Nyagumbo (nyagumbo@africaonline.co.zw) or Dr.
Edward Chuma (chuma@africaonline.co.zw)
Tanzania:
here
ACT is linked to a private public partnership project,
between GTZ and the Tanzania Farm Service Centre (TFSC).
The activities are located in the Arusha region, northern
Tanzania. Focus of the activities is subsoiling by tractor,
with the objectives of breaking the wide-spread hardpan
and thus improving water infiltration and reducing the
risk of crop failure due to drought, and integration of
green manures/covercrops in the cropping systems. For
further information contact Manfred
Lieke (tfsc@habari.co.tz) or Wilfred
Mariki (sari@habari.co.tz).
Ghana:
here
the network cooperates with the Sedentary Farming Systems
Project in the Brong-Afaho Region, Southwest Ghana. The
project is implemented by GTZ/Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Objective of the project is the development and promotion
of sustainable farming systems, which could replace the
traditional slash and burn agriculture. Focus of
the pilot activities is on the development of direct planting
systems for different mechanisation levels, manual systems
in smallholding and tractor powered systems in commercial
farms. Growing of cover crops, chemical weed control by
use of Roundup and direct planting through a ground
cover of crop residues and cover crops are tested in on-farm
trials. For further information contact Dr.
Heinz Loos or
Asare Bafour (gtzsun@ncs.com.gh).
Zambia:
in
the dry Kariba valley of the Southern Province, on-farm
activities have been started in two communities in cooperation
with the agricultural extension service and the GTZ supported
ASSIP-Project. This region suffers from frequent droughts
and famine. In addition soils are sandy, with a low water
holding capacity and nutrient status. Conservation tillage
technologies could help to make better use of scarce rainwater
and stabilise yields. Selected options are ripping with
draft animals, and pitting for farmers without access
to draft power and controlled grazing of crops residues.
For further information contact Dr.
Dierk Hesselbach (dhebasia@zamnet.zm).
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