This chapter introduces food systems and organic farming, outlines the development of organic farming in Southern Africa, and grapples with the idea of sustainable development; drawing on earlier work of the author entitled Sustainable Development: Developing What to Sustain Whom? a conceptual...

Livestock systems research (LSR) at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) sought to answer two questions: (1) What are the major livestock systems in the sub-Saharan Africa tropics and subtropics? (2) What technical and organizational changes can be introduced into these systems to...

This book provides an updated assessment of trends in the adaptation and adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) in different countries of Africa. It provides information on the contribution of CA systems to building resilience in a changing climate while increasing productivity, profitability...

This chapter (i) defines conservation agriculture (CA); (ii) describes the global and regional level environment for CA; (iii) shows where CA is practiced in Africa; (iv) identifies the key stakeholders in the evolution of CA in Africa; and (v) presents an overview of the New Partnership for...

Recent research and development efforts within East and Southern Africa, as a case in point, have clearly shown that constraints to adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) can be overcome but stress the need for local innovation systems that involve farmers exchanging among themselves and use of...

This chapter sums up of what the book represents in terms of the relevance and future of conservation agriculture (CA) to agricultural development in Africa. It is indicated that CA is most definitely not a quick-fix solution to agricultural development, nor does it offer a silver bullet solution...

This chapter examines improved systems for representative farms or typical situations so that they are as generally applicable as possible.

This chapter discusses differences in livestock development focus. It describes the animal productivity paradigm versus the farm efficiency and integrated farming paradigm. Reasons for project failures in livestock development are then discussed. It is pointed out that climate change and food...

This chapter first discusses the role of livestock in integrated agricultural systems and then the endogenous development concept, before describing endogenous livestock development (ELD). It then discusses methodologies to support ELD, and highlights some organizations and networks engaged in ELD...

This chapter describes some typical households in selected farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, and explores strategic priorities for small-scale agricultural development and poverty alleviation.