Sustainable intensification of agriculture in Africa

doi:10.15302/J-FASE-2020357

Front. Agr. Sci. Eng.

2020, Vol. 7

Issue (4) : 371-375 https://doi.org/10.15302/J-FASE-2020357

PERSPECTIVE

Sustainable intensification of agriculture in Africa

Antonius G.T. SCHUT(

), Ken E. GILLER

Plant Production Systems, Wageningen University, 6700 AK Wageningen, the Netherlands

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Abstract

Sustainable intensification is a key component of agricultural development in Africa, urgently needed to wean the continent off foreign food supply and to limit agricultural farmland expansion. It is expected that a relatively small fraction of farmers will adopt fertilizer technology, as profits in current economic settings are relatively small while risks are considerable with varying prices and uncertain yield responses. Many smallholders depend on off-farm income and local markets for food supply. Structural adjustments are therefore needed to allow management of larger units of land by trained farmers willing to take this opportunity, while recognizing land right sensitivities. There are large opportunities for African commodity crops to improve food security, including cassava and East African highland banana that strongly respond to fertilizer with limited environmental risks under good management. This requires investments in better functioning markets, local fertilizer production facilities that can produce regional crop blends and cost-efficient distribution networks, providing balanced fertilizers for African farmers.

Keywords Green Revolution Manihot esculenta Musa acuminata sub-Saharan Africa

Corresponding Author(s): Antonius G.T. SCHUT

Just Accepted Date: 06 August 2020 Online First Date: 10 September 2020 Issue Date: 06 November 2020

Cite this article:

Antonius G.T. SCHUT,Ken E. GILLER. Sustainable intensification of agriculture in Africa[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2020, 7(4): 371-375.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/10.15302/J-FASE-2020357
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/Y2020/V7/I4/371

Tab.1 Optimum yields, agronomic efficiency and nutrient recovery of fertilizer (expressed kg⁻¹ N applied) under balanced NPK nutrition for major food staple crops in sub-Saharan Africa

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