Tailoring Conservation Agriculture to the Needs of Small Farmers in Developing Countries: An Analysis of Issues

Abstract

Conservation agriculture (CA) is characterized by surface crop residue retention and minimal soil movement. It is a complex technology that involves not only a change in many of the farmer's cultural practices, but also a change in mind-set to overcome the use of the plow. CA is knowledge-intensive, and success with the system may depend more on what the farmer does than the level of inputs applied. However, smallholder farmers are generally characterized by weak links to information systems outside those of the community, while close community linkages tend to reinforce traditional activities. They commonly manage complex crop-livestock systems, where crop residues play an important role in animal nutrition. This, coupled with communal grazing rights, makes the retention of sufficient surface residues a difficult practice for small farmers, especially in rain-fed systems where residue production levels are low. Smallholders often have weak links to input and output markets, as well as limited access to capital and credit. These factors complicate access to non-traditional inputs, and to crop diversification and the establishment of crop rotations: an important practice to overcome pest and disease carryover in CA. Adequate equipment for direct seeding is a prerequisite for successful CA, but comparatively few resources have been dedicated to the development of direct-seeding equipment for low draught power conditions, given the relatively small profit margins associated with small equipment. All of these factors stress the need for the catalysis and development of innovation systems focusing on the development of CA in smallholder farming communities, and supporting the efforts of innovative farmers within these. Strategies for the successful adoption and management of CA practices need to address the issue of an enhanced knowledge base of individual farmers and the community.