Conservation Farming Unit

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1 Conservation Farming: A Means of Reducing the Impact and Spread of HIV/AIDS C. Plerhoples, C. Donovan, S. Haggblade, T. Jayne SHaPE Summit Purdue University Dept. of Agricultural Economics April 18, 2008

2 Outline Background on Conservation Farming (CF) in Mozambique and Zambia Current projects Recommendation Domains Mozambique LP model for labor Zambia Proposed Research: How does CF relate to HIV/AIDS? Data/Methodology

using minimum i tillage methods retention rather than burning of crop residue from the prior

3 Conservation Farming A technique used to increase soil fertility and water retention for sustainable yields with minimal soil disruption Practices include: dry-season land preparation using minimum i tillage methods retention rather than burning of crop residue from the prior harvest planting and input application in fixed planting stations nitrogen-fixing crop rotations. Conservation Farming Unit

of the soil precision use of inputs Conservation Farming Unit Pulled by a pair of

4 Two Main CF Tillage Methods Hand Hoe Planting Basins Minimum Till Ripping Conservation Farming Unit Precise and permanent planting basins minimal disruption of the soil precision use of inputs Conservation Farming Unit Pulled by a pair of oxen in the same way as a common plough but used in the dry season disturbs a limited area of topsoil

5 Main Benefits of CF Minimum till Helps prevent soil erosion Increases water holding capacity of the soil Allows for land preparation p during the dry season Enables early planting to capture the first rains which helps to maintain yields Spreads labor more evenly throughout the year Decreases planting season constraint on draft animals

6 Labor Allocation Seasonal Labor: Conventional Farming Hand Hoe Cotton Labor Days/Ha Harvest Season Planting Season Mid Season Lean Season 1 Season Seasonal Labor: Conservation Farming Hand Hoe Cotton Labor Days/Ha Lean Season Planting Season Mid Season 1 Season Harvest Season Seasons

7 Recommendation Domains Using household survey and regional weather data to analyze which areas are most suited for Conservation Farming Rainfall first 30 and 60 days of season and dekadal drought days Soil type maize suitability Access to draft animal power

8 Cumulative Rainfall: First 30 Days

9 Cumulative Rainfall: First 60 Days

10 Drought Days: 150 Day Season

11 Maize Suitability Conservation Farming is generally suited to areas where maize is grown soil type Not good with sandy soils Better with clay or loamy soils

12 Linear Programming Model Zambia Cotton Farmers in Agro Ecological Zone 2a Maximizing annual returns from agricultural production given fixed assets Constraints: Land Safety First Cash Access to Draft animal power Labor in each season Rerunning the model for each size of household with CF options and without Less than 2 ha 2 to 5 ha Greater than 5 ha

13 Crop by Farm Size Crops grown by cotton farmers in zone 2a Number of Households Growing Each Crop ha <=2 2<ha<5 ha>5 maize sorghum rice millet sunflower groundnuts soyabeans seed cotton irish potato 276 burley tobacco mixed beans ground beans cowpeas velvet beans 309 sweet potato paprika popcorn 287

14 Conservation Farming and HIV/AIDS

15 Traditional Farming Cycle Higher labor constraint on household Poor Yields Drought Increased spread of HIV Increased migration Note: Households are already labor constrained HIV only exacerbates this

16 With Conservation Farming Conservation Farming Decreased Labor Constraint Yields maintained In periods of drought Drought Decreased spread of HIV No Increased migration

17 Data/Methodology Yield Stability Panel Data CFU administered demonstration plots compared to control plots from 2002/3 forward Econometric estimates of yield based on inputs, soil quality, weather, etc. Labor Constraints Intensive time use study over 12 months Will look at how labor shifts and the gender roles associated with increased and decreased labor (ex- weeding is generally done by the women and this increases with CF) Incorporation into LP modeling and risk analysis

18 Gaps in the Literature No Solid time use study Little published data is yet available on the economics of conservation tillage compared to alternatives (Copesake, 1997, p.31) Haggblade and Tembo, 2003, call for more research into the time dimension of CF through long term monitoring of CF and control plots how outcomes vary across seasons, particularly in response to variable rainfall regimes How investments in basins and permanent rip lines pay off over time, in terms of improved soil fertility and reduced field preparation costs

19 Thank You! Conservation Farming Unit Questions and Suggestions

20 Seasons Lean Season Aug-Oct No labor under traditional farming Land prep under CF Planting season Nov-dec land prep under trad., planting and first weeding Mid Season Jan-March Second weeding, fertilizing Harvest April-July guarding, harvest, post harvest FEWSNET

150 days of the season cumulative dekadal rainfall over the first 30

21 Dekadal Drought FEWSNET produces estimates of precipitation over a 10-day period (called a dekadal) sum of dekadal drought days over the 150 days of the season cumulative dekadal rainfall over the first 30 days of the season cumulative dekadal rainfall over the 60 days of the season FEWSNET

Conservation Farming Unit

Conservation Farming Unit CFU Zambia established in 1996 A reference for researchers, agronomists and extension staff on the definitions of Minimum Tillage (MT), Conservation Tillage (CT), Conservation