Building sustainable food production through soil micronutrients analysis, dairy cattle breeding, and adaptation to climate change

Transcription

1 Building sustainable food production through soil micronutrients analysis, dairy cattle breeding, and adaptation to climate change Conference on Impacts of International Agricultural Research: Rigorous Evidence for Policy July 6th-8 th 2017, ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya

2 Strengthening capacity for diagnosis and management of soil micronutrient deficiencies in Sub-Saharan Africa for improved plant, animal and human nutrition Mercy Nyambura, Keith Shepherd

3 Micronutrients problems in Africa Poor soils, serious consequences Triple burden of malnutrition/micronutrients nutrition deficiencies: diseases, economic growth and poverty Nutritional deficiencies are responsible for over 50% of years lived with disability and mortality in children under five Underweight and obesity Number-one contributor to the burden of disease in Africa south of the Sahara. In Sub-Saharan Africa, Multiple secondary and micronutrients (SMN) deficiencies are the norm Zn, Se, I or Co. High risk of failure of simple fertilizer strategies contributes to low adoption.

4 Methodology and Approach New science and technology for evidence-based approaches - things not previously feasible Geo-survey Consistent sampling schemes; soil, crops Agronomic trials Mozambique NP (no K) NPK +S, Zn, B Coupling with remote sensing/soilgrids Sampling protocols/tools Soil Plants Spectroscopy

5 Results Micronutrients baseline-africa Micronutrients concentrations by sampling depth relative to finish guidelines mg/l soil; AAAc-EDTA Depth Summary B Mo Cu Fe Mn Zn Mean Topsoil Median Minimum Maximum Mean Subsoil Median Minimum Maximum Finnish critical values (Deficientexcessive) ( ) ( ) (2.7-20) ( ( ) (2.0-50) n = 1708 Others include: Co, Cd, Cr, Ni, V, Al, Se No marked differences in the concentrations of the easily soluble elements between topsoil and subsoil t tests Median concentrations of soluble Cu (1.05 mg l -1 ), Zn (0.59 mg l -1 ), B (0.2 mg l -1 ), Mn (0.59 mg l -1 ), Mo (0.2 mg l -1 ), and Fe (49.89 mg l -1 ) in the topsoil-low relative to sufficiency guidelines for good crop growth. High risk of deficiencies: B, Cu, Fe, Mo and Zn Using deficiency critical mid-points for Finnish soils as a guide, Africa top soils have deficiency prevalence values of Mn (8%), Fe (42%), Cu (48%), Zn (56%), and B (79%).

6 Soil Property Map of Africa Wide engagement by investors (African governments, development organizations and donors) on spectral approaches to making fertilizer recommendations and fertilizer blending decisions in Africa. To focus on most promising strategies for alleviating the most urgent soil and crop micronutrient problems e.g. EthioSIS, TanSIS, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria OCP, IDB, AGRA, K+S, Diageo, One Acre Fund, Millennium Promise Africa Soil Information Service

7 Spatial Targeting of Fertilizers in Ethiopia

8 Fertilizer Blending in Ethiopia

9 Fertilizer ID and Quality Screening Compounds, blends, and coatings Balanced crop nutrition % N MIR quality spectra Tanzania government, IFDC, OCP

10 Capacity Building Challenges Africa, human and laboratory capacity for diagnosing, surveying and managing soil nutrient deficiencies in Sub-Saharan Africa is woefully inadequate for the task. Opportunities Strengthening Africa capacity on new science and technology a key resilience strategy In transforming the fertilizer advisory services in Africa countries Rapid, reliable and low cost analytical and diagnostic techniques Improved and well-targeted guidelines Scientific expertise Strengthened partnerships Top-level research answers questions - policy makers - extension agents - Educators - Farmers - agribusiness entrepreneurs - Development partners Educating the next generation Photo: Mila Sell

11 Conclusion Turning research into opportunities optimize interventions/contribute to sustainable agriculture, economic development and basic human rights Tackling hidden hunger in sub-saharan Africa Contributing to solutions for malnutrition in Africa through micronutrient-enriched fertilizers Enhancing the quality of life, health and wellbeing of people and livestock in sub-saharan Africa World Bank LSMS pilot for soil fertility measurement- Handbook Healthy soils Healthy crops Healthy livestock Healthy people

12 Building an evidence base for informed decisions on choice of dairy cattle production systems - Senegal Dairy Genetics Karen Marshall, Stanly Tebug, Gareth Salmon, Miika Tapio, Jarmo Juga, Ayao Missohou

13 Background The importance of dairy milk = high-quality food which supplies protein, energy & essential micronutrients consumption of even small amounts of milk can significantly increase nutritional security Dairy production in Senegal Senegal is a net importer of dairy products the Senegalese government is actively supporting increased local dairy production - including through the use of genetically improved animals but no evidence base on the most appropriate type of dairy animal / dairy system

14 Types of dairy systems Indigenous Zebu cattle under traditional management Cross-breed (Zebu by Bos Taurus) under improved management supplementary feed and shade provision

15 Methodology Trade-off analysis considering aspects of: Breed preferences Productivity Profitability Environmental sustainability Food quality Food safety Equality Partnered with 220 dairy keeping households, with cattle, over an almost 2 year period to obtain data Dairy systems (n=7) defined by breed kept & management level

16 Key results productivity & profitability 600, fold increase in household profit 7.5 fold increase in milk production , , , , , fold increase in household profit 3.2 fold increase in milk production Breed Management level 0 Indigenous Zebu Indigenous Zebu Indigenous Zebu by Guzerat Indigenous Zebu by Guzerat Indigenous Zebu by Bos Taurus Indigenous Zebu by Bos Taurus High Bos Taurus * ** * ** ** *** **** 0 Household profit (CFA per cow per annum) Milk yield (liters per annum) Scenario: Herd size of 8 cows; non-transhumant; public AI

17 Key results Environmental sustainability: GHG emissions intensity of protein GHG emissions intenisity (kg CO 2 eq/ kg protein) Protein production (kg protein/herd/year) Manure CH4 Manure N2O Feed CO2 Feed N2O Enteric CH4 Protein yield kg/herd/year IZ IZ IZ x GZ IZ x GZ IZ x BT IZ x BT BT Breed group and level of management

18 Key results food safety: aflatoxins WHO limit is 5 ppb 300 Aflatoxin level (ppb) Purchased concentrate Groundnut hay Wheat bran Millet bran Rice bran Groundnut cake Improved management associated with increased use of supplementary feeds (e.g. up to 10 fold higher use for purchased concentrates) associated with milk safety risk (as aflatoxins are passed into milk)

19 Key results equality: gendered impacts Control of income from the sale of milk can shift from women to men as the level of market orientation increases Level of market orientation Control of income from the sale of milk % Women % Men % Joint Low 72% 27% 1% Medium 45% 50% 5%

20 Key results summary Breed Management level (*) Breed preference male / female famers Productivity - liters milk / annum Profitability - CFA / annum/cow Environmental sustainability -GHG EI, kg CO 2 eq/kg protein Food quality - milk protein/fat Foodsafety - aflatoxins Equality - gendered impacts Zebu * Zebu ** Zebu x Guzerat * Zebu x Guzerat ** Zebu x Bos Taurus ** Zebu x Bos Taurus *** High Bos Taurus **** +/+ +/+ +/+ +/+ +++/ /+++ ++/ ,315 1,422 60, ,041 65, , , , , For milk protein no difference between breed-types For milk fat variation between breed-types, but changing trend on parity Women control income from milk sale in a majority of households Women control income from milk sale in fewer households Still building on additional aspects of this as resources become available

21 Recommendations This system is: Productive Profitable Need to address: Animal feed supply sufficient, safe Potential negative impacts on women & children Dairy cattle systems comprising cross-bred animals (Indigenous Zebu by Bos Taurus) kept under good management Adoption issues: Investment cost Access to cross-bred semen Farmer capacity Evidence base currently being shared with stakeholders for more informed decision making. Planned phase 2 project on intervention implementation

22 Climate change impacts on agriculture, livestock & food security in Senegal Siwa Msangi (IFPRI), Jarkko Niemi (LUKE), Kari Hyytiäinen (Univ. Helsinki), Amy Faye, Assane Beye, Astou Diao Camara, Rassoul Sy, Yakhya Thior, Djiby Dia, Cheickh Sadibou Fall (ISRA)

23 Background for climate change research Vulnerability to climatic variability & change The rainfed agricultural sector is vulnerable to environmental shocks Exploiting the irrigation potential helps reduce exposure to rainfall variability but sectors like livestock face other sources of risk Looking at multiple sectors in Senegal s ag economy Regions important for the staples production like the Peanut Basin are mostly rainfed Some higher-value sectors (horticulture in Niayes, rice in River Valley) are irrigated but not always in a sustainable way Pastoralism in the drier northern regions relies on a balance between feed resources & animal numbers

24 Key results Irrigated horticulture in Niayes Higher-value horticulture makes the region profitable to irrigate The irrigation water demand exceeds renewable recharge of groundwater (GW) The aquifer is being over-drawn Need urgent changes to maintain long-run sustainability of GW and to avoid salinity issue As water supply-side enhancement options are limited, focus mostly on reducing demand and decreasing irrigated area in the region Requires long-term planning & engagement Which regions can increase irrigation and horticulture? Senegal How to engage farmer & farmer organizations in the region and how the overall gains can compensate the losers? Link to Senegal s overall agricultural investment planning process

25 Key results Peanut Basin Our farm production model simulations show negative yield impacts for peanut, maize, millet, sorghum and rainfed rice, as well as decreases in area This rainfed region is highly exposed to climatic variability Options for producers: Better management of soil moisture Rainwater harvest techniques Change towards more resilient crops Change to more profitable crops Improving road infrastructure and lowering transport costs

26 Key results Pastoralism in Ferlo Transhumance (i.e. moving animals seasonally over space) and adjustments in stocking rate in Ferlo and elsewhere will remain a beneficial resilience strategy into the future Primarily driven by weather but policies can have an impact Climate change can increase the importance of transhumance The optimal stocking rate varies by year-type In dry years feed availability is a constraint and market prices tend to have a smaller effect on the sale of animals Small ruminants as part of the coping strategy Women often find small ruminants a way to gain more autonomy and they can recover more quickly from shocks Can be supported by Heiffer Yaajeende and other initiatives which help small ruminant holders with a view to improving nutrition & financial security

27 Strengthening analytical capacity of partners We have disseminated some key analytical tools to enable interested stakeholders to engage further in the study of agricultural production, markets and resource management First trainings in and a follow-up in 2017 with advanced modules Simplified template models that can be enlarged and adapted to specific cases and which facilitate deeper understanding

28 Main lessons Need to reduce irrigated area in the Niayes to achieve longrun sustainability of the aquifer Simultaneously, need more irrigation in under-exploited regions to raise productivity and farm value Soil moisture conservation practices are critical to maintain productivity in rainfed regions Pastoralists could benefit from feed markets and improved quality of feeds Institutional innovations like index-based livestock insurance might also benefit them All regions could benefit from improved road networks which lower marketing costs for products and needed inputs

29 Thank-you