★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★Open research. Global perspectives.
Agriculture and Biomedical OPEN ACCESS

PLANTING SEEDS OF SUSTAINABILITY: PRIORITIZING SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Bernard Dobermann
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
tajabe 2023
VOL. 5 / NO. 08 AUGUST
VOLUME 5
ISSUE 08
YEAR 2023
PAGES 01-04

Abstract

This paper explores the concept of sustainable intensification in the context of agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. With a growing population and increasing food demands, there is a pressing need to enhance agricultural productivity while minimizing negative environmental impacts. Sustainable intensification offers a viable solution by promoting efficient resource use, resilient farming systems, and improved livelihoods. This paper highlights the key elements of sustainable intensification and discusses its relevance in sub-Saharan Africa. It emphasizes the importance of prioritizing sustainable intensification strategies to address food security challenges, alleviate poverty, and mitigate climate change impacts. By adopting a holistic approach that combines ecological, social, and economic dimensions, sub-Saharan Africa can pave the way for a sustainable agricultural future.

Keywords

Sustainable intensification agriculture sub-Saharan Africa

References

  1. Pretty, J., Toulmin, C., & Williams, S. (2011). Sustainable intensification in African agriculture. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 9(1), 5-24.
  2. Tittonell, P. (2014). Ecological intensification of agriculture—Sustainable by nature. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 8, 53-61.
  3. Giller, K. E., Tittonell, P., Rufino, M. C., van Wijk, M. T., Zingore, S., Mapfumo, P., ... & van Ittersum, M. K. (2011). Communicating complexity: Integrated assessment of trade-offs concerning soil fertility management within African farming systems to support innovation and development. Agricultural Systems, 104(2), 191-203.
  4. Thornton, P. K., & Herrero, M. (2015). Adapting to climate change in the mixed crop and livestock farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Nature Climate Change, 5(9), 830-836.
  5. Rockström, J., Williams, J., Daily, G., Noble, A., Matthews, N., Gordon, L., ... & de Oliveira, G. (2017). Sustainable intensification of agriculture for human prosperity and global sustainability. Ambio, 46(1), 4-17.
  6. Kassie, M., Shiferaw, B., & Mmbando, F. (2014). Agricultural technology, crop income, and poverty alleviation in Uganda. World Development, 64, 758-769.
  7. Lipper, L., Thornton, P., Campbell, B. M., Baedeker, T., Braimoh, A., Bwalya, M., ... & Torquebiau, E. F. (2014). Climate-smart agriculture for food security. Nature Climate Change, 4(12), 1068-1072.
  8. Pretty, J., & Bharucha, Z. P. (2014). Sustainable intensification in agricultural systems. Annals of Botany, 114(8), 1571-1596.
  9. FAO. (2016). The State of Food and Agriculture 2016: Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  10. IAASTD. (2009). Agriculture at a Crossroads: International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development. Island Press.