Agriculture and Livelihood systems

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  • Evidencing what works in developing new market opportunities for GLDC crops: Lessons from six case studies
    Date: 2022-03-11
    Status: Open access
    This paper aims to cast light on the effectiveness of interventions to promote the use of Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereal (GLDC) crops by consumers and industry. Underpinning this activity is the hypothesis that interventions which promote GLDC crops (particularly in new/ non-traditional uses) will create new and or more profitable and scalable market opportunities for smallholder farmer, increasing their income and helping drive technology adoption. These hypotheses remain largely untested, with no systematic evidence base of the sort of “promotion” activities that can create enduring, inclusive market opportunities at scale for the small holder sector producing GLDC crops. Here, we examine six case studies: i) Global competition: sorghum beer in Kenya, ii) The power of incentives: aflatoxin control for groundnuts in Malawi, iii) Marketing modernity: Smart Food in India and Eastern Africa, iv) The Politics of pricing: sweet sorghum as a biofuel in India, v) Too many moving parts? precooked beans in Uganda and Kenya, and vi) Market-led plant breeding: pigeonpea in Eastern and Southern Africa. The analysis of these case studies will allow to draw five key lessons on what works and why, and what causes failure, when implementing interventions aimed at developing new market opportunities for the GLDC crops.
  • Evaluation of the Progress of Community-Based Sheep Genetic Improvement Program in Horro Guduru Zone
    Author(s): Haile, Aynalem
    Date: 2021-11-02
    Type: Thesis
    Status: Timeless limited access
    The study was conducted Horro district on farmers’ flocks of Horro sheep community-based sheep breeding program (CBBP) to evaluate productive performances and estimate the genetic parameter in Horro sheep in Ethiopia. A total of 2480 birth weight (BWt), 2441 three month weight (3MWt), 770 six-month weight (6MWt), 307 for both lambing interval (LI), and annual reproductive rates (ARR) traits produced from 1398 ewes,101 rams were used. The least-squares means analysis was performed using the general linear model procedure of SAS 2016 (SAS, Version 9.4) to determine the effects of fixed factors that were found to be an important source of variation in this study. The overall least-square means of BWt, 3MWt, 6MWt, LI, and ARR under varied from 2.76±0.01, 12.33±0.03, 16.57±0.07, 8.13±0.06, and 2.02±0.02, respectively. Variance components and genetic parameters were estimated for growth traits: Birth weight (BWt), three-month weight (3MWt), six-month weight (6MWt), and reproductive traits: Annual Reproductive Trait (ARR) and lambing interval (LI) in indigenous Ethiopian Horro sheep using VCE 2.4.6 under multivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis was used to estimate the genetic correlation between traits. Estimates of direct heritability obtained from the animal model were 0.16±0.01, 0.19±0.02, 0.28±0.35, 0.01±0.01 and 0.01±0.02 for BWt, 3MWt 6MWt, ARR and LI respectively. The genetic correlation between BWt and 3MWt, BWt and 6MWt, and 3MWt and 6MWt were 0.04, 0.01, and 0.07, respectively. The overall sheep flock size of the study areas was 15.09±0.43/household (ranging from 7 to 33). The proportion of male to female breeding ram and ewe was 1:6.34 which may affect the genetic trends due to lack of intensive breeding ram selection.The numbers of non ear-tagged animals between the two kebeles in the present study were significant at p<0.05, for laku 1.76±0.23 and Gitilo 2.65±0.21 respectively. The overall mean flock size of CBBP participants and non CBBP participants across the two cooperatives were 15.09±4.8 and 9.98±2.47 respectively. at p<0.05. All essential start-up elements of the programme were in place, exept that there were some problems of technical emplimantation forenstance management of keeping flock record books and weak relationship between the local government institution (Woreda live stock office). The major challenges observed during the study were feed shortage, disease prvelence, genetic dilution due to unclear separation of the flock of CBBP from non-CBBP.
  • Evaluation of Abera Sheep Community-Based Breeding Programs in Dara and Hula Districts, Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia
    Author(s): Haile, Aynalem
    Date: 2021-10-30
    Type: Thesis
    Status: Timeless limited access
    This study was carried out with the aim of evaluating Abera sheep community-based breeding programs (CBBPs) in Dara and Hula districts of Sidama Regional State and station-based breed improvement programs which has been implemented since 2018. Performance and pedigree data obtained from the ongoing community-based breeding programs and from the on-station program were used. Furthermore, survey data were used to evaluate the ongoing CBBPs. A total of 188 households, 91 CBBP participants and 97 non-participants were selected using proportional and simple random sampling methods, respectively. On-farm least-square mean of bodyweight at birth, weaning age, six-month age, yearling age, pre-weaning daily gain, and post-weaning daily weight gain was observed as 3.14±0.01 kg,15.13±0.016 kg, 20.80 kg, 28.63 kg, 135.31±0.50 g, and 63.64±0.49 g, respectively. Sex, litter size, years, dam parity, and breeder cooperatives were observed as fixed factors had effect on farm six-month growth performance (P<0.05) of sheep. Further Abera sheep performed better on-farm condition than on station (p<0.05) under current management condition. Survey result revealed that CBBP participants had owned significantly (p<0.05) larger flock size than non-participants with mean±SE value of 7.28±0.45 and 4.99 ±0.81 heads, respectively. CPPP participants witnessed that Abera CBBP is driving significant economic benefit to their livelihood; and earned annual income of ETB 3877 which was significantly (p<0.05) higher by ETB 1870 than annual income earned by non-participants households. Similarly, CBBP participants had more market participation and sold significantly (p<0.05) larger number (2.4±0.2) of sheep than non participating households. Further, sheep owned by CBBP participants had short lambing interval; and reached breeding and marketing age in shorter time. In addition, most CBBP participants (82%) observed improved twining rate since they joined the breeding program. Survey result indicated that essential institutional arrangement and organizational support was poor and not well placed for proper establishment of Abera CBBP. Heritability estimate of studied reproductive traits was low (0.04 – 0.11 for litter size); (0.001 – 0.09 for total litter weight at birth) and (0.001 – 0.09 for total litter weight at weaning) across breeder cooperatives. Genetic trend for studied reproductive traits was positive in most breeder cooperatives but not in all. Poor market linkage, poor government support and follow-up, committee managerial problems, sheep mortality, and feed shortage during dry seasons and lack sufficient finance to buy essential inputs were identified as problems affecting the breeding program. This study concluded that CBBP has appreciable contribution to community. Strong institutional arrangement and organization support as well as their strong collaboration is needed to increase the contribution of CBBP to community; and to take breeding program to its expected performance level. Improving management considering the variations observed in fixed effects and use of economic selection index accommodating reproduction and other traits need to be considered to improve the overall benefit of the breeding program.
  • Definition of Breeding Objective Traits for Arsi-Bale Goat Breed in East Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia.
    Author(s): Haile, Aynalem
    Date: 2021-08-31
    Type: Thesis
    Status: Timeless limited access
    Individual interview, own-flock ranking and group animal ranking experiment were implemented to define the breeding objective traits for indigenous goats in the study area. Two districts in Arsi Zone, namely, Honkolo Wabe and Lemu Bilbilo were selected purposively. A pre-tested questionnaire was used for the individual interview with randomly selected 120 goat producers, 60 from each district. Indices were calculated to provide the ranking of the purpose of keeping, sources of feed, selection criteria, reasons for culling and constraints of goat production. In the own-flock ranking experiment 60 households, 30 from each district and 340 goats were used. In the own-flock ranking experiment, goat owners were asked to choose the first best, second best, third best and inferior goats. Ten flocks in each district were selected based on the number of goats used in the own-flock ranking. Top, middle and worst goats were selected from each of the 10 flocks which was allowed collecting 30 breeding females and breeding males were also ranked. Goats are mainly reared for cash income, milk, meat, manure and saving with the overall index values of 0.41, 0.15, 0.28, 0.07 and 0.09, respectively. The overall average (±SE) composition of goat flock structure was 1.79±0.25, 3.90±0.17, 1.29±0.18, 2.18±0.28, 1.63±0.18, 8.39±0.70 and 0.90±0.21 for suckling male kids, suckling female kids, weaned male kids less than one year, weaned female kids less than one year, matured male greater one year, matured female greater one year and castrated male goat, respectively. Large variation was observed between the first best and the last ranked does in most of the traits, for example average (±SE) kidding interval 7.55±0.36 and 11.18±0.31 months for the first best and last ranked does, respectively and body weight 36.4±1.4 and 30.3±1.9kg for first best and last ranked does, respectively. From the study, it was concluded that farmers' preference of Arsi-Bale goat keepers through the individual interview, own-flock ranking and group animal ranking methods were consistent and comparable in their results. The overall methods indicated that breeding objective traits identification tools were used to determine breeding objective and to improve the income of the farmers, improving meat production potential of goats and market values are important considerations that depend on improving Prolificacy, flock size and growth rate. From the conclusion, it was recommended that the development of a selection index for the Arsi-Bale goat breed need to consider the prolificacy, body size and growth r
  • CARACTÉRISATION PHÉNOTYPIQUE ET GÉNOTYPIQUE DES GÉNOTYPES DE BLÉ DUR (Triticum durum)
    Author(s): Udupa, Sripada M.
    Date: 2021-06-30
    Type: Thesis
    Status: Timeless limited access
    This study was carried out at the Sidi El Aidi Experimental Station during the 2020/2021 agricultural campaign and at the INRA / ICARDA Biotechnology laboratory, with the main objective of studying the genetic diversity of 8 Moroccan genotype and 42 exotic genotype of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) on the basis of agro-morphological characters (date of heading, habit and height of the plant, length of the ear, length of the spurs in relation to the length of the ear, shape of lower glume shoulder, width of lower glume shoulder, length of lower glume beak, hairiness of outer surface of lower glume, color of dewclaws, shape of brush bristles etc.) in following the UPOV protocol for Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) testing and followed by analysis of microsatellite markers. The results obtained showed the existence of a substantial diversity in the exotic genotype compared to the Moroccan genotype. On the basis of these results, similarity matrices were generated using the agro-morphological characters and Jaccard genetic distance matrix using the polymorphism of 8 microsatellite markers. These matrices were used to generate dendrograms, in order to estimate the genetic relationships between genotype. Our results suggest that agro-morphological characterization all the genotype can be distinguished among themselves. However, microsatellite analysis can distinguish certain genotype and are useful for the identification of this genotype. In addition, microsatellite loci detected substantial diversity in the collection (allelic range: 2-5; genetic diversity: 0.7556). However, the collection of exotic durum wheat revealed slightly greater genetic diversity at microsatellite loci (allelic range: 2-5; genetic diversity: 0.7392), compared to Moroccan durum wheat genotype (range: 2-4; genetic diversity: 0.72). The eight markers used in this study reveal dissimilarity between groups. Therefore, additional microsatellite markers are needed to distinguish all genotype. The present results on agro-morphological characters are of great importance for varietal identification, distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) when registering durum wheat genotype. Information on genetic distance and genetic diversity is also important for durum wheat breeding.
  • Options for Sustainable Agricultural Intensification in Maize Mixed Farming Systems: Explorative ex-ante assessment using Multi-Agent System Simulation
    Author(s): Mponela, Powell
    Date: 2021-06-21
    Type: Thesis
    Status: Timeless limited access
    Nutrient depletion is a major limiting factor to agricultural sustainability in cereal dominated smallholder farming systems in Africa where over 80% of arable land is unsuitable to support primary productivity. This constrains food and nutritional security of rural communities. For appropriate design of interventions, there is need for empirical evidence on drivers of change. A common sampling frame is used to integrate social-ecological data from farm surveys of soil, biomass and crop yield, nutrient inputs and outputs, and their determinants. The nutrient distributions are predicted using randomForest machine learning algorithm in R with remotely sensed reflectance for topography (30 m STRM-DEM), vegetation and soil (10 m Sentinel2 imagery) as co-variates. We use behavioural economics to unravel farm-type specific drivers of human induced nutrient inputs and a mixed model for crop yield function for outputs. Further, existing nutrient stoichiometry and transfer functions based on NUTMON, FarmDESIGN models with parameters from the study region are used to capture dynamic stocks and flows. Lastly, we build a multi-agent system for simulating sustainable agricultural intensification (MASSAI) in NetLogo and piloted to explore, ex ante, the agentic behaviours of farmers when faced with ambiguity in fertilizer subsidy regimes and its implications on nutrient budgets, human decision making and land productivity. Though soil management in smallholder farming systems aims at addressing the most critical nutrient(s), the results from this study show that the soils are deficient in all three major nutrients (NPK) and structurally unstable due to low soil organic carbon (SOC). Farmers strive to utilise the commonly available soil fertility management: nine in every ten households used inorganic fertilizers, a third integrated legumes and almost half applied manures of various forms. From the empirical and simulated results, it is indicative that the maize mixed smallholder farming system in Malawi has become inelastic to changes in input policies. Much as improvement in contribution of women in decision-making widens the scope for legume cropping, it negatively affects manuring. Ther efore, addressing challenges that women face in manuring could offer greater opportunities for integrated soil fertility management. After 15 years of fertilizer subsidy program, farmers have internalized it in their expenditure plan: some exclusively relying on subsidy while others source increasing amounts from the market and are becoming self-reliant. Those that rely on limited fertilizer acquired through subsidy proactively reduce the nutrient gap by increasing manuring. These behaviors have implications on nutrient management and sustainability of the farming systems. Although subsidy alone might not significantly shift the nutrient and productivity trajectories for the next 20 simulated years, increased subsidy could relatively accelerate nitrogen and phosphorus losses.
  • Impacts des aménagements à courbes de niveaux (ACN) végétalisés ou non sur l’amélioration de la charge en eau du sol dans les Cercles de Koutiala et Yorosso, Mali.
    Author(s): Dembele, Catherine
    Date: 2020-03-31
    Type: Thesis
    Status: Timeless limited access
    In the Sahelian zones, climate change results in insufficient rainfall, which is poorly distributed in time and space, and a decline in soil fertility mainly due to erosion and over-exploitation. This study is based on soil water conservation on plots managed with vegetated or nonvegetated contour bunds. The objective of this study is to measure the improvement of the soil water recharge under the management with vegetated bunds or not in the villages of Dionkounda, Kiffosso, M'Pessoba and N'golonianasso in the District of Yorosso and Koutiala, in southern Mali. The soil infiltration measurements were carried out from September to December 2019 using single ring infiltrometer upstream and downstream along the bunds built on contour lines created in August 2015 for the M'Pessoba technology park and in August 2016 for the technological park of N’golonianasso and reinforced with 4 types of vegetation; natural herbaceous vegetation, bursts of strains of Andropogon gayanus a perennial herb and two woody species Gliricidia sepium and Acacia colei. The infiltration rate and the saturated hydraulic conductivity were estimated from the data collected and subjected to statistical analyzes to determine the effects of bunds and type of vegetation on the rate of infiltration of soil water. The results of the analysis revealed a significant difference in the rate of infiltration between the types of vegetation established along the earth bunds constructed along the contour lines. The highest infiltration rate was observed for bunds reinforced with woody species, G. sepium (299.5 ± 3.6 mm / h), followed by A. colei (232.2 ± 2 mm / h), A. gayanus (189.4 ± 2.5 mm / h) and natural herbaceous vegetation (132 ± 2.3 mm / h). The rate of soil water infiltration was higher for the downstream areas compared to upstream for the 2 woody species. These results revealed the positive impact of woody species on improving the soil water rate infiltration compared to A. gayanus and the natural vegetation consisting essentially of annual herbaceous species
  • Genetic diversity in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris)
    Author(s): Sarker, Ashutosh
    Date: 2019-12-31
    Type: Thesis
    Status: Timeless limited access
    Lentil (Lens culinaris ssp. culinaris) important grain legume grown in rainfed areas of Central and Eastern India. The productivity of lentil in India is low in comparison to the global average. The main reason for low productivity is the narrow genetics base of cultivars and susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stresses. There is urgent need for broadening the genetics base utilizing Mediterranean germplasm. The present investigations were undertaken to identify the promising accessions for each trait, molecular characterization using SSR markers to understand the extent of genetic variability among the genotypes under study and characterization of lentil genotype for iron and zinc contents. 187 varieties/germplasm lines were characterized for 100 seed weight, no of pods/plant, filled pods/plant days to 50% flowering, duration of pod filling, days to maturity, primary branches, secondary branches, plant height, yield/plant, no. of seeds/pod, grain Fe concentration and grain Zn concentration. ANOVA revealed adequate variability for the studied traits. The important donors identified include EC 267591 and EC267634 for earliness, EC 78396, EC 78503 and EC 223210 (for no. of pods/plant). EC 78541-A exhibited 100 seed weight above 5 gms. EC 78393, EC 223207, EC 223150, EC 139824-A, EC 223219, EC 223211, EC 78391, EC 78513, EC 78459, EC 78510, EC 78515 exhibited 100 seed weight above 4 gm. Donors were identified for grain Fe and Zn concentration. Highest grain Fe concentration was recorded for EC 299587 (107.43 mg/kg)and maximum Zn was recorded for EC 78421 (75.92 mg/kg). The studied genotypes were grouped in 4 clusters. Indian varieties and Precoz were grouped in separate cluster (Cluster 4). Among the studied exotic genotypes, the maximum mean for grain iron concentration was recorded in obtained in EC 267636 (108.15 mg / kg) while maximum grain Zn concentration was recorded for EC 78441-B (83.21mg / kg). The population structure and diversity analysis was done for 158 genotypes using 40 SSR markers. The high PIC value (above 0.3) of studied SSR markers indicated their suitability for diversity studies. Neighbour joining (weighted average) based tree classified lentil genotypes into four clusters. Here also five Indian released varieties (DPL 62, L 4594, L 4147, L 830 and L 4076) and Precoz were grouped in separate group. The population structure analysis revealed six subpopulations (highest peak value at k = 6). The study confirms narrow genetic base of released varieties. Mediterranean germplasm lines can be utilized for broadening the genetic base of Indian cultivars.
  • CRP-GLDC Close-out Plan 2021-2022
    Author(s): Jacob, Neena
    Date: 2021-10-18
    Status: Open access
    Aligned with the transition of CGIAR into a new set of Research Portfolio as of 2022, the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (CRP-GLDC) will be decommissioned along with the rest of the 2017-2021 CGIAR Research Portfolio. This close-out plan details the plan to close and/or transition resources, assets and platforms relevant to the operations of CRP-GLDC.
  • W3/Bilateral Projects 2020
    Date: 2020-01-31
    Status: Open access
    List of W3 and Bilateral projects mapped to CRP-GLDC in 2020.
  • W3/Bilateral Projects 2019
    Date: 2019-01-16
    Status: Open access
    List of W3 and Bilateral projects mapped to CRP-GLDC in 2019.
  • W3/Bilateral Projects 2018
    Date: 2018-01-01
    Status: Open access
    List of W3 and Bilateral projects mapped to CRP-GLDC in 2018.
  • List of Innovation Fund 2020
    Date: 2021-07-29
    Status: Open access
    List of CRP-GLDC Innovation Fund for year 2020.
  • ICRISAT Financial Statements For the year ended December 31, 2020
    Date: 2021-07-28
    Status: Open access
    ICRISAT, GLDC Lead Center Financial Statements For the year ended December 31, 2020.
  • List of outcome/impact case reports from Annual Report 2019 (Sphere of Influence)
    Date: 2020-07-01
    Status: Open access
    The summary from CRP-GLDC Annual Report provide an overview to Outcome and Impact Case Reports (OICRs) produced by CRP-GLDC. Each OICR has a hyperlink where the full information is available and downloadable.
  • List of outcome/impact case reports from Annual Report 2020 (Sphere of Influence)
    Date: 2021-07-29
    Status: Open access
    The summary from CRP-GLDC Annual Report provide an overview to Outcome and Impact Case Reports (OICRs) produced by CRP-GLDC. Each OICR has an hyperlink where the full information is available and downloadable.
  • Minutes of the 7th Meeting of the CRP-GLDC Independent Advisory Committee (GLDC-IAC)
    Author(s): Jacob, Neena
    Date: 2021-04-12
    Status: Open access
    This resource presents the minutes of the 7th CRP-GLDC IAC meeting.
  • Minutes of the 6th Meeting of the CRP-GLDC Independent Advisory Committee (GLDC-IAC)
    Author(s): Jacob, Neena
    Date: 2021-04-12
    Status: Open access
    This resource presents the minutes of the 6th CRP-GLDC IAC meeting.
  • ICRISAT Financial Statements For the year ended December 31, 2019
    Date: 2021-04-26
    Status: Open access
    ICRISAT, GLDC Lead Center Financial Statements For the year ended December 31, 2019.
  • CRP-GLDC Financial Report 2019
    Author(s): Jacob, Neena
    Date: 2021-04-26
    Status: Open access
    CRP-GLDC Annual Report 2019.