Main technical alternatives for CLCA systems, data available and research gaps in Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract

The project, ‘Use of conservation agriculture in Crop-livestock systems (CLCA)’ focuses on the growing challenges of food security, climate change, and land and natural resource degradation encountered by mixed smallholder farmers in dry areas in North Africa and Latin America. With its focus on filling research and development gaps for context adapted practices for CLCA systems and develop contextually relevant processes for enhancing their broad uptake, it will contribute to the strategic objective to “promote innovative, pro-poor approaches and technologies with the potential to be scaled up for greater impact. Considering the focus of the project, we are working in the high lands of Bolivia and in the Mixteca region of Oaxaca state. In Mixteca, we have conducted field visits and stakeholder consultation to identify key challenges and appropriate interventions. On the other hand in Oaxaca we are addressing similar objectives in a nationwide MasAgro Project which is promoting sustainable intensification of maize systems, in close association with NARS partners, private sector, state government and farmer groups. The project is dedicated to promote conservation agriculture-based management practices, sustainable diversification and intensification, scale appropriate mechanization, and post-harvest management. During our desk studies, field visits and stakeholder consultations, we have identified following important information.