Transcript Document
Harnessing Ecosystem-based Approaches for Food Security & Adaptation to Climate Change Conference August 20-21, 2013 UN Complex, Nairobi, Kenya The Coffee-Banana Intercrop system Philosophy • “Approaches of understanding farmer existing technologies and farming systems is fundamental step in design of appropriate strategies” The Problem: What risks have been addressed? • Uganda (East, Central, and West) there is a common practice of intercropping • Independent research institutions on Coffee and Banana • No Agronomy and perceptions research on system • Rwanda and Burundi the policy does not allow practice (Reduce coffee yields) – Perceived to reduce coffee yields The Objective 1.Explore banana + coffee intercropping and Coffee mono-crop opportunities and constraints 2.Map yields 3. Share results with farmers, stakeholders and, Rwanda and Burundi Methodology & Implementation North-West Arabica North Robusta East Arabica Central South-West Arabica Robusta Methodology & Implementation • 5 regions • 5 districts per region • 10 farms per district (5 mono- and 5 banana intercropped) • 26 Participatory rural appraisals • 257 On-farm surveys – interviews and measurements • Feedback seminars in 26 districts with farmers and stakeholders Stakeholders • • • • • • • UCDA Local government District Extension services UNADA NAADS NGOs Private sector Results Coffee Farming System In PRA’s About 50% of the farmers are intercropping at least part of their coffee with bananas Drivers to Intercropping • Banana provide shade which generates system resilience to climate change • Land scarcity - improves land use efficiency • Banana provide in-situ mulch • Increased income and food security • Banana modify micro-climate • Labor use efficiency Drivers to Intercropping Coffee yields across systems 1400 Coffee yield (kg/ha Green bean) under intercrop and Monocrop across the regions • 1200 1000 800 Intercrop Monocrop 600 400 200 0 Central East North Southwest NorthWest No consistent and significant yield effects of banana intercropping on coffee yields Coffee yields • Per tree yields are independent of system • Banana intercropping does not decrease per tree coffee yields Banana yields in the Intercrop Banana yields – on low side of normal range observed in Uganda 30 Banana Yield (t/ha/cycle) 25 20 15 10 5 0 Central East North North West South West Banana + coffee = more revenue • 50% lower coffee leaf rust incidence in intercrop Scientific basis of this ecosystem based approach • Banana modify micro-environment at canopy and soil surfaces • Reduces excess loads of radiation required for coffee photosynthesis • Reduces evaporation from coffee and soil • Reduces chilling and frost effects in high altitude areas • Even with competition, yields are not reduced What are the current limitations in the use of ecosystem approaches? What are the current limitations in the use of ecosystem approaches? • Policy – Burundi and Rwanda The Solution: Where did the action take place and what was done? Optimal spacing for optimal coffee- Banana yields • Arabica • Robusta • Banana= 3x4 m= 833 • Banana=3x4.5=740 • Coffee= 3x1.5 • Coffee= 3x3=1111 m=2222 The Solution: Where did the action take place and what was done? The Big Picture • Feedback seminars carried out with around 2000 farmers and area based stakeholders • Follow up study- 48% in East changed from mono-crop to intercrop practices • Area based stakeholders to carry/forward message to areas where we did not reach • Once barriers are overcome, there can be great adoption of the practice • There is effort to share outcomes with Rwanda and Burundi