Africa’s Regreening: Its Integral Role in Increasing Agricultural Productivity and

Strengthening Resiliency

Mike McGahuey

EGAT/NRM/USAID

World Resources Institute’s Symposium on Regreening

March 1, 2012

What is Regreening and Its Significance?

• Rainfall capture technologies

– Burkina Faso– 300,000 ha

– Niger—200,000 ha

– Mali—100,000 ha

• On-Farm Forestry– Niger- 5.0 million ha

– Mali—500,000 ha

– Zambia and Malawi—280K HH’s

Two Key Challenges Facing Africa’s Dryland Smallholders

• Rainfall Variability: Rainfall variability is a greater challenge than absolute amount of rainfall

• Weathered Soils: Over 80% of Africa’s soils have major productivity constraints (Breman, et.al, 2007)– Naturally low in nutrients– Low capacity to retain nutrients Benefits of

mineral fertilizers marginalized

Both of these challenges have been addressed at scale by initiatives that set the stage for more

intensified agriculture

Climate Change Will Exacerbate Rainfall Variability

• More intensive rainfall events More run-off (currently estimated at 25-50%)

• Longer intervals between events Root zone desiccation at critical times

• Changing rainfall patterns Shortened season or elimination of season

Innovative rainfall management technologies have allowed farmers to successfully adapt

to greater variability

Combating Rainfall Variability by Slowing Run-off and Increasing Infiltration

Increased:•Infiltration by 66%•Soil moisture by 17%•Fertilizer-use Efficiency by 30%

Results:• 30-50% yield increase• Water table recharged• Tree Crop Production• Winter Gardens

Ridge Tillage in Mali

Dry Season Gardens: A Dividend of Rainwater Management

• Higher water table allows dry season irrigation;

• Higher prices for counter-season produce;

• New and additional sources of revenue and nutritious foods.

• Resilience Strengthened

Sorofin Diarra irrigates her garden while daughters Batama, Youma and Nieba observe. Currently, 80% of Siguidolo households have gardens compared to none 12 years ago before ACN was introduced. (ACN Brochure, Soils Management CRSP)

REJUVENATED LAND: Dr. Doumbia (left) and farmer Zan Diarra observe a baobab tree that regenerated following the establishment of ACN.

High-Value Field Trees: Additional Source of Revenue and Nutrition

Soil Organic Matter (SOM) And Fertilizer-use Efficiency (FUE) On Weathered Soils

Pieri, C; 1989, Fertilite des Terres de Savannes; p. 249CIRDAD,

Addressing Challenges through Mixed Production Systems

Benefits of Perennials•Increases Soil Organic Matter

• Higher fertilizer-use efficiency • Improved green-water productivity

•Recycles nutrients •Enhances drought resilience•Provides alternative income when annual crops fail.

Agroforestry: Source of Drought-Resistant Products

High value browse for livestock

High-value construction poles

Changing Attitudes

Prospects about food security in year following the 2004/05 Drought(Tahirou et Ibro; 2006, Analyse des Impacts Socio-Economiques des Investissements dans le GRN: Etude de Cas dans les Regions de Maradi, Tahoua, et Tillabery au Niger)

Increase Decrease No Change

Villages with NRM

70% 23% 7%

Villages w/out NRM

17% 50% 33%

Illustrative Yield Data on Integrated Systems

System Cereal’s Yield Range in the Sahel Sustained over Time

Resiliency Level

Regreening + External Inputs

2 to 3+ tons/ha High

External Inputs only 450-variable kg/ha Lo

Regreening only 450 to 1,000 kg/ha High

No treatments 100-500 kg/ha Variable

Summary of Findings

For much of Africa, evidence shows the following:• A high correlation between productivity and

resilience and– Rainfall capture– Soil organic matter levels.

• Best results achieved from using external inputs (fertilizer, improved seed) in tandem with sound soil and water management practices.

• Diverse farming systems are typically more productive and resilient than single crop systems

• In many places in the Sahel, helplessness has been replaced by hopefulness