IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i10p4016-d357955.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Transdisciplinary Approach for the Development of Sustainable Yam ( Dioscorea sp.) Production in West Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Delwendé Innocent Kiba

    (Group of Plant Nutrition, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8315 Lindau, Switzerland
    Institut de l’Environnement et Recherches Agricoles, 01 BP 476 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso)

  • Valérie Kouamé Hgaza

    (Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’ivoire, 01 BP 1303 Abidjan, Ivory Coast
    Département d’Agrophysiologie des Plantes, Université Peleforo Gon Coulibaly, BP 1328 Korhogo, Ivory Coast)

  • Beatrice Aighewi

    (International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, PMB 82, 901101 Abuja, Nigeria)

  • Sévérin Aké

    (Laboratoire de Physiologie Végétale, Université Félix Houphouët Boigny, 22 BP 582 Abidjan, Ivory Coast)

  • Dominique Barjolle

    (Group of Sustainable Agroecosystems, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Thomas Bernet

    (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, 5070 Frick, Switzerland)

  • Lucien N. Diby

    (World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Côte d’Ivoire Country Programme, BP 2823 Abidjan, Ivory Coast)

  • Léa Jeanne Ilboudo

    (World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Côte d’Ivoire Country Programme, BP 2823 Abidjan, Ivory Coast)

  • Gian Nicolay

    (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, 5070 Frick, Switzerland)

  • Esther Oka

    (Laboratoire d’Analyse des Dynamiques Sociales et du Développement, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, BP 526 Cotonou, Benin)

  • Florence Y. Ouattara

    (Laboratoire d’Analyse des Dynamiques Sociales et du Développement, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, BP 526 Cotonou, Benin)

  • Nestor Pouya

    (Laboratoire de Physiologie Végétale, Université Félix Houphouët Boigny, 22 BP 582 Abidjan, Ivory Coast)

  • Johan Six

    (Group of Sustainable Agroecosystems, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Emmanuel Frossard

    (Group of Plant Nutrition, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8315 Lindau, Switzerland)

Abstract

Yam ( Dioscorea sp.) is an understudied tuber crop despite its importance for food security, income generation, culture, and health in West Africa. Traditional yam cropping practices in West Africa deliver low yields and lead to environmental degradation. In the context of a ‘research for development’ project, we developed and implemented a participatory and transdisciplinary research approach as a means to derive more sustainable yam production practices. We identified and studied different soil and plant management technologies adapted to varying biophysical and socio-economic contexts. For this purpose, we established innovation platforms (IPs) in four yam growing regions of West Africa, to validate the new technologies and to promote their adoption. These co-developed technologies were set up and tested first in researcher-managed plots before doing the same in farmer-managed plots. The new technologies resulted in a significant increase in yam productivity compared to conventional practices. The results discussed in the IPs gained interest from regional stakeholders and were shared through the media at local and national levels. Overall, this development-focused research approach showcases the relevance of purposeful stakeholder involvement to improve agricultural research outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Delwendé Innocent Kiba & Valérie Kouamé Hgaza & Beatrice Aighewi & Sévérin Aké & Dominique Barjolle & Thomas Bernet & Lucien N. Diby & Léa Jeanne Ilboudo & Gian Nicolay & Esther Oka & Florence Y. Ouat, 2020. "A Transdisciplinary Approach for the Development of Sustainable Yam ( Dioscorea sp.) Production in West Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:10:p:4016-:d:357955
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/10/4016/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/10/4016/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chambers, Robert, 1994. "Participatory rural appraisal (PRA): Analysis of experience," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 22(9), pages 1253-1268, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hasmik Hovakimyan & Milena Klimek & Bernhard Freyer & Stefan Vogel, 2021. "Participation in Higher Education Curricula Development in Armenia and Possible Effects for the Labour Market—The Case of an “Organic Agriculture” Master’s Program," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Dean Karlan & Bram Thuysbaert, 2019. "Targeting Ultra-Poor Households in Honduras and Peru," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 33(1), pages 63-94.
    3. Saqalli, M. & Gérard, B. & Bielders, C.L. & Defourny, P., 2011. "Targeting rural development interventions: Empirical agent-based modeling in Nigerien villages," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 104(4), pages 354-364, April.
    4. Stefani, Gianluca & Lombardi, Ginevra Virginia & Romano, Donato & Cei, Leonardo, 2017. "Grass Root Collective Action for Territorially Integrated Food Supply Chains: A Case Study from Tuscany," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 8(4), October.
    5. Goswami, Rupak & Paul, Malay, 2011. "Using Sustainable Livelihoods Framework for assessing the impact of Extension programmes: An empirical study in the context of Joint Forest Management," MPRA Paper 37793, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Sawathvong, Silavanh, 2004. "Experiences from developing an integrated land-use planning approach for protected areas in the Lao PDR," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 6(6), pages 553-566, October.
    7. Ross, Heather M. & Pine, Kathleen H. & Curran, Sarah & Augusta, Dawn, 2022. "Pathway mapping as a tool to address police use of force in behavioral health crisis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 306(C).
    8. Ebrahim, Alnoor, 2003. "Accountability In Practice: Mechanisms for NGOs," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 813-829, May.
    9. Chatterjee, Ira & Cornelissen, Joep & Wincent, Joakim, 2021. "Social entrepreneurship and values work: The role of practices in shaping values and negotiating change," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(1).
    10. Chilombo, Andrew & Van Der Horst, Dan, 2021. "Livelihoods and coping strategies of local communities on previous customary land in limbo of commercial agricultural development: Lessons from the farm block program in Zambia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    11. Stefani, G. & Lombardi, G.V. & Romano, D. & Cei, L., 2017. "Green Root Collective Action for Conservation of Agri-Bio Diversity: a Case Study in Tuscany," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 2017(1), June.
    12. Zulu, Leo Charles & Adams, Ellis Adjei & Chikowo, Regis & Snapp, Sieglinde, 2018. "The role of community-based livestock management institutions in the adoption and scaling up of pigeon peas in Malawi," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 141-155.
    13. Kwayu, Emmanuel J. & Sallu, Susannah M. & Paavola, Jouni, 2014. "Farmer participation in the equitable payments for watershed services in Morogoro, Tanzania," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 7(C), pages 1-9.
    14. Thompson, John, 1995. "Participatory approaches in government bureaucracies: Facilitating the process of institutional change," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 23(9), pages 1521-1554, September.
    15. Gerard Olivar-Tost & Johnny Valencia-Calvo & Julián Andrés Castrillón-Gómez, 2020. "Towards Decision-Making for the Assessment and Prioritization of Green Projects: An Integration between System Dynamics and Participatory Modeling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-23, December.
    16. Mushtaq Memon & Shunji Matsuoka, 2002. "Validity of contingent valuation estimates from developing countries: scope sensitivity analysis," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 5(1), pages 39-61, March.
    17. Shane Cronin & Mike Petterson & Paul Taylor & Randall Biliki, 2004. "Maximising Multi-Stakeholder Participation in Government and Community Volcanic Hazard Management Programs; A Case Study from Savo, Solomon Islands," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 33(1), pages 105-136, September.
    18. Glyn Williams & Manoj Srivastava & Stuart Corbridge & René Véron, 2003. "Enhancing pro-poor governance in Eastern India: participation, politics and action research," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 3(2), pages 159-178, April.
    19. Raza, Wameq A & Ara, Jinnat, 2012. "Grant Based Approach to Poverty Reduction: Evidence from Bangladesh," MPRA Paper 52966, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    20. Luke A. Sandham & Jason J. Chabalala & Harry H. Spaling, 2019. "Participatory Rural Appraisal Approaches for Public Participation in EIA: Lessons from South Africa," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-16, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:10:p:4016-:d:357955. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.