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Adoption of renewable soil fertility replenishment technologies in the southern African region: Lessons learnt and the way forward

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  • Oluyede Clifford Ajayi
  • Festus K. Akinnifesi
  • Gudeta Sileshi
  • Sebastian Chakeredza

Abstract

Low soil fertility is one of the most important biophysical constraints to increasing agricultural productivity in sub‐Saharan Africa. Several renewable soil fertility replenishment (RSFR) technologies that are based on nutrient re‐cycling principles have been developed in southern Africa. Some success stories have been recorded (e.g. nitrogen‐fixing legumes), but the adoption of RSFR technologies has generally lagged behind scientific advances thereby reducing the potential impacts of the technologies. This paper describes the major RSFR technologies being promoted in the region, synthesizes available information regarding their adoption by farmers, and identifies the challenges, key lessons learnt and the way forward for up‐scaling RSFR technologies in the region. The review indicated that farmer uptake of RSFR technologies depends on several factors that can be grouped into broad categories: technology‐specific (e.g. soil type, management regime), household‐specific (e.g. farmer perceptions, resource endowment, household size), policy and institutions context within which RSFR is disseminated (inputs and output prices, land tenure and property rights), and geo‐spatial (performance of species across different bio‐physical conditions, location of village). Adoption of RSFR technologies can be enhanced by targeting them to their biophysical and social niches, facilitating appropriate policy and institutional contexts for dissemination, understanding the broader context and dynamics of the adoption process, a paradigm shift in the approach to the dissemination of RSFR (e.g. expanding RSFR to high value crop systems, exploring synergy with inorganic fertilizer) and, targeted incentive systems that encourage farmers to take cognizance of natural resource implications when making agricultural production decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Oluyede Clifford Ajayi & Festus K. Akinnifesi & Gudeta Sileshi & Sebastian Chakeredza, 2007. "Adoption of renewable soil fertility replenishment technologies in the southern African region: Lessons learnt and the way forward," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 31(4), pages 306-317, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:31:y:2007:i:4:p:306-317
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-8947.2007.00163.x
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    2. Kadango, TL & Assefa, Y & Mnkeni, PNS & Niba, AS, 2023. "Effects Of Residue Management On Arthropods Populations Under Conservation Agriculture," African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), vol. 23(4), January.
    3. Brosseau, Antoine & Saito, Kazuki & van Oort, Pepijn A.J. & Diagne, Mandiaye & Valbuena, Diego & Groot, Jeroen C.J., 2021. "Exploring opportunities for diversification of smallholders' rice-based farming systems in the Senegal River Valley," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    4. Yaying Zhu & Juan Chen, 2022. "Small-Scale Farmers’ Preference Heterogeneity for Green Agriculture Policy Incentives Identified by Choice Experiment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-19, May.
    5. Ndlovu, Nicholas. P. & Borrass, Lars, 2021. "Promises and potentials do not grow trees and crops. A review of institutional and policy research in agroforestry for the Southern African region," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    6. Moses C. Tembo & Elias Kuntashula & Thomson Kalinda, 2017. "Climate Change Awareness and Joint Decision to Adopt Agroforestry and Conservation Agriculture Practices in Zambia," Journal of Sustainable Development, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 10(4), pages 107-107, July.
    7. Daniel M. Kalala & Victor Shitumbanuma & Noah Adamtey & Benson H. Chishala, 2024. "Organic Inputs and Chemical Fertilizer on Carbon Mineralization From Two Ultisols," Journal of Agricultural Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(11), pages 223-223, April.
    8. Pedersen, Søren Marcus & Lind, Kim Martin & Xhoxhi, Orjon & Yazar, Attila & Jacobsen, Sven-Erik & Ørum, Jens Erik, 2020. "Introducing quinoa in Turkey – farmers perception in the region of Adana," Economia agro-alimentare / Food Economy, Italian Society of Agri-food Economics/Società Italiana di Economia Agro-Alimentare (SIEA), vol. 22(01), February.
    9. Ronuj Bori & Runumi Das, 2024. "Farmers’ Awareness and Perception of Sustainable Agricultural Practices: A Case of Integrated Livestock–Fish Farming System in the State of Assam, India," Jindal Journal of Business Research, , vol. 13(2), pages 127-142, December.
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    11. Djenontin, Ida Nadia S. & Zulu, Leo C. & Richardson, Robert B., 2022. "Smallholder farmers and forest landscape restoration in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Central Malawi," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).

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