Ecological sustainability and environmental risks of agricultural intensification in inland valleys in Benin

To meet food demand after the failure of irrigation system developments, agricultural intensification is occurring in inland valley agro-ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural enhancement in inland valleys, which undermines environmental sustainability, was assessed using 'Driving Force–Pres...

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Autores principales: Djagba, J.F., Zwart, Sander J., Houssou, C.S., Tenté, B.H.A., Kiepe, P.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2019
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/102074
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author Djagba, J.F.
Zwart, Sander J.
Houssou, C.S.
Tenté, B.H.A.
Kiepe, P.
author_browse Djagba, J.F.
Houssou, C.S.
Kiepe, P.
Tenté, B.H.A.
Zwart, Sander J.
author_facet Djagba, J.F.
Zwart, Sander J.
Houssou, C.S.
Tenté, B.H.A.
Kiepe, P.
author_sort Djagba, J.F.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description To meet food demand after the failure of irrigation system developments, agricultural intensification is occurring in inland valley agro-ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural enhancement in inland valleys, which undermines environmental sustainability, was assessed using 'Driving Force–Pressure–State–Impact–Response' approach in four agro-ecological zones of Benin. The survey revealed that inland valleys are largely devoid of ligneous species. Crop residues are mainly transferred from inland valley fields to feed cattle, burnt in situ by the farmers themselves or abandoned to wildfires or to pasture—not mulched. Crop diversification is not universal and is limited to rice and vegetables crops. Monocropping of rice, practised by 83.3% of inland valley farmers, requires large chemical fertilizer application despite their impacts on environment including land degradation and water contamination. A major challenge is to determine means of characterizing entire agro-ecosystems of inland valleys in a way that is simple enough to be effectively and efficiently monitored. Inland valley agricultural development projects might include backstopping activities and policies that enable monitoring of chemical inputs and farming practices in inland valleys to reduce negative impacts on the environment and human health.
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spelling CGSpace1020742025-12-08T09:54:28Z Ecological sustainability and environmental risks of agricultural intensification in inland valleys in Benin Djagba, J.F. Zwart, Sander J. Houssou, C.S. Tenté, B.H.A. Kiepe, P. sustainable development west africa To meet food demand after the failure of irrigation system developments, agricultural intensification is occurring in inland valley agro-ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural enhancement in inland valleys, which undermines environmental sustainability, was assessed using 'Driving Force–Pressure–State–Impact–Response' approach in four agro-ecological zones of Benin. The survey revealed that inland valleys are largely devoid of ligneous species. Crop residues are mainly transferred from inland valley fields to feed cattle, burnt in situ by the farmers themselves or abandoned to wildfires or to pasture—not mulched. Crop diversification is not universal and is limited to rice and vegetables crops. Monocropping of rice, practised by 83.3% of inland valley farmers, requires large chemical fertilizer application despite their impacts on environment including land degradation and water contamination. A major challenge is to determine means of characterizing entire agro-ecosystems of inland valleys in a way that is simple enough to be effectively and efficiently monitored. Inland valley agricultural development projects might include backstopping activities and policies that enable monitoring of chemical inputs and farming practices in inland valleys to reduce negative impacts on the environment and human health. 2019-08 2019-07-02T14:57:06Z 2019-07-02T14:57:06Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/102074 en Limited Access Springer Djagba, J.F., Zwart, S.J., Houssou, C.S., Tenté, B.H.A., and Kiepe, P. 2018. Ecological sustainability and environmental risks of agricultural intensification in inland valleys in Benin. Environment, Development and Sustainability 1–22
spellingShingle sustainable development
west africa
Djagba, J.F.
Zwart, Sander J.
Houssou, C.S.
Tenté, B.H.A.
Kiepe, P.
Ecological sustainability and environmental risks of agricultural intensification in inland valleys in Benin
title Ecological sustainability and environmental risks of agricultural intensification in inland valleys in Benin
title_full Ecological sustainability and environmental risks of agricultural intensification in inland valleys in Benin
title_fullStr Ecological sustainability and environmental risks of agricultural intensification in inland valleys in Benin
title_full_unstemmed Ecological sustainability and environmental risks of agricultural intensification in inland valleys in Benin
title_short Ecological sustainability and environmental risks of agricultural intensification in inland valleys in Benin
title_sort ecological sustainability and environmental risks of agricultural intensification in inland valleys in benin
topic sustainable development
west africa
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/102074
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