Research for sustainable agricultural production systems in high altitude zones of Eastern Africa
Demands for food and fiber are increasing at a faster rate than supply in the medium and high altitude zones of Eastern Africa, while the productivity of the land is apparently declining. In many cases, productivity is constrained primarily by insufficient nutrient supply. To meet future demands for...
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| Formato: | Conference Paper |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
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International Center for Tropical Agriculture
1993
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| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55713 |
| _version_ | 1855521406222073856 |
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| author | Wortmann, Charles S. |
| author_browse | Wortmann, Charles S. |
| author_facet | Wortmann, Charles S. |
| author_sort | Wortmann, Charles S. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Demands for food and fiber are increasing at a faster rate than supply in the medium and high altitude zones of Eastern Africa, while the productivity of the land is apparently declining. In many cases, productivity is constrained primarily by insufficient nutrient supply. To meet future demands for food, the land`s productivity will need to be maintained, or rejuvenated, and managed for greater productivity. Sustainable agricultural systems which allow for increased production need to be developed and implemented. This paper explores a number of issues relevant to research for sustainable agriculture in Eastern Africa and proposes an alternative research approach. The need and place for both high-input and low-input production systems is explored. Roles of alternative research methodologies, including commodity and disciplinary, farmer participatory, agro-ecological and eco-regional methodologies are discussed. The challenge of improving agricultural production in a sustainable manner for a wide range of micro-environments is addressed. Promotion of technologies, especially when packages of practices or novel systems are needed, is discussed. A research approach is proposed which is based on intensive farmer participatory research in carefully selected farming communities. The communities serve as benchmark research "sites" of larger agro-ecological zones, with consideration of socio-economic factors. Various research methodologies are applied at the various stages of the research process. |
| format | Conference Paper |
| id | CGSpace55713 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 1993 |
| publishDateRange | 1993 |
| publishDateSort | 1993 |
| publisher | International Center for Tropical Agriculture |
| publisherStr | International Center for Tropical Agriculture |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace557132024-01-09T09:48:25Z Research for sustainable agricultural production systems in high altitude zones of Eastern Africa Wortmann, Charles S. phaseolus vulgaris agricultural development research farmers sustainability productivity farming systems technology desarrollo agrícola investigación agricultores sostenibilidad productividad sistemas de explotación tecnología Demands for food and fiber are increasing at a faster rate than supply in the medium and high altitude zones of Eastern Africa, while the productivity of the land is apparently declining. In many cases, productivity is constrained primarily by insufficient nutrient supply. To meet future demands for food, the land`s productivity will need to be maintained, or rejuvenated, and managed for greater productivity. Sustainable agricultural systems which allow for increased production need to be developed and implemented. This paper explores a number of issues relevant to research for sustainable agriculture in Eastern Africa and proposes an alternative research approach. The need and place for both high-input and low-input production systems is explored. Roles of alternative research methodologies, including commodity and disciplinary, farmer participatory, agro-ecological and eco-regional methodologies are discussed. The challenge of improving agricultural production in a sustainable manner for a wide range of micro-environments is addressed. Promotion of technologies, especially when packages of practices or novel systems are needed, is discussed. A research approach is proposed which is based on intensive farmer participatory research in carefully selected farming communities. The communities serve as benchmark research "sites" of larger agro-ecological zones, with consideration of socio-economic factors. Various research methodologies are applied at the various stages of the research process. 1993 2015-01-28T14:21:43Z 2015-01-28T14:21:43Z Conference Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55713 en Open Access International Center for Tropical Agriculture Wortmann, Charles S. 1993. Research for sustainable agricultural production systems in high altitude zones of Eastern Africa. In: Wortmann, Charles S.; Ransom, Joel K. (eds.). Soil fertility research for maize and bean production systems of the Eastern Africa highlands: Proceedings of a workshop group meeting, Thika, Kenya, 1-4 September, 1992. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Network on Bean Research in Africa, Dar es Salaam, TZ. p. 79-89. (CIAT African workshop series no. 21) |
| spellingShingle | phaseolus vulgaris agricultural development research farmers sustainability productivity farming systems technology desarrollo agrícola investigación agricultores sostenibilidad productividad sistemas de explotación tecnología Wortmann, Charles S. Research for sustainable agricultural production systems in high altitude zones of Eastern Africa |
| title | Research for sustainable agricultural production systems in high altitude zones of Eastern Africa |
| title_full | Research for sustainable agricultural production systems in high altitude zones of Eastern Africa |
| title_fullStr | Research for sustainable agricultural production systems in high altitude zones of Eastern Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Research for sustainable agricultural production systems in high altitude zones of Eastern Africa |
| title_short | Research for sustainable agricultural production systems in high altitude zones of Eastern Africa |
| title_sort | research for sustainable agricultural production systems in high altitude zones of eastern africa |
| topic | phaseolus vulgaris agricultural development research farmers sustainability productivity farming systems technology desarrollo agrícola investigación agricultores sostenibilidad productividad sistemas de explotación tecnología |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55713 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wortmanncharless researchforsustainableagriculturalproductionsystemsinhighaltitudezonesofeasternafrica |