Intercropping maize ( Zea mays L.) with lablab ( Lablab purpureus L.) for sustainable fodder production and quality in smallholder rural farming systems in South Africa
Bonginkosi E. Mthembua, Terry M. Eversonb, and Colin S. Eversonc
aFaculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Community Extension, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa; bSchool of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; cSchool of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
ABSTRACT
An on-farm field experiment was conducted in South Africa’s rural Moist Tall Grassveld region which is characterized by
overgrazing and a reduced grazing capacity. The grassland is sour veld and only provides palatable material during the 6- month growing season. The experiment was conducted to assess the effect of intercropping maize with lablab on maize fodder, grain yield, and quality, social and economic aspects. The results indicated superiority of intercropping over sole cropping, with intercropping treatments showing consistent superiority across 4 years of the experiment. Maize grain and fodder yields were positively influenced by intercropping with lablab. The maize fodder and total fodder yields were higher in intercropped than in sole maize plots. The maize grain DM yield of the first harvest in maize-only treatment was not significantly higher than in M + L treatment. Intercropping significantly increased crude protein of maize leaves and reduced the leaves’ fiber content. Crude protein contents were lower and fiber contents higher in maize stalks and leaves than in lablab. The field trial demonstrated that diverse plant communities in the form of intercropping provide sustainable production, positive environmental, and social impacts through reduced agrochemicals and are economically viable through cost avoidance and savings. The results of this study
suggest that including lablab in traditional maize cropping systems can be beneficial when entanglement of maize is avoided by delayed under sowing of lablab.
KEYWORDS
Crude protein content; fiber content; forage yield; intercropping; maize yield
Sustainabilit y as ses sment of traditional maize (Zea mays L.) agroecosystem in Sierra Norte of Puebla, Mexico
Martha E Dominguez-Hernandeza,b, Rosalba Zepeda-Bautistaa, María del Carmen Valderrama-Bravoc,d, Elisa Dominguez-Hernandeza, and Claudia Hernandez-Aguilara
aInstituto Politécnico Nacional, Sección de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Ingeniería Mecánica y Eléctrica Zacatenco, Unidad Profesional ‘Adolfo López Mateos’. Col. Lindavista, México, Ciudad de México México; bFacultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Departamento de Ciencias Agrícolas, Edo. de México, México; cFacultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Departamento de Ingeniería y Tecnología,. Edo. de México, México; dFacultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Departamento de Matemáticas, Edo. de México, México
ABSTRACT
The sustainability of the traditional maize agroecosystem in Ahuazotepec, Mexico, was evaluated using a cluster analysis for
the typification of the producers and the Framework for Assessing the Sustainability of Natural Resource Management Systems approach for the sustainability assessment. Results revealed three groups within the agroecosystem: low-traditional, medium-traditional, and transition. Clusters differed in grain yield, income, age, education, organization, production practices, and complementary economic activities. Sustainability evaluation showed that productivity was the most influential attribute as the
grain yield determined how efficiently the production resources are utilized, which in turn influences some environmental and
social attributes. Information obtained allows the generation of a baseline and specific suggestions for improving sustainability of
the clusters.
KEYWORDS
Sustainability; agroecosystem; maize; cluster analysis; MESMIS
Economic analysis of integrated game– livestock farming as an alternative land use option in Rural Limpopo province, South Africa
Machuene S. Choloa, Isaac Busayo Oluwatayob, and Petronella Chaminukac
aDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Animal Production, University of Limpopo, South Africa; bDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Animal Production, University of Limpopo, South Africa; cEconomic Analysis Unit, Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
ABSTRACT
The integration of livestock and game farming is an increasingly important alternative for optimal land use in South Africa. In addition to climate change and the increasing aridity of large sections of land, there is also a growing demand to feed the population. Hitherto such integration has been practiced on a relatively small scale by commercial farmers on privately owned land, and by smallholder farmers on communal land. The latter use the land for grazing livestock, but this readily leads to an overutilization of the resource, resulting in serious land degradation. This paper examines perceptions and costs/benefits associated with integrating livestock with game. While the cost–benefit analysis (CBA) result for livestock farming alone was 0.67, indicating that the project is not sustainable, the CBA for integrated game and livestock farming was 1.13, implying that it is sustainable. The net present value (NPV) for the game+/livestock farming was also positive, indicating that it is a worthwhile investment when compared with livestock farming only.
KEYWORDS
Cost–benefit analysis; integrated farming; land use option; trade-off; Limpopo province; South Africa
Participatory research with Acca sellowiana: Stimulating the breeding process for a native fruit species
Karine Louise dos Santosa, Joel Donazzolob, Raymond Paul Guriesc, Nivaldo Peronid, and Rubens Onofre Nodarie
aFederal University of Santa Catarina, Campus de Curitibanos, Curitibanos, Brazil; bFederal University of Technology - Paraná, Campus Dois Vizinhos, Dois Vizinhos, Brazil; cUniversity of Wisconsin, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, Madison, WI, USA; dFederal University of Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Florianópolis, Brazil; eFederal University of Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Florianópolis, Brazil
ABSTRACT
We offer a proposal to develop participatory breeding strategies for feijoa ( Acca sellowiana) for southern Brazil based on the results ofbreedingresearchwiththisnativefruit.Ourexperiencesprovide an opportunity to develop a participatory research program
focused on the use and conservation of A. sellowiana or other fruit tree species. Based on these experiences, we suggest formation of a multidisciplinary research group to implement participatory research to make best use of technical and local knowledge for the conservation and use of A. sellowiana. Considering the past surveys and interactions with farmers, a number of practical actions will be needed for such a program to succeed, including the creation of organizational and communication structures to
improvefarmer–farmerengagement,coordinationamongfarmers and researchers on genetic selection criteria and evaluation standards, and mechanisms to specify participant rights and responsibilities and to provide for program continuity.
KEYWORDS
Feijoa; fruit tree domestication; genetic diversity; on-farm conservation; participatory breeding
Coffee certification in India: Awareness, practices, and sustainability perception of growers
Dr Karl M Richa, Dr Chengappa PGb, Dr Arun Muniyappa c, Mr CG Yadava d, Ms Gana Shruthy Manjyapurae, Dr BN Pradeepa Babuf, Ms YC Shubhae, and Ms Magda Richg
aInternational Livestock Research Institute, East and Southeast Asia Regional Office, Hanoi, Viet Nam; bInstitute for Social and Economic Change, Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Centre, Nagarabavhi, Bangalore, India; cDepartment of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Bangalore (GKVK Campus), University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India; dCollege of Horticulture, Sirsi, Agricultural Economics, Sirsi, India; eAgricultural Development and Rural Transformation Centre (ADRTC), Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore; fSubject Matter Specialist-Agricultural Economics, Coffee Board, Bangalore; gFaculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom
ABSTRACT
Certification programs have been employed in many agricultural products as a means to encourage and communicate compliance
with standards associated with various attributes, such as organic, fair-trade, GMO free, and eco-friendly, among others. Such programs further seek to provide added value, through a price premium, to producers and supply chain actors associated with the
label. In this paper, we review a number of global labeling and certification programs that could add value for coffee farms in India through the promotion of conservation and environmental protection. We provide results from a survey conducted on a sample of coffee farms in Coorg district, India, to assess their awareness and perceptions related toward certified coffee and environmental conservation in general. Survey results illustrate strong positive associations with the environment by coffee planters, particularly among certified and organic producers. However, price premiums for certified and organic coffee are relatively small. While the potential of conservation-oriented certification for coffee in Coorg could be relatively limited outside of a few individual-level niches, branding Coorg more generally as a conservation-oriented region could hold promise, leveraging and personalizing the uniqueness of the natural offerings from Coorg and tapping into burgeoning associations with place and region in India.
KEYWORDS
Branding; certification; conservation; ecosystem services; labeling; marketing; organic coffee; shade grown coffee
