article · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability
This paper reviews 50 years of soil and soil fertility management research in sub-Saharan Africa, using the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) as a case study. It examines how the scope, content, and approaches of this research have evolved due to lessons learned and various internal and external factors. The review covers strategic research, partnerships, the changing role of characterisation from soils to farms and livelihoods, and shifts in technology development, validation, and delivery to smallholder farmers. It also discusses the impact of these efforts and the feedback mechanisms. The paper adopts a chronological approach, tracing developments from the late 1960s to the present, and concludes with lessons for future initiatives aimed at improving soil fertility practices for smallholder farming communities in the region.
Understanding the historical evolution of soil fertility research in sub-Saharan Africa is vital for designing effective future strategies. This review helps identify successful approaches and persistent challenges, informing better technology development and delivery to improve agricultural productivity and food security for smallholder farmers.
The abstract describes a historical review of research and does not indicate an application pathway, specific users, or a readiness level for commercialisation.
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Low and declining soil fertility has been recognized for a long time as a major impediment to intensifying agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Consequently, from the inception of international agricultural research, centres operating in SSA have had a research programme focusing on soil and soil fertility management, including the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The scope, content, and approaches of soil and soil fertility management research have changed over the past decades in response to lessons learnt and internal and external drivers and this paper uses IITA as a case study to document and analyse the consequences of strategic decisions taken on technology development, validation, and ultimately uptake by smallholder farmers in SSA. After an initial section describing the external environment within which soil and soil fertility management research is operating, various dimensions of this research area are covered: (i) 'strategic research', 'Research for Development', partnerships, and balancing acts, (ii) changing role of characterization due to the expansion in geographical scope and shift from soils to farms and livelihoods, (iii) technology development: changes in vision, content, and scale of intervention, (iv) technology validation and delivery to farming communities, and (v) impact and feedback to the technology development and validation process. Each of the above sections follows a chronological approach, covering the last five decades (from the late 1960s till today). The paper ends with a number of lessons learnt which could be considered for future initiatives aiming at developing and delivering improved soil and soil fertility management practices to smallholder farming communities in SSA.
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DOI: 10.1080/14735903.2017.1393038
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