WORK PACKAGE 2
Traditional and innovative agricultural practices
Objective
The overall goal of this WP is to enhance the sustainability and productivity of local farming systems by analysing specific impediments, points of intervention, and pathways towards the sustainable intensification rediscovering and improving traditional crops and agricultural practices that will be tested in pilot demonstration areas within the study areas.
TASKS
2.1
Most performing crop varieties/ecotypes identification
Identification of Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) and their potential uses in Africa; creation of a public database to make the findings accessible to multiple stakeholders; conduction of trials and collection of data into common protocols and datasheets.
NUS
2.2
Modification of the soil, nutrient and water environment
Recovery of abandoned land by identification and mapping thorough reconnaissance surveys to collect and process soil management, cropping systems and socio-economic data. The assessment of soil fertility traits takes place in selected Farmers Field Research Units (FFRU) with abandoned lands.
2.3
Improvement of agri-livestock integrated management
Iavestigation of agri-livestock practices by engaging farmers in new “Integrated Agricultural Approach” (e.g. mixed cropping systems integrated with livestock grazing systems) to discover the relevance of such methods in terms of food security, soil fertility and yield in limited land surface areas (both rural and peri-urban areas) within the SI framework.