Agricultural Systems: Agroecology and Rural Innovation for Development (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Agricultural Systems: Agroecology and Rural Innovation for Development 4
Copyright Page 5
Contents 6
List of Contributors 10
Section I: Re-inventing Farming Systems 11
Chapter 1: Introduction 11
Agricultural Systems in Context 12
Evolving Agricultural Systems Research 18
Different Paths Taken 22
Impact at Local and Regional Scales 27
Local Institutions for Agricultural Innovation 29
Catalyzing Directions of Change 32
Road Map 34
References and Resources 35
Internet Resources 36
Chapter 2: Livelihoods and Rural Innovation 37
Farming-Related Livelihoods 38
New Directions for Agricultural Research and Development 48
Conclusions 60
References and Resources 61
Chapter 3: Agroecology: Principles and Practice 63
Introduction 64
Ecosystem Drivers 66
Agroecozones 69
Community Structure 70
Organism Niche 72
Community Evolution 74
Plant Growth Types 77
Ecological Principles Applied to Agriculture 81
Farming System by Agroecology 92
Application of Ecological Principles to a Changing World 95
References and Resources 96
Chapter 4: Designing for the Long Term: Sustainable Agriculture 99
Introduction 100
Indigenous System Models 102
Biocomplexity of Sustainable Development 107
Sustainable Agriculture Design 110
Biodiversity 110
Resource Efficiency 120
Productivity and Economics 123
Resilience 126
Putting Sustainable Agriculture in Practice 132
References and Resources 135
Internet Resources 136
Section II: Resources for Agricultural Development 139
Chapter 5: Agricultural Change and Low-Input Technology 139
Introduction 140
Low External Input Technology 141
Labor 147
Knowledge 152
Implications for Rural Development Strategies 159
Conclusions 165
References 167
Chapter 6: Ecologically Based Nutrient Management 171
Nutrient Management As Applied Ecology 172
The Basics of Nutrient Cycling 173
The Roles of Plants and Microorganisms in Cycling Nutrients 182
Concepts and Strategies for Managing Complexity 193
Developing Site-Specific Ecological Nutrient Management Systems 211
References 215
Chapter 7: Participatory Plant Breeding: Developing Improved and Relevant Crop Varieties with Farmers 221
Introduction 222
Theory of Participatory Plant Breeding 224
Practical Elements of PPB in View of Agroecological Issues 238
Examples of Successful Participatory Plant Breeding for Marginal Environments 251
Types of Impact Achievable through PPB for Sustainable Development of Farming Systems and Farmers’ Livelihoods 256
References and Resources 259
Chapter 8: Livestock, Livelihoods, and Innovation 263
Livestock and Livelihoods 264
Livestock Research and Innovation 273
References 288
Section III: Context for Sustainable Agricultural Development 291
Chapter 9: Gender and Agrarian Inequality at the Local Scale 291
Introduction 291
The Study of Gender Relations 292
Gender and Unequal Access to Productive Resources in Agricultural Systems 295
Understanding Gender Dynamics at the Household Scale in Agricultural Systems 303
Case Study: Gender, Inequality, and Agroecological Approaches in Northern Malawi 308
Conclusion: Addressing Gender Inequalities in Agricultural Systems 314
References 315
Chapter 10: The Nature of Agricultural Innovation 319
What Is Agricultural Innovation? 320
Theories about Drivers of Innovation 322
Processes of Innovation 325
Supporting Innovation 330
References 332
Chapter 11: Outreach to Support Rural Innovation 335
Introduction 336
Relevance of Extension 337
Enhancing Client Orientation at Different Scales 339
Demand-Driven Models 344
Facilitation of Local Capacity 346
Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems 348
Scaling Up 350
Sustainability 350
Conclusion 352
Resources and References 354
Chapter 12: Tying It Together: Global, Regional, and Local Integrations 357
The Poverty of Big Ideas 357
Some History 359
A Green Evolution Strategy 361
Implementing the Dream 365
The Tanzania Fertilizer Partnership (TFP) 370
Rescuing Africa’s Cassava Farmers 371
Disease Prevention in Uganda’s Staple: Bananas 372
Diversifying into Export Horticulture 372
Smallholder Cotton Successes in Zimbabwe 373
The Malawi Starter Pack: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty 373
Looking beyond the Farm Gate 375
Concluding Comments 378
References 379
Internet Resources 381
Index 383