Sedentary yam-based cropping systems in West Africa: Benefits of the use of herbaceous cover-crop legumes and rotation-lessons and challenges

New farming technologies such as improved fallow of herbaceous legumes have been developed over the last 20 years as alternatives to traditional yam cropping systems in areas where shifting cultivation is no more possible. One aim of this research was to analyze actual adoption by smallholders of su...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Agroecology and sustainable food systems 2017-05, Vol.41 (5), p.450-486
Main Authors: Maliki, Raphiou, Sinsin, Brice, Floquet, Anne, Cornet, Denis, Lançon, Jacques
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adoption
Agronomy
contingent ranking matrix
Corn
Cover crops
Crop rotation
Cropping systems
Cultivation
Cultivation techniques
economic intensification
Economic models
Farming
herbaceous legumes
Land use
Legumes
Life Sciences
Regression analysis
Shifting cultivation
Sustainable agriculture
Technology
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Summary:New farming technologies such as improved fallow of herbaceous legumes have been developed over the last 20 years as alternatives to traditional yam cropping systems in areas where shifting cultivation is no more possible. One aim of this research was to analyze actual adoption by smallholders of such a technology and influencing factors in the Southern Guinea Savannah in Benin (West Africa). On the other hand, a second objective was to measure agronomic and economic performances of the innovative yam-based cropping systems in comparison with the usual ones under producers' natural and socioeconomic circumstances in order to discuss the technology potential for large scale adoption. Smallholders with limited land access now develop as usual cropping systems a one-year fallow of Andropogonon gayanus-yam rotation or a maize-yam rotation. Innovative sedentary yam-based systems consist of an Aeschynomene histrix intercropped with maize-yam rotation or a Mucuna pruriens intercropped with maize-yam rotation. Factors potentially affecting adoption were included in a polynomial logit model. Agronomic and economic performances were assessed by the multiple regression and net present value of the 4-years double rotation. Ranking matrix was used to highlight constraints that may impede adoption. Benefits, lessons, and challenges are discussed in this article.
ISSN:2168-3565
2168-3573
2168-3573
2168-3565
DOI:10.1080/21683565.2017.1279252