Winslow, M and Shapiro, B and Sanders, J (2007) Policies, institutions and market development to accelerate technological change in the semiarid zones of Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Advances in Integrated Soil Fertility Management in sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. Springer, Netherlands, pp. 933-940. ISBN 978-1-4020-5759-5
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Abstract
Agriculture in the African dry lands is constrained by geographical and economic isolation due to limited market access which affect adoption of new technology. International subsidies that flood developing-world markets with cheap food, national policies that tax the agricultural sector to benefit urban interests, and neglect of rural infrastructure discourage agricultural intensification. Increased market demand for staples and for higher-value products produced more efficiently will ensure that dryland farmers realize an economic gain from adopting more intensive practices. The interdependence of these key factors requires an integrated management of water soil fertility and improved crop varieties research focused on the poor, particularly women and children to ensure that they are equipped to capture most of the benefits of these changes. Low-value but essential food security crops need public sector assistance until their intensification becomes attractive to the private sector. Drought and market risks determine farmers’ decision-making in the drylands; yet it is too often assumed that new technology increases risk. Some technologies, policies and institutions can reduce risk...
| Item Type: | Book Section |
|---|---|
| Divisions: | UNSPECIFIED |
| CRP: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Diversification; drought; risk; intensification; nutrient use efficiency; water harvesting; water use efficiency |
| Subjects: | Mandate crops > Sorghum |
| Depositing User: | Ms K Syamalamba |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Jul 2013 11:05 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Jul 2013 11:05 |
| URI: | http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/6996 |
| Acknowledgement: | UNSPECIFIED |
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