Perennial grain crops in the West Soudanian Savanna of Mali: perspectives from agroecology and gendered spaces

Roge, P and Diarisso, T and Diallo, F and Boire, Y and Goita, D and Peter, B and Macalou, M and Weltzien, E and Snapp, S (2017) Perennial grain crops in the West Soudanian Savanna of Mali: perspectives from agroecology and gendered spaces. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 15 (5). pp. 555-574. ISSN 1473-5903

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Abstract

Perennial grain crops may play an important role in environmentally sound and socially just food systems for Africa. We study the future possibility of integrating perennial grains into Malian farming systems from the perspective of agroecology, and more specifically using a gendered space approach. We interviewed 72 farmers across the sorghum-growing region of Mali. We found that perennial grains offer a vision for transforming human relations with nature that mirrors the resource sharing of customary land tenure, including patterns of extensive and intensive land use in time and space. Women interviewees identified a broad set of potential advantages and challenges to perennial grain production. Advantages include reduced labour, saving seed, and improving food security. Women farmers were concerned about livestock, water access, and resource limitations. We argue that perennial grains may increase access to land and natural resources for women farmers. Perennial grains may improve soil quality, reduce labour early in the rainy season, and provision more resources from fallow lands. Pastoralists stand to benefit from improved pastures in the dry season. We conclude that investments are needed to develop viable crop types in consideration of the complexity of West African farming systems and the local needs of women farmers and pastoralists.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Research Program : West & Central Africa
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Africa, agroecology, gender, Mali, perennial grains, Perennial grain crops, food security, West African farming systems, women farmers, pastoralists
Subjects:	Mandate crops > Sorghum Others > African Agriculture Others > Gender Research Others > West Africa Others > Mali
Depositing User:	Mr Ramesh K
Date Deposited:	29 Nov 2017 10:53
Last Modified:	29 Nov 2017 10:53
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/10334
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2017.1372850
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Acknowledgement:	We express our gratitude to the Malian farmers who graciously welcomed us, as well as to various individuals at ICRISAT – Mali and IER – ECOFIL who offered us logistical assistance in the field. This work was supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation [grant number OPP1076311].
Links:	Google Scholar Organisation

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