Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
10
Experiences on
Conservation Agriculture
(CA) in Zambia,
Malawi, and Ethiopia
Effects on Yield, Soil
Properties, Labor Use,
Profitability, and Adoption
Jens B. Aune
CONTENTS
10.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 223
10.2 Variations in CA Methods across Africa ...................................................... 224
10.2.1 CA Effects on Yields ........................................................................ 226
10.2.2 Labor Use and Economics of CA ..................................................... 228
10.2.3 Effect of CA on Soil Properties and Water Availability ................... 230
10.2.4 Adoption of CA ................................................................................. 231
10.3 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 233
References .............................................................................................................. 234
10.1 INTRODUCTION
Conservation agriculture (CA) has been actively promoted in many countries
in Africa during the last 10 years. The main principles of CA are direct plant-
ing of crop seeds, permanent soil cover, and crop rotation (Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations [FAO] 2011). This chapter will not use CA in the
strict meaning of the word, but rather as a common denominator to describe con-
cepts such as conservation tillage, conservation farming, and reduced tillage. This
chapter will summarize experiences on CA from Zambia, Malawi, and Ethiopia.
CA is also increasingly receiving policy support in Africa and is promoted under
Pillar 1 “Land and Water Management” in the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture
Development Program (CAADP) of the African Union (CAADP 2011). CA in
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