DESERT MARGINS PROGRAM GEF CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

High Low Non-degraded DMP member countries DMP potential countries Land degradation severity in desert margins of SSA

km N Very arid Arid Semi-arid Semi-humid Humid Agro-ecological zones of the desert margins of WA

Population increase Need for increasing the production Increase in cropped area Decrease or suppression of the fallow cycle (traditional way of restoring soil fertility) Cropping of marginal land Decreasing yields Land degradation Increasing competition between crop and livestock for common natural resource base An unbalanced system, a downward spiral Demographic control Intensification of Agriculture Climate change and climate fluctuation

The yield gap and the limitations that cause it Potential yield (Experimentation ) Actual yield Yield gap Biophysical limitations Soil fertility Water Variety, etc Which inputs are lacking? Socio economic and policy limitations Knowledge Credit Availability Why inputs are not used?

Major constraints to sustainable agricultural production and biodiversity conservation

Environmental constraints  Infertile erosion prone soils  Limited and unpredictable rainfall  Inadequate irrigation  Reduction of suitable land for agricultural purposes  Pests and diseases

Technological constraints  Inappropriate technology transfer  Weak research-extension-farmer linkages  Inappropriate and inadequate technological packaging, as well as limited technological awareness  Limited involvement of universities in research and extension education and lack of adequate trained personnel

Policy constraints  Incentives to increase agricultural production are not harmonized and sustained  Inappropriate land tenure systems that limit access to land and security of tenure  Inadequate policy to support sustainable agricultural farming systems

Policy constraints ( Cont’d)  Exclusion of the corporate sector from agricultural farming systems  Inefficient financial support to implement technology  Weak logistics to extend technologies e.g. roads, telephones and tools

Socio-cultural constraints Indigenous technical knowledge is not taken into account  Some farmers are not convinced of the added value of technology  Technology conflicts with local knowledge and time-tested traditional practices  Gender barriers to technology adoption

Economic constraints  Inadequate access to markets for agricultural produce  Low market competitiveness for agricultural produce  Insufficient funding for agricultural research

Economic constraints (CONT’d)  Limited access to farm inputs and credit  High cost of fertilizers inputs and other soil- condition ameliorating methods  Competition/conflicts between agriculture and livestock enterprise on limited land resources

Institutional constraints  Inadequate integration of research and development activities  Lack of coordination among and between agricultural research institutions (IARCs and NARS)  Inadequate promotion of sustainable agricultural farming systems

Nutrient mining Burkina Faso: T of N T of P 2 O T of K 2 O (equivalent to US $ 160 million ) Mali:40% of farmers agricultural revenue comes from nutrient mining

Desert Margins Program Wider Objectives (Goal)  To arrest land degradation and conserve and restore biodiversity in the Desert Margins through sustainable utilization of biodiversity Specific Objectives (Purpose)  To develop and implement strategies for conservation, restoration and sustainable use of dry land biodiversity (to enhance ecosystem function and resilience)

Expected Outputs 1.Improved understanding of ecosystem status and dynamics with regard to loss of biodiversity 2.Strategies for conservation, restoration and sustainable use of degraded agro ecosystems developed and implemented 3.NRM Capacity of stakeholders and target populations enhanced

4Sound policy intervention/guidelines for sustainable resource use formulated, adopted and implemented 5Participatory natural resources management methods are implemented 6The target populations are involved at each stage of the project’s cycle Expected Outputs (contd.)

7. Participation Build capacity of stakeholders to participate fully 6. Up scaling Develop strategies for replicationInstitutional capacity building of government institutions/farmers in up scaling Wider testing at project site 5. Policy guidelines/ legislation Review and draft new guidelinesTest new guidelines / policiesAdopt Nation- wide guidelines/ policies 4. Sustainable alternative livelihoods InventoryTested / Adapted / AdoptedAdoption and pilot testing in selected villages 3. Capacity building In participatory approaches to land and biodiversity management In up scaling 2. Rehabilitation of land use Testing implementation scenes Adoption and pilot testing in selected villages 1. Monitoring and evaluation (status and dynamics) Data gathering - Consultation - Synthesis - Compiling existing approaches Project Activities by year

Costs and Financing (Million US $) GEF: Project : Phase 1 (2 years) $4,987,134 Phase 2 (2 years) $5,617,044 Phase 3 (2 years) $5,365,822 PDF A : $ 25,000 PDF B : $ 340,000 Subtotal GEF $16,335,000 Total project cost $49,507,307 (GEF + Co-Fi + Govt in Kind)

Steering Committee Second Level DMP C.U. ASARECASACCARCORAF First Level Third Level B.FMaliNigerSenegal Kenya BotsNamS.AZimb Governance Structure of DMP ICRISAT Board

Conclusions Biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in the Desert Margins will require:

1. Promotion of sustainable livelihoods çDiversification of sources of income çPromoting sustainable harvesting çExploring innovative sustainable uses of biodiversity for generating income çDeveloping markets for products with added values çBenefit-sharing including bioprospecting

àLessons learned from traditional sustainable management àIntegrated management approaches îWatershed management îTrans-boundary considerations àSustainable natural resource management îWater harvesting îSoil conservation 2. Availability of sound management practices

Management practices (cont’d) àLand tenure/property rights issues àCommunity based activities îEmpowerment îPublic awareness, education/training, international experience àParticipatory adaptive management àParticipatory crop/tree improvement

Management practices (cont’d) àLaw enforcement and policy implementation îDecentralization îCommunity participation îNegotiating skills/conflict resolution àInternational & regional networking

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