1. Key challenges in smallholder cereal-legume-livestock systems in the Guinea savanna of Ghana
Presented by S.S. Buah (CSIR-SARI) and N. Karbo (CSIR-ARI)
Review and Planning Work of Africa Rising-West Africa,
23-25 October 2012, Modern City Hotel, Tamale, Ghana

2. Introduction Rapid transformation of agricultural practices in
northern Ghana are due to:
Rapid human population growth
Increased pressure on land
Increase in agricultural intensification
Climate change
Increase incidence and severity of diseases, pests and drought.

3. Introduction
Technologies that can enhance productivity need to be developed.
At the same time, the natural resource base must be preserved.
Thus, an integrated crop-livestock farming system represents a key solution for enhancing livestock production and safeguarding the environment through prudent and efficient resource use.

4. Major challenges to agricultural production in the Guinea savanna of Ghana
Poor soil fertility and water availability
Land use planning conflicts for integrated sytems
Pests and diseases of crops and livestock
Parasitic weeds such as Striga

5. Major challenges to agricultural production in the Guinea savanna of Ghana
Credit and inputs
Drought
Competition between crops and livestock for resources
Weak institutional mechanisms

6. Soil fertility and Water
Traditional farming systems are breaking down under human and livestock population pressure.
Current fallow periods are not long enough to replace exported nutrients
Soil organic matter is very low
Nitrogen (N) is the most limiting nutrient.
Phosphorus (P) is the second most limiting nutrient

7. Poor soil and many mouths to feed

8. Soil fertility and Water
Although mineral fertilizers can be used to replace nutrient losses, socio-economic constraints such as high prices and lack of credit limit their use.
Smallholder farmers commonly apply too little fertilizer, either because they cannot afford more or because fertilizers are not readily available.
Soil fertility and Water
Smallholder farmers apply too little fertilizer, either because they cannot afford more or because fertilizers are not readily available.
Both mineral fertilizers and organic inputs are required to improve soil fertility

9. Soil fertility and Water
Although mineral fertilizers can be used to replace nutrient losses, socio-economic constraints such as high prices and lack of credit limit their use.
Smallholder farmers commonly apply too little fertilizer, either because they cannot afford more or because fertilizers are not readily available.
Soil fertility and Water
Integrated crop-livestock systems could improve soil fertility in short fallow or continuous cropping systems.
Increased use of organic and inorganic fertilizers together with diversification of cropping to include legumes are important tools in restoring or sustaining soil fertility in northern Ghana

10. Soil fertility and Water
Although mineral fertilizers can be used to replace nutrient losses, socio-economic constraints such as high prices and lack of credit limit their use.
Smallholder farmers commonly apply too little fertilizer, either because they cannot afford more or because fertilizers are not readily available.
Soil fertility and Water
Problems with availability of water for all year round use for crop and livestock production
Bush fires
Socio-cultural problems

11. unfertilized maize crop

12. Land use planning conflicts
Crop production vs. grazing land for livestock
Urbanization
Bush fires
Policy void

13. Pests and diseases
Insect pests are a major constraint to legume production, particularly cowpea.
Commercial production of cowpea in northern Ghana is probably not feasible without the using insecticide.
Major insects of cowpea are flower thrips [Megalurothrips sjostedti (Trybom)], the legume pod borer (Maruca vitrata) and a range of pod-feeding bugs

14. Pests and diseases
Groundnut yields are traditionally low, due to several constraints including pests and diseases.
Aphids (Aphis craccivora) are a serious pest as well as a vector of virus diseases, such as the rosette
Major biotic constraint to groundnut production include groundnut rosette disease (GRD), early leaf spot (ELS), late leaf spot (LLS) and rust

15. Pests and diseases
Livestock diseases retard the introduction of more productive breeding stock and new technologies and creating an adverse impact on crop-livestock integration
The most important diseases are vector-transmitted parasitic and viral diseases.

16. Pests and diseases
Integrated pest management (IPM) involves
- integrating biological control,
cultural practices such as modified planting date,
disease- and pest-tolerant cultivars,
and pesticides where necessary
This can increase the effectiveness of pest control and reduce overuse of pesticides.

17. Parasitic weeds Striga hermonthica on cereals
Striga gesnerioides on legumes
Both parasites are difficult to control because they produce large numbers of seeds and up to 75% of the crop damage is done before they emerge from the ground.

18. Weed Control s
Striga hermonthica
Striga gesnerioides Alectra vogelli

19. Parasitic weeds
The increasing incidence of striga has been attributed to
poor soil fertility and structure
intensification of land use through continuous cultivation and
an expansion of cereal production.
Striga damage can be reduced by growing tolerant or resistant varieties

20. Parasitic weeds
Striga damage can be reduced by planting trap crops such as groundnut, soybean, cowpea and sesame that stimulate striga seed to germinate without providing a viable host
Coping strategies of farmers include hand-roguing, application of inorganic fertilizer, manures, compost and crop rotations.

21. Credit and inputs Inadequate credit Weak seed systems
Lack of implements for mechanization
High cost and accessibility of fertilizers
Feeds and markets
Appropriate technologies

22. Drought Trend of decreasing rainfall and increasing temperatures
Probability of drought is highest at the start and end of the growing season,
Timing of deficits is unpredictable

23. Drought
Several strategies have been developed for the conservation of soil and water to maintain productivity including
rainwater harvesting,
live barriers,
supplementary irrigation,
minimum tillage,
mulching,
bunded basins, and
tree planting

24. Competition between crops and livestock for resources
In smallholder farming systems there are conflicts over the use of the precious crop residues for:
soil cover and organic matter replenishment
livestock feed
housing,
craft materials and
energy source.

25. Competition between crops and livestock for resources
Crop residues provide highly valued fodder for livestock in northern Ghana, particularly in the drier Upper East region.
Feeding livestock, especially during the dry season is a major constraint to livestock development in northern Ghana

26. Stover removed and stored for fencing, fuel or roofing
Stover removed and used for weaving baskets
Stover removed and stored for feeding livestock
Stover removed and used for feeding livestock

27. Livestock graze freely on crop residue

28. Integrating crop and livestock production offers ways to increase production while protecting the environment.

29. Cultural and economic value of livestock in in the Guinea savanna zone
As an investment and insurance against risk,
Used for traction
Provide meat, milk, hides, and manure,
Used as means of transport.
can be converted into prompt cash in times of need.
Used for ceremonies, paying bride price and source of savings

30. Advantages of the integrated system
livestock and crops are produced within a coordinated framework.
The waste products of one component serve as a resource for the other.
Manure is used to enhance crop production;
crop residues and by-products feed the animals, supplementing often inadequate feed supplies, thus contributing to improved animal nutrition and productivity.

31. Advantages of the integrated system
Maintenance of the soil productive capacity;
Product diversification and higher yields and quality at less cost;
Reduction of crop pests (less pesticide use and better soil erosion control); and
Reduction of rural urban migration and the creation of new job opportunities in rural areas.

32. Cereal-legume rotation Cereal-legume intercrop

33. Weak institutional mechanisms
Weak linkages among research –extension and farmers
Poor communications among farmers, extension agents, and researchers leading to low adoption of promising technologies generated by research.
Extension workers do not possess adequate knowledge in all crop and livestock production issues.
Weak research and extension messages towards systems

34. Weak institutional mechanisms
Attitudes
Mindsets
Policy issues
Institutional and technical concepts
Other projects are competing for the AEA’s time

35. Conclusions
Use of productive but more sustainable management practices can help resolve these production problems.
With the majority of the population in Ghana dependant on agriculture for their livelihoods, technological options that increase agricultural productivity and help to buffer farmers against the negative impacts of climate related and other constraints should be promoted.