Engaging small-farmers on crop biodiversity issues in a constrained environment: the case of Madagascar

In Madagascar despite tropical small-farmers prioritize food supply for their cunsumption, there is a threat to crop biodiversity loss due to its integration to market. The objective of this study was to assess on research managed experiments an overall 2-year impact of cropping systems related to legume integration in term of potential incomes (yields multiplied by the product price), crop residue inputs to the soil (CRIS, total C t ha-1) and social faisaibility (field farmers' scoring). The four main cropping systems selected with a network of farmers were based on upland rice in bi-annual rotations were, legume sole crop, legume intercropped with maize or cassava (two crops), and legume intercropped with maize and cassava (three crops). Eight legume species promoted by NGO were compared in these main schemes including a control (no legume). Regarding legume integration, sole crop on average provided the highest CRIS and social faisability while cassava and legumes intercrops the highest incomes. Legume-maize intercrops without ou with cassava provided the lowest performances. Regarding legume specie integration, traditionnal pulses (peanut and bambara nut) offered significant economic performances compared to the control (no legume) and highest performance related to social acceptance but showed low CRIS. The four legume cover crops and cowpea maximized CRIS but had the lowest economical returns and low social acceptance. We concluded that in a low input context legume crop reinforcement could be both economically and socially relevant with local pulses in sole crop or mixed with cassava but need improvement in terms of CRIS.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Autfray, Patrice, Rakotofiringa, Hery Zo Nantenaina, Ranaivoson, Lalaina, Scopel, Eric
Format:	conference_item biblioteca
Language:	eng
Published:	Bioversity International
Online Access:	http://agritrop.cirad.fr/601420/ http://agritrop.cirad.fr/601420/1/abstract_Autfray.pdf
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