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Synergistic use and protection of natural resources for rural livelihoods through systematic integration of crops, shrubs and livestock in the Sahel

Original titleSynergistic use and protection of natural resources for rural livelihoods through systematic integration of crops, shrubs and livestock in the Sahel
Abstract

The overall objective of SustainSAHEL is to enhance the resilience and intensification potential of smallholder agricultural farming systems to climate change through scalable innovations on crop-shrub-livestock (CSL) integration. SustainSAHEL aims to develop CSL systems through innovation platforms (IPs) in order to improve productivity and farmers’ income.

Detailed Description

We will assess adoption and scaling potential of improved CSL integration, while simultaneously optimizing proven technologies, improving herder-farmer cooperation, tackling socio-economic constraints for adoption and contributing to local economic revival.

Our approach is embedded within the production systems of agro-ecology and organic agriculture, while comprising elements of conservation agriculture. Investigations on CSL, as well as soil quality and hydrology will be conducted through on-station and on-farm experiments and demonstration plots. We will identify drought resistant shrubs that are in synchrony with livestock requirements, and reduced tillage options that enhance the soil water capture and holding capacity.

At the regional level, landscape modelling scenarios will analyse the promoted systems’ resilience to climate change in West Africa. Dissemination activities will respond to the identified needs of youth and women and shall assure effective scaling of successfully tested innovations beyond the targeted regions.

Systems approaches are a core concept of SustainSAHEL and reflect the linkage of biophysical, socio-economic, cultural and political realities. The project examines long-term economic support to local communities and improvement of agricultural practices through close cooperation with farmer organisations. Working closely with existing Africa-Europe networks and programs, the established partnerships will quickly evolve into a model laboratory on CSL for the Sahel and institutionalize science-based practices of sustainable intensification under challenging conditions.

Financing/ Donor
  • European Union Horizon 2020
(Research) Program
  • European Commission, Horizon 2020
Project partners
  • Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Switzerland
  • African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), Uganda
  • Universität Hohenheim (UHOH), Germany
  • Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA), Senegal
  • Universität Kassel (UKAS), Germany
  • Université Nazi BONI (UNB), Burkina Faso
  • Minerva Health & Care Communications Ltd (MINERVA), United Kingdom
  • Confédération Paysanne du Faso (CPF), Burkina Faso
  • Association des Organisations Professionnelles Paysannes (AOPP), Mali
  • Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE), Senegal
  • Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA), Burkina Faso
  • Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), France
  • Access Agriculture (AA), Benin
  • Institut Polytechnique Rural de Formation et de Recherche Appliquée (IPR), Mali
  • Institut d’Economie Rurale (IER), Mali
  • International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria
  • Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), France
  • Conseil National de Concertation et de Coopération des Ruraux (CNCR), Senegal
Project Advisory Board
  • Dr. Djalal Ademonla Arinloye, ICRAF Representative Sahel/West and Central Africa Region
  • Dr. Christian Dupraz, Agroforestry, INRA Montpellier
  • Dr. Georges Félix, Agroecology, Wageningen University
FiBL project leader/ contact
FiBL project staff
Role of FiBL
  • Project coordination and WP leader
Further information
FiBL project number 10140
Date modified 09.07.2024
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