This paper describes a research stratery for the inland valleys which are flat-bottomed and vary in size from a few to hundreds of hectares. Most of the valleys are not presently cultivated. Where cultivated, rice is the most important crop grown in the wet season followed usually by a cultivatio...
Spencer, D.
,
[Farming systems research strategy for the development of inland valleys for increased food production in West Africa]
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Farming systems research strategy for the development of inland valleys for increased food production in West Africa
New technologies must be developed in sub-Saharan Africa which are sustainable and economically viable. This paper discusses a methodology for measuring the agricultural sustainability and economic viability of tropical farming systems for new technology evaluation. The approach is based on the c...
Ehui, Simeon K.
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Spencer, D.
,
[Measuring the sustainability and economic viability of tropical farming systems: a model from subSaharan Africa]
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Measuring the sustainability and economic viability of tropical farming systems: a model from subSaharan Africa
Organic mulch is beneficial to plantain because it maintains soil fertility, prevents erosion and suppresses weeds. Mulch availability is however a major constraint. Mulching in a cut-and-carry system withPennisetum purpureum Schum. (elephant grass) was compared with mulching with the prunings of...
Ruhigwa, B.
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Gichuru, M.
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Spencer, D.
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Swennen, R.
,
[Economic analysis of cutandcarry, and alley cropping systems of mulch production for plantains in southeastern Nigeria]
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Economic analysis of cutandcarry, and alley cropping systems of mulch production for plantains in southeastern Nigeria
In order to measure the effects of new agricultural technologies on labour productivity in sub-Saharan Africa, on-farm trials are usually conducted using small plots. Farmers who keep no records have to be interviewed frequently to minimize the effect of memory loss on the accuracy of the data co...
Spencer, D.
,
[Collecting meaningful data on labour use in onfarm trials in subSaharan Africa]
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Collecting meaningful data on labour use in onfarm trials in subSaharan Africa
This paper describes a research strategy for the inland valleys which are flat-bottomed and vary in size from a few to hundreds of hectares. Most of the valleys are not presently cultivated. Where cultivated, rice is the most important crop grown in the wet season followed usually by cultivation ...
Spencer, D.
,
[Farming systems research strategy for the development of inland valleys for increased food production in West Africa]
,
Farming systems research strategy for the development of inland valleys for increased food production in West Africa
The adoption decisions of subsistence multicrop producers regarding improved cassava variety (TMS 30572) in the humid tropical rainforest ecology of Southwestern Nigeria were analysed within a qualitative choice framework. The empirical results revealed that younger farmers producing marketable s...
Polson, R.
,
Spencer, D.
,
[The technology adoption process in subsistence agriculture: the case of cassava in southwestern Nigeria]
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The technology adoption process in subsistence agriculture: the case of cassava in southwestern Nigeria
Most upland soils in humid and sub-humid tropical Africa are characterized by low inherent fertility and are also susceptible to soil erosion and compaction with cultivation. Based on simulation model, this study uses a capital budgeting approach to determine the profitability of alternative land...
Ehui, Simeon K.
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Kang, B.
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Spencer, D.
,
[Economic analysis of soil erosion effects in alley cropping, notill and bush fallow systems in southwestern Nigeria]
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Economic analysis of soil erosion effects in alley cropping, notill and bush fallow systems in southwestern Nigeria
Research institutes in Africa have had limited success in producing new technologies appropriate to the needs of small farmers because of an inadequate understanding of small farmers' goals and resource limitations and over-reliance on the transfer of technologies from other regions. Farming syst...
Spencer, D.
,
[Institutionalizing the farming systems perspective in multicommodity research institute: the role of systemsbased research groups]
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Institutionalizing the farming systems perspective in multicommodity research institute: the role of systemsbased research groups
Primary data collected over a wide area in Africa show that average cassava root yield is not declining as the population increases because the land is being cultivated more intensively in response to demographic pressures. Although fallow periods are becoming shorter, organic manuring, improved ...
Nweke, F.
,
Spencer, D.
,
[Future prospects for cassava root yield in sub Saharan Africa]
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Future prospects for cassava root yield in sub Saharan Africa