Agronomy and Horticulture, Department of

 

ORCID IDs

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9715-8469

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9738-0649

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4058-8526

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2020

Citation

Agronomy Journal. 2020;112:5325–5333.

Comments

2020 The Authors.

Abstract

This forum paper provides a synthesis and discussion of 14 categories of lessons learned from experiences for achieving farm-level impact with smallholder farm- ers in Africa. These lessons were reported in a symposium hosted by the Agron- omy in Africa community of the American Society of Agronomy. The lessons, listed in order of frequency of reporting, were the need to: have adequate infras- tructure and services; enable spontaneous adoption; have multi-disciplinary and institutional collaboration; build on previous adoption of good agronomic practices (GAP); have farmer participation in research; encourage and learn from smallholder adaptations; make GAP promotion demand-driven; allow GAP choices; address challenges and trade-offs to GAP adoption; enable GAP-by-GAP adoption; reconcile conflicting messages; offer adequate profit potential with acceptable risk; reduce labor needs, especially for women; and build capacity for farming system improvement along the chain from farmer to research. The lessons are discussed and conclusions are reported.

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