About the Project

Why organic resources?

Farmers in the site of Chipata, Zambia
Farmers in the site of Chipata, Zambia

The current rates of nutrient depletion, soil erosion and environmental degradation in much of Africa’s farmland urgently requires the restoration of soil fertility through ideally suited agricultural management techniques.

It has been shown that the use of organic resources in farms has the potential to enhance soil fertility and quality, with positive social, economical and environmental impacts.

Increasing the adoption and scaling up such techniques will enhance food security and farmers’ income while safeguarding soils, adapting to climate change and promoting the ecosystems’ health.

We aim to:

  • Identify the challenges and opportunities associated with the poor adoption of SFM practices,
  • Understand the societal and institutional framework regarding soil fertility improvement,
  • Assess the effects of new organic resource management techniques that will be designed by the concerted efforts of farmers and researchers,
  • Improve communication strategies both to and between farmers,
  • Evaluate the impact of new techniques, communication strategies and different socio-economic settings for the adoption of SFM, and
  • Provide recommendations to advisory services and farmer organizations, private sector actors, community representatives and policy makers for a better adoption of SFM practices.

The intended impact of the project is that the observed trend of soil degradation and decline in soil fertility in Mali, Ghana, Kenya and Zambia is reversed by implementing soil fertility management techniques that have been developed in a participatory and trans-disciplinary way by farmers, universities, agricultural research institutes, rural advisory services, NGOs, policy makers and media professionals.

The investment in improving the limited soil resource is enhancing crop yield, farmer income, and food security and will help to adapt farming systems in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) to future challenges.

Last but not least the project may contribute to improve the quality and lasting impact of agricultural development programs.