Farming Systems Of The African Savanna

Farming Systems of the African Savanna: A continent in crisis

Conclusion.

Presenting the case for a farming systems approach to research in developing countries, this book considers the role of new technology and appropriate development strategies in improving agricultural production and the welfare of farming families in the semi-arid tropical region of West Africa.

Can a continuous growth of agriculture be achieved in the sub-Sahara region without inducing irreversible damage to the ecosystem? Until now, doubts have been expressed as to the actual capacity of the soils to sustain a desirable increase of production which can match the requirements of a fast-growing population. Thirty years of investigation and a renewed comprehensive interpretation of research data on soil fertility show that a sustainable agriculture growth could be a practical possibility in a savannah region.

This book embodies work stretching over a fifteen year period. As a result· inevitably we are greatly indebted to a number of institutions and a large number of individuals. Over the years considerable administrative and financial help was provided by the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, the Ministries of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the northern states of Nigeria, the Ford Foundation, and more recently, Kansas State University.