607
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
B. R. Singh et al. (eds.), Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource
Sustainability in Africa, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37537-9_34
Knowledge Gaps and Research Priorities
Bal Ram Singh, Andy Safalaoh, Nyambilila A. Amuri, Lars Olav Eik,
Bishal K. Sitaula, and Rattan Lal
Abstract The major challenge related to sustainable management of natural resources,
agricultural and livestock production, and the assessment of innovative technologies
and policies is to identify solutions for these problems. Soil degradation, a serious
problem in sub-Saharan Africa, is affected by climate change through emission of
greenhouse gases (GHGs). Thus, restoration and sustainable management of soil to
minimize risks of soil degradation are important to adaptation and mitigation of climate
change and to advancing sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
Livestock is a source of animal proteins for humans on the one hand and a source of
nutrients and energy (biogas) on the other. However, livestock is vulnerable to many
climate change-induced disasters such as prolonged droughts and floods, resulting in
loss of animals and feed resources. In order to fully benefit from livestock, the targeted
interventions needed include adoption of feed preservation technologies, including hay
and silage for use during lean periods, controlled planning and management of communal grazing areas, rehabilitation of degraded communal grazing areas, and rangelands as a way of improving pasture availability. Research and development priorities
and emerging issues include conservation agriculture (CA), use of legume-based cropping systems, integrated nutrient management (INM), climate-resilient livestock and
feed systems, value addition policies, and adoption of innovative technologies.
B. R. Singh (*)
Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management,
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
e-mail: balram.singh@nmbu.no
A. Safalaoh
Animal Science Department, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources
(LUANAR), Lilongwe, Malawi
N. A. Amuri
Department of Soil Science and Geological Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture,
Morogoro, Tanzania
L. O. Eik · B. K. Sitaula
Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Norwegian University
of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
R. Lal
School of Environment and Natural Resources, Carbon Management and Sequestration
Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
B. R. Singh et al. (eds.), Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource
Sustainability in Africa, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37537-9_34
Knowledge Gaps and Research Priorities
Bal Ram Singh, Andy Safalaoh, Nyambilila A. Amuri, Lars Olav Eik,
Bishal K. Sitaula, and Rattan Lal
Abstract The major challenge related to sustainable management of natural resources,
agricultural and livestock production, and the assessment of innovative technologies
and policies is to identify solutions for these problems. Soil degradation, a serious
problem in sub-Saharan Africa, is affected by climate change through emission of
greenhouse gases (GHGs). Thus, restoration and sustainable management of soil to
minimize risks of soil degradation are important to adaptation and mitigation of climate
change and to advancing sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
Livestock is a source of animal proteins for humans on the one hand and a source of
nutrients and energy (biogas) on the other. However, livestock is vulnerable to many
climate change-induced disasters such as prolonged droughts and floods, resulting in
loss of animals and feed resources. In order to fully benefit from livestock, the targeted
interventions needed include adoption of feed preservation technologies, including hay
and silage for use during lean periods, controlled planning and management of communal grazing areas, rehabilitation of degraded communal grazing areas, and rangelands as a way of improving pasture availability. Research and development priorities
and emerging issues include conservation agriculture (CA), use of legume-based cropping systems, integrated nutrient management (INM), climate-resilient livestock and
feed systems, value addition policies, and adoption of innovative technologies.
B. R. Singh (*)
Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management,
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
e-mail: balram.singh@nmbu.no
A. Safalaoh
Animal Science Department, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources
(LUANAR), Lilongwe, Malawi
N. A. Amuri
Department of Soil Science and Geological Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture,
Morogoro, Tanzania
L. O. Eik · B. K. Sitaula
Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Norwegian University
of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
R. Lal
School of Environment and Natural Resources, Carbon Management and Sequestration
Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA