613
rain-fed agriculture in SSA in the face of weather variability due to climate change
(Biazin et al. 2012). Rainwater harvesting for domestic use has been practiced to
some extent, but for supplemental irrigation it is limited to horticultural crops.
Supplemental irrigation for field crops at farm and landscape levels is limited.
Studies that integrate climate, weather information, crop requirement, land morphology, rainwater harvesting infrastructure like reservoir type, capacity, and associated cost and benefit are limited. In situ rainwater harvesting and moisture
conservation have been studied (zai, ngoro, chololo pits, tied ridges, sunken beds)
(Hatibu and Mahoo 1999) and well reviewed by Biazin et al. (2012) and Pachpute
et al. (2009). In most cases, the low success of the in situ rainwater harvesting is
related to extended dry spell and short rain seasons, as well as the need to balance
adequate moisture availability for crop without adverse effect due to extended water
logging conditions. Scaling up and out of rainwater harvesting, either micro- or
macro-catchment, is still a problem due to mismatch of technical knowledge, selection of appropriate technology, socio-economic factors, and acceptability by local
community (Biazin et al. 2012; Pachpute et al. 2009). As a result, despite the potential of RWH, it is estimated that only 5% of rainwater can be harvested (Pachpute
et al. 2009). Comprehensive studies on rainwater harvesting and management at
farm and landscape scale are needed to enable wide adoption of this technology as
a strategy for achieving CSA in SSA.
Site-Specific Fertilizer Recommendations and Landscape Soil
Management
For CSA to be achieved, response to fertilizers (organic or inorganic) applied in low
fertility soils must be guaranteed, even when rainfall is lower, evaporation is high,
and dry spell frequencies increase. Heisse and Morimoto (2019) reported that farmers’ imperfect information due to lack of reliable weather forecast affects farmers’
decision to apply fertilizer and makes them likely not to apply fertilizer in a year in
which rainfall seems erratic. Reliable information about climate requires investment
on weather database and data management, to enable understanding of the past
changes, monitor and predict the future climate scenarios for preparedness, and
early warning (Girvetz et al. 2019). Investment in studies on agrometeorology with
automated weather data are limited in SSA. For the CSA to be achieved, research
and practice that integrate all good agronomic practices packaged for specific landscape, and availability of reliable weather information relevant for agriculture,
are needed.
CSA studies advocate that CSA must be site specific, based on specific requirements and capability of specific area (FAO 2013). Characterization of soils to
deduce soil quality and required nutrients is needed for CSA, to provide a risk factor
that will enhance farmers’ decision on the type and quantity of fertilizer to apply.
This requires systematic research on agronomy, decision-making, and soil information. Studies to assess and integrate the rainfall forecast, soil-water conservation,
and fertilizer to apply are highly needed to achieve CSA.
Knowledge Gaps and Research Priorities
rain-fed agriculture in SSA in the face of weather variability due to climate change
(Biazin et al. 2012). Rainwater harvesting for domestic use has been practiced to
some extent, but for supplemental irrigation it is limited to horticultural crops.
Supplemental irrigation for field crops at farm and landscape levels is limited.
Studies that integrate climate, weather information, crop requirement, land morphology, rainwater harvesting infrastructure like reservoir type, capacity, and associated cost and benefit are limited. In situ rainwater harvesting and moisture
conservation have been studied (zai, ngoro, chololo pits, tied ridges, sunken beds)
(Hatibu and Mahoo 1999) and well reviewed by Biazin et al. (2012) and Pachpute
et al. (2009). In most cases, the low success of the in situ rainwater harvesting is
related to extended dry spell and short rain seasons, as well as the need to balance
adequate moisture availability for crop without adverse effect due to extended water
logging conditions. Scaling up and out of rainwater harvesting, either micro- or
macro-catchment, is still a problem due to mismatch of technical knowledge, selection of appropriate technology, socio-economic factors, and acceptability by local
community (Biazin et al. 2012; Pachpute et al. 2009). As a result, despite the potential of RWH, it is estimated that only 5% of rainwater can be harvested (Pachpute
et al. 2009). Comprehensive studies on rainwater harvesting and management at
farm and landscape scale are needed to enable wide adoption of this technology as
a strategy for achieving CSA in SSA.
Site-Specific Fertilizer Recommendations and Landscape Soil
Management
For CSA to be achieved, response to fertilizers (organic or inorganic) applied in low
fertility soils must be guaranteed, even when rainfall is lower, evaporation is high,
and dry spell frequencies increase. Heisse and Morimoto (2019) reported that farmers’ imperfect information due to lack of reliable weather forecast affects farmers’
decision to apply fertilizer and makes them likely not to apply fertilizer in a year in
which rainfall seems erratic. Reliable information about climate requires investment
on weather database and data management, to enable understanding of the past
changes, monitor and predict the future climate scenarios for preparedness, and
early warning (Girvetz et al. 2019). Investment in studies on agrometeorology with
automated weather data are limited in SSA. For the CSA to be achieved, research
and practice that integrate all good agronomic practices packaged for specific landscape, and availability of reliable weather information relevant for agriculture,
are needed.
CSA studies advocate that CSA must be site specific, based on specific requirements and capability of specific area (FAO 2013). Characterization of soils to
deduce soil quality and required nutrients is needed for CSA, to provide a risk factor
that will enhance farmers’ decision on the type and quantity of fertilizer to apply.
This requires systematic research on agronomy, decision-making, and soil information. Studies to assess and integrate the rainfall forecast, soil-water conservation,
and fertilizer to apply are highly needed to achieve CSA.
Knowledge Gaps and Research Priorities