Ir. A. de Jager: "Practice makes perfect: Participatory innovation in soil fertility management to improve rural livelihoods in East Africa"

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30 Nov 2007 16:00
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation: Wageningen University
Co Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. H. van Keulen (Promotor), Prof.dr. K.E. Giller (co-promotor), Prof.dr.ir. C. Leeuwis (co-promotor)

 This thesis describes the development of an inter-disciplinary diagnostic tool to assess impacts of farm management practices on nutrient balances and the use of the tool in participative research and innovation approaches in East Africa. The research showed that negative soil nutrient balances and high incidence of poverty prevail in most of the farming systems in East Africa. Once smallholders are equipped with knowledge and the capacity to learn, are empowered in organizations and connected to markets and the private sector, they can substantially improve their rural livelihoods. Therefore a focus on participatory experiential learning approaches and farmer organizations that result in new arrangements in innovation systems needs to be mainstreamed in rural development projects. Innovations in soil fertility management had the greatest impact on livelihoods in areas with both high agricultural potential and access to large urban markets. In more marginal areas most investments in inputs and technologies were financially unattractive or risky. In these areas priority needs be given to creating a more conducive environment for smallholders to do business and explore alternatives to food crop production.
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