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\hypersetup{pdftitle={Conservation Agriculture in Africa: Comprehending its Adoption and Determining its Scaling up Potential },pdfauthor={Hycenth Tim Ndah, Sandra Uthes, Johannes Schuler},pdfsubject={Tropentag 2010: Abstract},pdfkeywords={Africa, comprehending its adoption, conservation agriculture, scaling up potential},pdfpagemode=None,colorlinks=true}
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\parbox[b]{13.4cm}{\centering \large{\textbf{Tropentag, September 14-16, 2010, Zurich}}\\[1ex] \Large{``World Food System  ---\\A Contribution from Europe''\\[2ex]}}
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\Large{\textbf{Conservation Agriculture in Africa: Comprehending its Adoption and Determining its Scaling up Potential \footnote{\textbf{Contact Address:} Hycenth Tim Ndah, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Institute of Socio Economics, Eberswalder Strasse 86, 15374~Müncheberg, Germany, \mbox{e-mail}: \email{ndahycenth@yahoo.com}}\\[0.8ex]}}
\normalsize{\textsc{Hycenth Tim Ndah, Sandra Uthes, Johannes Schuler}}
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\begin{itemize*}
\item[]{\small{\textit{Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Institute of Socio Economics, Germany}}}
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\index[author]{Ndah, Hycenth Tim}
\index[author]{Uthes, Sandra}
\index[author]{Schuler, Johannes}
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\textbf{Abstract}
\begin{abstract}
\normalsize{
Conservation Agriculture (CA) is increasingly seen as a promising alternative for coping with the need to increase food production on the basis of more sustainable farming practices. It is a combination of tested scientific technologies and its practice in Africa is now maturing with increasing demand for more sustainable agricultural practices and better natural resources management and conservation. As a concept, its applicability relies on simultaneous application of three basic principles: 1) Minimum soil disturbance or no tillage; 2) Permanent soil cover; and 3) Crop rotations/associations. It specifically aims to address the problems of soil degradation resulting from agricultural practices that deplete the organic matter and nutrient content of the soil hence leading to higher crop yields and lower production costs.



In spite the widespread claim of CA as a solution for the problems of poor agricultural productivity and soil degradation in Africa, empirical evidence is not clear and consistent on many of these points nor is it always clear which of the principles of CA contribute to the desired effects. Despite the publicity claiming widespread adoption of CA, available evidence suggests virtually no up"=scale of CA in most African countries. It is therefore concluded that there is an urgent need for critical assessment under which ecological and socio"=economic conditions CA is best suited for smallholder farming in Africa and its regional potential for scaling"=up. 



As part of the EU-funded Project CA2Africa (2010--2013), this study is out to fill this knowledge gap by determining the scaling"=up potential of CA under the different agro"=ecological, socio"=economic and cultural conditions of Africa. Specifically, the study seeks 1) to identify driving and inhibiting forces to the effective scaling"=up of CA in Africa, 2) to examine modelling tools and challenge in comprehending CA adoption in Africa and 3) to develop a qualitative evaluation tool for assessing the likelihood of adoption in different regional contexts. The development of the tool is based on experience from existing case studies and combined with relevant adoption theories and conceptual models of innovation. The final outcome, a kind of checklist, will be tested in five regional platforms. 



}

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\noindent \textbf{Keywords:} Africa, comprehending its adoption, conservation agriculture, scaling up potential
\index[key]{Africa}
\index[key]{Conservation!agriculture}
\index[key]{scaling up potential}
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