Sustainable tree-crop-livestock intensification as a pillar for the Ethiopian climate resilient

green economy initiative –ICRAF led project funded by USAID

Aster G/Kirstos (PhD) and Kiros Meles Hadgu (PhD)Presented at National Dialog On Sustainable Agricultural

Intensification and its role on the CRGE23-24 July, ILRI, Ethiopia

ContentContent

Major Development challenges

Overcoming the challenges?

Role of ICRAF (in relation to other partners)

Preliminary project outputs

Key questions for discussion

- High Degradation

- Climate change/variability

- Population pressure

-Increasing food and energy demand

Major Development ChallengesMajor Development Challenges

World Bank World Development Indicators

South Asia

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Cereal Yields by Region

Source: Dennis Garrity, ICRAF

World Bank World Development Indicators

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Fertilizer Use by Region

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South Asia

Latin America

EastAsia

Source: Dennis Garrity, ICRAF

Overcoming the challengesOvercoming the challenges

Can agroforestry contribute to overcome some of the challenges of Ethiopian development? YES!

•Sustainable intensification of mixed tree-crop-livestock systems on farms and within farming landscapes can reverse land degradation, and improve crop productivity, livestock feed availability and food security (Garrity et al., 2010).

Overcoming the challenges (Cont’d)Overcoming the challenges (Cont’d)

Ethiopian government initative• The Ethiopian Government has launched innovative

approaches that include a “Climate Resilient Green Economy” (CRG 2012).

• Faidherbia Program (to establish 100 million Faidherbia albida trees on cereal cropland during the next four years).

• Reforestation of 15 million hectares of land (on farm & communal land)

Role of ICRAFRole of ICRAF

• ICRAF to be deeply engaged in supporting the CRGE (underpinning the government’s programs on watershed management and agroforestry).

• ICRAF led Africa Rising early win project Sustainable tree-crop-livestock intensification as a pillar for the Ethiopian CRGE in collaboration with ILRI, EAIR and MU

Major Objectives of the projectMajor Objectives of the project

• To document local knowledge about integrating trees in fields, farms and landscapes

• Best bet tree species and management options identified

• Needs for development of the tree seed and seedling supply sector assessed

• Effective partnerships for promoting tree-crop-livestock integration to underpin the climate resilient green economy initiative established (the purpose of this dialogue)

Major successes and challenges in Arsi (Bekoji)Major successes and challenges in Arsi (Bekoji)

Preliminary results on local knowledge Preliminary results on local knowledge

What does the current system look like?Eucalyptus is the dominant tree species in the

systemNative tree cover (both in forest and as AF) has

been continuously decliningLoss of soil is apparent in many locations within

the landscapes

What do farmers know and explain well? Major causes for loss of tree cover

Expansion of agriculture (crop & livestock), un- sustainable use of different uses of forest products (e.g., fire wood)

Preliminary results on local knowledge (Cont‘d) Preliminary results on local knowledge (Cont‘d)

Major challenges: Especially AF species (Bekoji)Major challenges: Especially AF species (Bekoji)

• Free grazing (livestock damage seedlings)• Lack of seedlings of appropriate species• Slow growth rate of native species (which are

good as AF species

Preliminary results on local knowledge (Cont‘d) Preliminary results on local knowledge (Cont‘d)

Major successes and challenges in Tigray (Abreha Atsibha)Major successes and challenges in Tigray (Abreha Atsibha)

Preliminary results on local knowledge (Cont‘d) Preliminary results on local knowledge (Cont‘d)

What does the current system look like?Improved vegetation coverdecrease sediment depositionincrease water infiltration

What does the current system look like?improve land stabilization improve fertility of the soilproduction of grasses for fodder/livestock

Preliminary results on local knowledge (Cont‘d) Preliminary results on local knowledge (Cont‘d)

Cut and Carry livestock feeding

Tree seed and seedling supply sector (in Tigray)Tree seed and seedling supply sector (in Tigray)

Major challenges: Especially AF species (Abreha Atsibha)Major challenges: Especially AF species (Abreha Atsibha)

• Lack of seedlings of appropriate tree species• Slow growth rate of native species

Mean tree seed distribution by FRC from Mean tree seed distribution by FRC from (2006/07-2010/11): top ten (2006/07-2010/11): top ten

Species

Scientific name

Eucalyptus camaldulensis 515.3 450,270,952Casuarina equisetifolia 226.4 120,976,035Eucalyptus globulus 179.7 50,607,540Cupressus lusitanica 411.4 43,988,449Eucalyptus saligna 83.1 43,572,735Sesbania aculeata 383 22,731,571Acacia saligna 447.5 21,986,737Eucalyptus citriodora 149.3 20,790,393Acacia decurrens 258.2 15,736,872Eucalyptus grandis 11.5 15,148,622

Mean qauntity of seeds dist. (kg)

Potential number of seedlings produced

Tree Seed and Seeding supply Tree Seed and Seeding supply

Major tree and shrub species planted in Arsi Major tree and shrub species planted in Arsi HighlandsHighlands

• Chamaecytisus palmensis• Eucalyptus globulus• Cupressus lusitanica• Sesbania sp• Acacia decurrens• A. melanoxylon• Grevillea robusta• Casuarina equisetifolia• Dovyalis caffra• Juniperus procera

Tree Seed and Seeding supply (Cont‘d) Tree Seed and Seeding supply (Cont‘d)

Key Discussion pointsKey Discussion points

What should be done to make the tree-crop-livestock intensification strong enough to support the green economy initiatives and other multiple roles?

– Policy (e.g., creating synergy among policies)– Research & development (Priorities) – Extension and advocacy– Capacity building – Partnership and networking– Market and Gender

• There is massive tree planting initative that should be commended and what are the measures taken to ensure its success

• Open access grazing management system (What are the experiences in different regions)

• Maintenance and care after seedling plantation

• Planting the right trees (based on farmers preference and ecological suitability)

Points for reflection Open Grazing management and Points for reflection Open Grazing management and post planting management plan..post planting management plan..

• The need to creating synergy among disciplines and scientist from crop, tree livestock etc (unfortunately this is seldom the case)

• Would it be successful without integrating other measures like family planning, education (women), technology development, nutrtional change, etc?

Sustainable Agricultural Sustainable Agricultural intensificationintensification

•Can we talk about sustainable agricultural Intensification with out considering tree as integral part of the system

•Often time crop scientist considr trees on farmlands undesirable ...what is your say on this

Is Crop livestock intensification Is Crop livestock intensification similar to Agricultural intensificationsimilar to Agricultural intensification

How to promote/scale up successful How to promote/scale up successful initatives and practices among initatives and practices among

regionsregions

THANK YOU!