Intensification Agricole | Agricultural Intensification

Agricultural Intensification

The Great Lakes Region of Central Africa is characterized by extreme demographic pressure and a very low use of agro-inputs (fertilizer, seed and crop protection products). Fertilizer use is the lowest in the world, and over the years this has resulted in fields with a very low soil nutrient balances. A low nutrient balance results in insufficient productivity to feed the populations in the region. Low productivity leads farmers to farm even the most fragile land, such as that found on the steep slopes of Burundi and Rwanda.

The depletion of natural resources, low-nutrient soils, erosion and related issues threaten agriculture in the much of the region. Given the scarcity of arable land in the mountainous areas, increases in agricultural production must primarily come from already cultivated land. Therefore, introducing better production systems and agricultural technologies becomes particularly important.

Increasing crop yields to ensure sustainable agricultural production must include methods to minimize soil depletion and increase soil fertility. IFDC's Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) teaches farmers to better use, recycle and maintain the natural reserve of soil nutrients when combined with available local soil amendments and mineral fertilizers in order to increase productivity while also improving the land for future agricultural production.

In order to accelerate agricultural intensification in a sustainable manner, CATALIST uses three main approaches:

ISFM - Integrated Soil Fertility Management
CASE - Competitive Agricultural Systems and Enterprise
HIMO - Labor-Intensive Works

CATALIST works with producers through participatory tests that serve as field schools in order for farmers to understand ISFM. The project also supports stakeholders involved in value-added activities (e.g., grain milling) and trains them in the CASE practices.