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Title Bringing ISFM to scale through an integrated farm planning approach: a case study from Burundi (online first)
Full text http://edepot.wur.nl/351428
Date 2015
Author(s) Kessler, A.; Duivenbooden, N., van; Nsabimana, F.; Beek, C.L., van
Abstract Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) is generally accepted as the most relevant paradigm for soil fertility improvement in the tropics. Successes however are mainly reported at plot level, while real impact at farm level and beyond remains scattered. As a consequence, many Sub-Saharan African countries continue experiencing soil nutrient mining and insecure and insufficient agricultural production. Since technology-driven projects at the plot level failed to bring ISFM to scale, a different approach is needed. This paper describes a bottom-up approach developed in Burundi, the ''PIP approach''. It starts at farmer family level with the creation of an integrated farm plan (Plan Inte'gre' de Paysan in French'PIP) and aims at wide-scale spreading of intensification based on concepts of ISFM. As such, and once firmly embedded in and supported by village or district plans, agriculture becomes a business rather than a default activity inherited by parents, and ISFM an intrinsic aspect of farm management. In this paper the PIP approach as currently being implemented in Burundi is explained and discussed, with special reference to soil fertility management and some preliminary promising results.
Subject(s) Bodemfysica en landmanagement; Soil Physics and Land Management; Alterra - Bodem, water en landgebruik; Alterra - Soil, water and land use; Extern overig; Extern other
Language en
Type of publication Article/Letter to editor
Format application/pdf
Source Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems (2015); ISSN: 1385-1314
Rights Wageningen UR
Repository Wageningen - University of Wageningen
Added to C-A: 2015-08-06;09:08:04