Legume-based agro ecological intensification of maize and cassava cropping systems in Sub-Saharan Africa
For water-food-energy nexus sustainability, nutritional security & livelihood resilience project (LEG4DEV) is implemented in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia & Malawi. The project aims to promote the scaling of legume-based agro ecological intensification of smallholder maize and cassava cropping systems in four countries for water-food-energy nexus sustainability that enables food security and livelihood resilience.
Project Goal
The goal is promote scaling of legume-based agroecological intensification of smallholder maize and cassava cropping systems in SSA for water-food-energy nexus sustainability & improved livelihood resilience. The specific research and innovation objectives are:
(1) To identify, develop and adapt legume-based agroecological intensification technologies and practices for accelerated scaling-out to smallholder farming and food systems to improve their:
(1a) productivity, sustainability, resilience and adaptive capacity to climate variability and change;
(1b) food and nutrition security and
(1c) water use efficiency.
(2) To identify, develop and adapt innovations for rural energy and labour efficiency (especially of women smallholders) transformations necessary to accelerate scaling out of legume-based agroecological intensification for improved livelihoods, employment, income and resilience of smallholder farming and food systems.
(3) To identify, develop and adapt innovations for transformative shifts in rural bioeconomies by generating new enterprises and rural employment (especially youth and women entrepreneurship) from legume-derived products, services and co-products.
(4) To identify and embed transformational scaling approaches and pathways (including policy and institutional options to enhance market opportunities for farmers through improved market information, farmer organization, and structured trade) for legume-based agroecological intensification to improve smallholder productivity/incomes, while transitioning to more sustainable farming and food systems
Project leader: Dr. Chikoye, David
Start date: January 31, 2019
End date: December 31, 2026
Location: Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia