Delivering nutrient management impact through farmer-centric research: a systematic review of innovation systems in African smallholder systems

IF 6.1 1区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Agricultural Systems Pub Date : 2025-06-13 DOI:10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104416

Ivan S. Adolwa , Shamie Zingore , James Mutegi , Matthew McNee , Bolaji A. Akorede , Denver Masidza , T. Scott Murrell , Samuel Mathu Ndungu , Eileen Nchanji , Simon Cook , Thomas Oberthür

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

CONTEXT

The performance of the agricultural sector in Africa still lags behind other regions. The current average maize productivity of 2 t ha^-1 is below the global average of about 6 t ha^-1. This low productivity threatens the livelihoods of a majority of the population. Despite decades of research and development investments, current agricultural innovation systems remain ineffective in supporting sustainable agricultural transformation.

OBJECTIVE

This study traces the evolution of innovation systems in Africa as a backdrop to the adaptation of on-farm experimentation (OFE), which is a novel framework for accelerating research and development (R&D) impact.

METHODS

A systematic review approach is augmented with social network analysis methods and primary and secondary data.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

We find that although current innovation systems have contributed to enhancing co-learning processes and have enabled the partial adoption of improved agronomic practices, resulting in increased nutrient uptake efficiency and crop productivity, several shortcomings have limited their impact. Despite their core focus on participatory and systemic R&D processes, our review points to their inability to effectively engage farmers. Hence, failing to generate scalable learning, and demonstrate sufficient value to farmers and other stakeholders. The OFE initiatives demonstrate how farmer-relevant insights integrated with field-based and digital evidence help spur a farmer-driven innovation development and decision support framework.

SIGNIFICANCE

OFE is potentially a powerful enabler of current innovation systems performance as it provides the platform for a transformative farmer-led innovation process.

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通过以农民为中心的研究提供营养管理影响：对非洲小农系统创新系统的系统审查

非洲农业部门的表现仍然落后于其他区域。目前玉米的平均产量为2吨每公顷，低于约6吨每公顷的全球平均水平。这种低生产率威胁到大多数人口的生计。尽管进行了数十年的研发投资，但目前的农业创新体系在支持可持续农业转型方面仍然无效。本研究以农场实验（OFE）的适应为背景，追溯了非洲创新系统的演变，这是加速研发（R&；D）影响的新框架。方法运用社会网络分析方法和第一手、第二手资料对系统评价方法进行扩充。结果与结论我们发现，尽管当前的创新系统有助于加强共同学习过程，并使改进的农艺实践得以部分采用，从而提高了养分吸收效率和作物生产力，但一些缺点限制了它们的影响。尽管他们的核心重点是参与性和系统性的研发过程，但我们的审查指出，他们无法有效地吸引农民。因此，未能产生可扩展的学习，并向农民和其他利益相关者展示足够的价值。OFE计划展示了与农民相关的见解如何与实地和数字证据相结合，有助于推动农民驱动的创新发展和决策支持框架。由于它为农民主导的变革性创新过程提供了平台，SIGNIFICANCEOFE可能是当前创新系统性能的强大推动者。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Agricultural Systems 农林科学-农业综合

CiteScore

13.30

自引率

7.60%

发文量

174

审稿时长

30 days

期刊介绍： Agricultural Systems is an international journal that deals with interactions - among the components of agricultural systems, among hierarchical levels of agricultural systems, between agricultural and other land use systems, and between agricultural systems and their natural, social and economic environments. The scope includes the development and application of systems analysis methodologies in the following areas: Systems approaches in the sustainable intensification of agriculture; pathways for sustainable intensification; crop-livestock integration; farm-level resource allocation; quantification of benefits and trade-offs at farm to landscape levels; integrative, participatory and dynamic modelling approaches for qualitative and quantitative assessments of agricultural systems and decision making; The interactions between agricultural and non-agricultural landscapes; the multiple services of agricultural systems; food security and the environment; Global change and adaptation science; transformational adaptations as driven by changes in climate, policy, values and attitudes influencing the design of farming systems; Development and application of farming systems design tools and methods for impact, scenario and case study analysis; managing the complexities of dynamic agricultural systems; innovation systems and multi stakeholder arrangements that support or promote change and (or) inform policy decisions.