Conservation agriculture and smallholder farming in Africa: The heretics' view

Abstract

This paper critically analyzes the claims of successful conservation agriculture adoption (CA). CA is said to increase yields, to reduce labor requirements, improve soil fertility and reduce erosion. Yet, according to the authors the empirical evidence is not clear and consistent on many of those points. In sub-Saharan Africa the available evidence suggests virtually no uptake of CA. The authors conclude with a need for critical assessment of the ecological and socio-economic conditions for which CA is best suited.