المنتدى العالمي المعني بالأمن الغذائي والتغذية

Dear All,

Good day!

Agroecological approaches are also good for development of new fertiliser materials. Value addition of fertilizers is primarily aimed at increasing the agronomic use efficiency. Value addition of N fertilizers is achieved by taking steps to enhance the efficiency of N from the fertilizer to plants. Slow release and controlled release N fertilizers are one class of such fertilizers. There is another class of value added fertilizers known as fortified fertilizers where micronutrients are made available to the plants by incorporating with or coating the micronutrients over the fertilizer itself. E.g. zincated urea, phosphor-gypsum coated urea, sulphur coated urea etc.

On other hand, Customized fertilizers are the fertilizers, which are catering to regional soil-crop-stage specific fertilizer requirements, can be called “Customized Fertilizers”. Customised fertilizers facilitate the application of the complete range of plant nutrients in the right proportion and to suit the specific requirements of a crop in different stages of growth, and are more relevant under site specific nutrient management practices.

A good information on nature and extent of major and micronutrient deficiencies in different soils, states, agroecological zones has been generated to demarcate such areas for adopting customized fertilizer application more precisely for amelioration of such multiple deficiencies.

With warm regards,

Pradip Dey

In a recent book chapter (Giller et al. 2017), we suggest that genetic engineering could be considered a powerful tool for agroecology - I quote "if we consider that agroecology is fundamentally about harnessing biology and biological processes then it could be argued that genetic engineering is one of the most powerful (potential) tools of agroecology".

As we argue, this clearly this depends on the traits concerned - not on the breeding technology per se. I think the HLPE should consider and debate this issue.

Giller, K.E., Andersson, J.A., Sumberg, J. & Thompson, J. (2017) A golden age for agronomy? Agronomy for Development (ed J. Sumberg), pp. 150-160. Earthscan, London.

Dear All,

Season's Greetings!

Agro-ecological zoning separates areas into the region at the apex level and agro-eco unit at the bottom. The agro-ecological region identifies the natural resources in terms of problems, potentialities and constraints and their extent with respect to land utilization types and groups them in uniform units. Digital database in GIS and application of logic through decision support system (DSS) further enhance the process and precession of agro-ecological delineation. The sub agro ecological regions are further subdivided into agro-ecological zones based on landforms, soil association and land use. The agro ecological zones have further taken down to sub zones depending on terrain characteristics, parent materials, soil texture, depth, salinity, surface and ground water potentiality and cropping pattern.

With warm regards,

PRadip Dey

Best Regards

From the Northeastern part of my Country Venezuela (Anzoategui State), since 10 years now we have been working with the socio-cultural innovativa vision of INTRODUCING THE "CHIVO" (GOAT), to the most favorable NEOTROPICAL SAVANNAS of our area.

I'm a Vet (Vnzla UCV1967), with USA (TxA&M1973) MSc on Animal Reprod and Genetics.... Retired Prof of Veterinary Faculty (UCV-Maracay). All my life a large Animal Vet-Practitioner, since my last 10 years as a "new dairy goat lover", learning as I work on a silvopastoral dairy goat syst at Anzoategui State "Mesas de Sabana Alta".

The last 2 years to improve the production traits of our mixed breed goats We have been working with a TECNIFIED (Horticultural) SINERGIC INTERCROP SYS that involves continuos small scale agricultural lots of Corn-Sweet Potatoe, for dual purpose alimentary use (human - animal).

Glad to be of any help

Mario H Burguera

Integrated Use of Phosphorus, Animal Manures and Biofertilizers Improve Maize Productivity under Semiarid Condition

Amanullah and Shah Khalid

ABSTRACT

Phosphorus unavailability and lack of organic matter in the soils under semiarid condition are the major reasons for low crop productivity. Field trial was conducted to investigate the impact of different animal manures (poultry, cattle, and sheep manures) and phosphorus levels (40, 80, 120, and 160 kg P2O5 ha−1) on yield and yield components of hybrid maize (CS-200) with (+) and without (−) phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) seed treatment at the Agronomy Research Farm of The University of Agriculture Peshawar, during summer 2014. Our results confirmed that the application of poultry manure significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased yield and yield components of maize. Phosphorus applied at the rate of 120 kg P2O5 ha−1 increased ear length, grains ear−1, and shelling percentage, while the highest rate of 160 kg P ha−1 increased grains weight, grain yield, and harvest index. Maize seeds treated with PSB (+) before sowing had produced higher yield and yield components than untreated seeds (−). We concluded from this study that combined application of 160 kg P2O5 ha−1 + poultry manure and seed treatment with PSB (+) could improve crop productivity and profitability under semiarid condition.+

Residual phosphorus and zinc influence wheat productivity under rice–wheat cropping system

Amanullah and Inamullah SpringerPlus (2016) 5:255

DOI 10.1186/s40064-016-1907-0

ABSTRACT

Continuous cropping of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) deplete soil fertility and crop productivity. One strategy to increase crop productivity under rice–wheat system is balanced application of crop nutrients. Field experiment was conducted to assess the impact of phosphorus (0, 40, 80, 120 kg P ha−1) and zinc (0, 5, 10, 15 kg Zn ha−1) on the productivity of rice genotypes (fine and coarse) and their residual effects on the grain yield (GY) and its components (YC) of the succeeding wheat crop under rice–wheat cropping system (RWCS) in North Western Pakistan during 2011–12 and 2012–13. After rice harvest in both years, wheat variety “Siren-2010” was grown on the same layout but no additional P, K and Zn was applied to wheat crop in each year. The GY and YC of wheat significantly increased in the treatments receiving the higher P levels (120 > 80 > 40 > 0 kg P ha−1) and Zn (15 > 10 > 5 > 0 kg Zn ha−1) in the previous rice crop. The residual soil P and Zn contents after rice harvest, GY and YC of wheat increased significantly under low yielding fine genotype (B-385) as compared to the high yielding coarse genotypes (F-Malakand and Pukhraj). The residual soil P and Zn, GY and of wheat increased significantly in the second year as compared with the first year of experiment. These results confirmed strong carry over effects of both P and Zn applied to the previous rice crop on the subsequent wheat crop under RWCS.

A la hora de pensar en la seguridad alimentaria, considero fundamental hacerlo con un enfoque de equidad de género, en todas las cuestiones agendadas. Es habitual que se considere la importancia de la mujer como productora de alimentos, como responsable de asegurar la alimentación de niños y niñas y trabajar en pos de la comunidad, sin considerar su acceso a derechos en forma equitativa, resultando en una sobrecarga de tareas (la triple jornada laboral de las mujeres rurales).

Otro tema fundamental en la agroecología es la importancia de la organización, considerar enel análisis las comunidades y sus organizaciones, especialmente al momento de pensar en la innovación tecnológca, ya que son actores fundamentales para crear, adaptar y modificar tecnologías.

El rol de las universidades, como formadoras de profesionales, es indispensable. Para ello, deben aportar a la SAN con otra mirada, entender que no son las únicas generadoras de conocimiento, para poder construir verdaderas innovaciones junto a las comunidade, de las cuales son parte. Deben poder aceptar otros saberes, compartirlos, y desde ahí generar verdaderas innovaciones y tecnologías.

There are two extremes views on sustinable production systems: Precision agriculture with chemicals and organic farming. Neither will solve the current and emerging problems of intensification of farming. We need to combine the best of both approaches and go ecological intensification of farming systems.

We need to differentiate between fertilizers and pesticides. All plants take up nutients in the elemental form irrespective of the sources -- organic manures or chemical fertilizer sources. If we use the fertilizers judiciously as per crop demand the ecological footprint will be minimal. Developing healthy crops with optimal inputs of quality seed, good crop establishment, and good water, nutirent and weed management will ensure minimal pest infestation. As such, we can minimize pest problems and pesticide use on intensive crop farming. If necessary, we can use bio-pesticides to control certain pests. Our aim should be to produce pesticide-free produce for our consumers.

These are hard questions and worth exploring through an innovation process lens. Organisations with a record of interventions to note are Practical Action. Issues are scale and the impacts of aspects outside the control of the agroecologist such as climate change, infrstructure and energy prices. Opportunities exist for low tech innovation but also high tech ones too, see CEH Crop Map and the NERC ASSIST programme.

Levels of economic autonomy have to be able to capture and use innovations and hence why I think the innovtion lens has much to offer this work

Best reagrds,

Nicholas

I was the CTA for the AbSS ( AgriBusinesS for Small holders) project in Kenya from 2011 to 2013. I did witness several new approaches with a dramatic impact on the local farmers which I would be more than happy to share. These innovations are concerning organization, technologies and access to finance.

Furthermore I am presently working on the project for the Reduction of Food Losses and Wastes in Tunisia as "Conseiller Technique International". Here alos there are some innovations which are starting to emerge which could be of interest to your topic.

Thanks for giving the opportunity to share all these experiences which may make a real difference in the future.

With my best regards