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Integrated Crop Management Vol.10-2010 - Conservation Agriculture and Sustainable Crop Intensification in Lesotho

Year of publication 2010

Author Laura Silici;Plant Production and Protection Division

Category Technical book

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Lesotho is a small mountainous country characterized by extensive land degradation and erratic climatic conditions. In recent years a growing number of development agencies have been promoting conservation agriculture (CA) as a means to enhance rural livelihoods through sustainable production intensification. The present case study prepared under the AGP Framework for Sustainable Crop Production Intensification draws on the data collected by FAO in 2006 and illustrates the impact o f CA and more specifically the local version of CA, the likoti-system, on sustainable crop intensification in the south-eastern highlands of Qacha’s Nek district and in the western lowlands of Butha-Buthe and Berea. According to these data, the adoption of likoti has brought about significant advantages compared to conventional tillage. The case study is directed to decision makers influencing national policies from a technical background, the development and environmental comm unities as well as readers interested in sustainable agriculture. It proves the case that Conservation Agriculture is also successfully being practiced in Africa and that it can be done even without external inputs.

Language English

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