The Malawi agricultural extension system is severely constrained and the existing extension network is grossly inadequate for effective information dissemination to farmers. The usefulness of Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology to reach farmers with agronomic advisory was examined for two consecutive maize cropping seasons. This pilot work provides insight into the opportunities and pitfalls of employing IVR in agricultural technology dissemination. 

Previous efforts to mitigate the negative impacts of submergence on rice production have focused mainly on varietal improvement. Synergistic effects of submergence-tolerant rice varieties and appropriate fertilizer management strategies are critical to enhance resilience of rice to submergence. 

A case is made for an innovation system framework that integrates farmer-centric and systemic approaches to scaling plant nutrition innovations for positive transformation of cereal cropping systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. A case study from Ethiopia helps to build the case.

Smallholder farmers have faced a myriad of constraints that collectively act to limit the effectiveness of scarce fertilizer input resources. Case study examples provided from the Ethiopian Highlands provide a means to discuss key interventions that can help raise nutrient use efficiency across fields with varying responsiveness to fertilizer application.

Resource-constrained systems need strategies that focus on striking a balance Regenerative Agriculture is taking the world by storm! Civil society, agribusiness, farmers, NGOs, multinationals—and increasingly researchers—are aligning around this new paradigm. But what is Regenerative Agriculture? What does it mean for the way we produce our food and for agricultural research in Africa? 

Resource-constrained systems need strategies that focus on striking a balance between maintaining SOC above a critical value to ensure high agronomic fertilizer use efficiency and avoiding accumulations of nutrients to levels that prevent viable nutrient use efficiency. 

The balanced and efficient use of fertilizers is critical for improving food security, reducing malnutrition and protecting biodiversity in Africa. The next Africa Fertilizer Summit must result in concrete targets, commitments and actions by governments and industry to, within the next 10-20 years, at least triple the nutrient input rates on cropland. Otherwise hunger and malnutrition will persist, and more natural ecosystems will be destroyed.