South Africa

Research Priorities

Increasing the profitability and sustainability of livestock farming systems

The livestock research priority is designed to develop livestock production and value-chain systems capable of providing opportunities for smallholder farmers to meet market requirements and raise awareness of product quality, human nutrition and sustainability imperatives. Livestock management is identified as an important source of farm-level diversification for smallholder farmers in South Africa and elsewhere in the region. With population growth and increasing urban demand for meat, the pressure for intensification adds to the need for improved smallholder livestock–crop systems to achieve sustainability and productivity gains. As demand for quality meat increases, the research tests novel approaches to animal health and the integration of legume and other nutrient management strategies into crop and pasture systems. Approaches are needed for communities to manage their land and enhance livestock production. The final important research theme for these projects is improved linkages between farmers and the private agribusiness sector.

Intensification and diversification of mixed farming systems

This research area applies systems and participatory approaches to improve farming systems productivity of mixed farming systems in countries of northern, eastern and southern Africa. In eastern and southern Africa, research can identify socioeconomic, commercial and climatic drivers in selected farming systems and associated value chains. The project will then test local innovation and learning platforms for accelerated scaling out of new maize and legume varieties and sustainable management technologies. The release, multiplication and distribution of improved maize and legume varieties will be supported. In northern African dryland cereal systems and improved no-till equipment will be tested; and in irrigated systems, participatory research and extension techniques will be supported and improved on-farm water management methods will be investigated. In all regions the constraints to intra-regional trade spillovers will be identified, and capacity building will be supported in all projects.