Food shortage in Sub-Saharan Africa is predominantly taken as a function of limited access to food, without considering nutritional quality. Analyzing households’ production of nutrients on farm across farming systems could be valuable in guiding intensification of those systems. An optimization model was employed to analyze the scenario of human nutrition and cropland allocation in Enset (Enset ventricosum)/root crop – based (Areka) or cereal-based (Ginchi) systems of Ethiopian highlands. The type and amount of nutrients produced in each system was analyzed and an optimization model was used to analyse, which cropping strategies may improve the nutritional quality of the household using the existing resources. Both production systems were in food deficit, in terms of quantity and quality, except for iron. Energy supply of resource-poor households in the enset/root crop-based system was only 75% of Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA), while resource-rich farmers covered their energy, protein, zinc, and thiamine demand. Extremely high deficiency was found in zinc, calcium, Vit A and Vit C, which was only 26.5, 34, 1.78 and 12 % of the RDA, respectively. The RDA could be satisfied if they expand the land area of enset, kale and beans by about 20, 10 and 40 %, respectively, at the expense of maize and sweet potato. The critical deficit of the cereal-based system was also calcium, Vit A, and Vit C, which was only 30, 2.5 and 2% of the RDA. In the cereal system, the RDA could be fully satisfied by reducing crop land allocated for barley by about 50% and expand the land area of faba beans, kale and enset. However, Ginchi farmers have better copying options than Areka farmers as they own more land and higher number of livestock that could be used as buffering assets. A shift from the cereal/root crop dominated system to a perennial-enset dominated system would decrease soil erosion by improving the crop factor by about 45 %. It also has a very strong positive implication for soil fertility management. However, any policy suggestion for change in cropland allocation should be done through bottom-up negotiations with households, communities and district stakeholders.
CIFOR-ICRAF s’attaque aux défis et aux opportunités locales tout en apportant des solutions aux problèmes mondiaux concernant les forêts, les paysages, les populations et la planète.
Nous fournissons des preuves et des solutions concrètes pour transformer l’utilisation des terres et la production alimentaire : conserver et restaurer les écosystèmes, répondre aux crises mondiales du climat, de la malnutrition, de la biodiversité et de la désertification. En bref, nous améliorons la vie des populations.
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CIFOR-ICRAF publie chaque année plus de 750 publications sur l’agroforesterie, les forêts et le changement climatique, la restauration des paysages, les droits, la politique forestière et bien d’autres sujets encore, et ce dans plusieurs langues. .
CIFOR-ICRAF a un impact fondé sur la science. Nous menons des recherches innovantes, renforçons les capacités de nos partenaires et engageons activement le dialogue avec toutes les parties prenantes, en apportant les dernières connaissances sur les forêts, les arbres, les paysages et les populations à la prise de décision au niveau mondial.
CIFOR-ICRAF s’attaque aux défis et aux opportunités locales tout en apportant des solutions aux problèmes mondiaux concernant les forêts, les paysages, les populations et la planète.
Nous fournissons des preuves et des solutions concrètes pour transformer l’utilisation des terres et la production alimentaire : conserver et restaurer les écosystèmes, répondre aux crises mondiales du climat, de la malnutrition, de la biodiversité et de la désertification. En bref, nous améliorons la vie des populations.
CIFOR–ICRAF achieves science-driven impact. We conduct innovative research, strengthen partners’ capacity and actively engage in dialogue with all stakeholders, bringing the latest insights on forests, trees, landscapes and people to global decision making.
CIFOR–ICRAF publishes over 750 publications every year on agroforestry, forests and climate change, landscape restoration, rights, forest policy and much more – in multiple languages.
CIFOR–ICRAF addresses local challenges and opportunities while providing solutions to global problems for forests, landscapes, people and the planet.
We deliver actionable evidence and solutions to transform how land is used and how food is produced: conserving and restoring ecosystems, responding to the global climate, malnutrition, biodiversity and desertification crises. In short, improving people’s lives.
