Agro-ecological Intensification of Agricultural Systems in the African Highlands

With growing population and food security risks, there is an urgent need to increase sustainable agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. This book addresses the issue of agricultural intensification in the humid highland areas of Africa. Its framework is built on the activities carried out during the last six years in the Great Lakes Region through the Consortium for Improving Agriculture-based Livelihoods in Central Africa, but expanded to include views and contributions from the international scientific community, particularly Europe, North America and Australia. In addition to introductory and synthesis chapters, the book focuses on four themes: system components required for agricultural intensification; the integration of components at the system level; drivers for adoption of technologies towards intensification; and the dissemination of complex knowledge. It provides case studies of improved crop and soil management for staple crops such as cassava and bananas, as well as examples of how the livelihoods of rural people can be improved.