Increasing Production from the Land

Edited by Andrew Coulson, Antony Ellman, and Emmanuel Mbiha. This volume tackles the central question of how African agriculture can meet growing population pressure and the impact of climate change. Production from the land must be intensified, soil fertility enhanced, forests and water resources conserved, and land use practices made sustainable over the long term. The book starts with a brief guide to what plants and animals need to grow well, how farmers currently use the land, and the research being conducted on new agricultural technologies. A comparison of small and large farms shows that small farmers, properly serviced, can be as productive or more so than larger operations. Subsequent chapters discuss land tenure, pastoralism, training, the importance of women farmers, access to finance, markets, value chains, and contract farming. Closes with twelve policy proposals for African agriculture’s future.