A comparative and systems approach to banana cropping systems in the Great Lakes region

Damme, J. van; Bouver, D. de; Dupriez, M.; Asten, Piet J.A. van; Baret, P.V.

A comparative and systems approach to banana cropping systems in the Great Lakes region

Autores

Editor

CAB International

Descripción

To explore the diversity and efficiency of smallholder farms, we developed an approach based on a comparative framework and a systems analysis, Five sites in three countries (Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo) were studied in parallel to take account of variations in agro-ecological and institutional conditions. In a systems-based perspective, we used a combination of quantitative (field measurements, economic valuation) and qualitative methods (semi-directed interviews) to capture the diverse nature of smallholder cropping systems. The novelty of the approach is that qualitative dimensions are included in the farm-level diagnostics, while maintaining a comprehensive and reproducible tool for systems analysis in terms of performance, constraints and drivers. The highest productivity in terms of annual revenue/ha was observed in the medium-sized farms (0.7-1.0 ha). It was also in this category that the number of crops cultivated was the greatest. Our hypothesis is that this high efficiency is the outcome of a system '\There productivity and risk management are optimized.