Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Adoption of an improved fallow practice using Acacia auriculiformis on the Batéké Plateau in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • Published:
Agroforestry Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An improved fallow agroforestry practice, that involves planting Acacia auriculiformis trees to accelerate soil fertility recovery, was taught to 306 farmers in Mampu agroforestry zone on the Batéké Plateau in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from 1995 to 2001. Our study (1) assessed the principal factors that determined the continued application of this practice by farmers; and (2) identified the benefits and constraints perceived by those farmers who adopted the practice two decades ago. We applied a mixed approach that combined quantitative as well as qualitative evaluation. First, a multiple linear regression model was constructed based on a survey of 121 farmers that adopted the new practice. We subsequently conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 adopters. The regression models identified that the availability of labour, based on the number of household members working in the fields, best explained the continued use of the improved fallow practice (P = 0.0898). In the interviews, revenue from the sale of charcoal and improvement in crop yields were cited as key benefits of improved fallow, while the lack of nurseries for tree production and the problems of access to water were the main drawbacks mentioned by adopters. The study results identify the principal factors influencing the adoption of this practice, as well as the perception of farmers; this information can be used to guide the dissemination of improved fallow practice to other communities on the Batéké Plateau landscape.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ajayi OC, Franzel S, Kuntashula E, Kwesiga F (2003) Adoption of improved fallow technology for soil fertility management in Zambia: empirical studies and emerging issues. Agrofor Syst 59(3):317–326

    Google Scholar 

  • Ajayi OC, Place F, Kwesiga F, Mafongoya P (2007) Impacts of improved tree fallow technology in Zambia. International Research on Natural Resource Management: Advances in Impact Assessment CABI Wallingford. UK and Science Council/CGIAR, Rome, pp 147–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Atangana A, Khasa D, Chang S, Degrande A (2014) Tropical agroforestry. Springer, Netherlands, pp 150–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Bannister ME, Nair PKR (2003) Agroforestry adoption in Haiti: the importance of household and farm characteristics. Agrofor Syst 57(2):149–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Bisiaux F, Peltier R, Muliele JC (2009) Plantations industrielles et agroforesterie au service des populations des plateaux Batéké, Mampu, en République démocratique du Congo. Bois et forêts des tropiques 301:21–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Bisiaux F, Dubiez E, Ilanga-Lofonga J, Lebou L, Diowo S, Lufungula S, Mbono-Wakambo S, Louppe D, Marien J-N, Freycon V, Peltier R (2013a) Les plantations agroforestières d’Acacia auriculiformis de Mampu, un système agroforestier innovant. In: Marien J-N, Dubiez E, Louppe D, Larzillière A (eds) Quand la ville mange la forêt: Les défis du bois-énergie en Afrique centrale. Quae, Versailles, pp 136–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Bisiaux F, Diowo S, Lufungula S, Mbono-Wakambo S, Mafinga J-P, Matungulu P, Lebou L, Dubiez E, Dominique L, Marien J-N (2013b) Réintroduire l’arbre dans le système cultural: succès et difficultés de l’agroforesterie villageoise. In: Marien J-N, Dubiez E, Louppe D, Larzillière A (eds) Quand la ville mange la forêt: Les défis du bois-énergie en Afrique centrale. Quae, Versailles, pp 149–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Boissezon PD (1965) Les sols de savane des plateaux Batéké. Cahiers ORSTOM. Série Pédologie 3(4):291–298

    Google Scholar 

  • De Wolf J, Niang A, Jama B, Amadalo B (2000) Fallows in Western Kenya. Fallows Trop Afr 1:6–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Duvigneaud P (1949) Voyage botanique au Congo belge: à travers le Bas-Congo, le Kwango, le Kasaï et le Katanga. De Banana à Kasenga. Bulletin De La Société Royale De Botanique De Belgique 81(1/2):15–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster AD, Rosenzweig MR (1995) Learning by doing and learning from others: human capital and technical change in agriculture. J Polit Econ 103(6):1176–1209

    Google Scholar 

  • Foucart T (2006) Colinéarité et régression linéaire. Mathématiques et sciences humaines. Math Soc Sci 173(1):5–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Fouladbash L, Currie WS (2015) Agroforestry in Liberia: household practices, perceptions and livelihood benefits. Agrofor Syst 89(2):247–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Franzel S (1999) Socioeconomic factors affecting the adoption potential of improved tree fallows in Africa. Agrofor Syst 47(1–3):305–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao J, Barbieri C, Valdivia C (2014) A socio-demographic examination of the perceived benefits of agroforestry. Agrofor Syst 88(2):301–309

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerkens M, Kasali L (1988) Productivité des peuplements d’Acacia auriculiformis sur le plateau des Bateke au Zaïre. Tropicultura 6(4):171–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghadim AKA, Pannell DJ (1999) A conceptual framework of adoption of an agricultural innovation. Agric Econ 21(2):145–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Gnahoua GM, Nguessan KA, Balle P (2014) Les jachères de légumineuses arborescentes: sources potentielles de bois énergie et de service en Côte d’Ivoire. J Appl Biosci 81(1):7290–7297

    Google Scholar 

  • Harmand JM, Njiti CF, Bernhard-Reversat F, Puig H (2004) Aboveground and belowground biomass, productivity and nutrient accumulation in tree improved fallows in the dry tropics of Cameroon. For Ecol Manag 188(1):249–265

    Google Scholar 

  • Jerneck A, Olsson L (2013) More than trees! Understanding the agroforestry adoption gap in subsistence agriculture: insights from narrative walks in Kenya. J Rural Stud 32:114–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Jose S (2009) Agroforestry for ecosystem services and environmental benefits: an overview. Agrofor Syst 76(1):1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabwe G, Bigsby H, Cullen R (2016) Why is adoption of agroforestry stymied in Zambia? Perspectives from the ground-up. Afr J Agric Res 11(46):4704–4717

    Google Scholar 

  • Keil A, Zeller M, Franzel S (2005) Improved tree fallows in smallholder maize production in Zambia: do initial testers adopt the technology? Agrofor Syst 64(3):225–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerkhof P (1991) Agroforesterie en Afrique. L’Harmattan, Paris, pp 14–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Khasa PD, Vallée G, Bousquet J (1994) Biological considerations in the utilization of Racosperma Auriculiforme and Racosperma Mangium in Tropical Countries with emphasis on Zaïre. J Trop For Sci 6(4):422–443

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiptot E, Hebinck P, Franzel S, Richards P (2007) Adopters, testers or pseudo-adopters? Dynamics of the use of improved tree fallows by farmers in western Kenya. Agric Syst 94(2):509–519

    Google Scholar 

  • Kürsten E (2000) Fuelwood production in agroforestry systems for sustainable land use and CO2-mitigation. Ecol Eng 16:69–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Lele BN, Kachaka SC, Lejoly J (2015) Effet de la fertilisation minérale, de l’étêtage du manioc et des légumineuses à graines sur le rendement du manioc en culture associée et sur les propriétés d’un Arénoferralsols à Kinshasa/RDC. Revue Scientifique et Technique Forêt et Environnement du Bassin du Congo 4:46–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Meijer SS, Catacutan D, Ajayi OC, Sileshi GW, Nieuwenhuis M (2015) The role of knowledge, attitudes and perceptions in the uptake of agricultural and agroforestry innovations among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Int J Agric Sustain 13(1):40–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercer DE (2004) Adoption of agroforestry innovations in the tropics: a review. Agrofor Syst 61(1–3):311–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Mwase W, Sefasi A, Njoloma J, Nyoka BI, Manduwa D, Nyaika J (2015) Factors affecting adoption of agroforestry and evergreen agriculture in Southern Africa. Environ Nat Resour Res 5(2):148–157

    Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (2002) Tropical legumes: resources for the future. The Minerva Group, Inc., New York, pp 165–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Nsombo BM, Lumbuenamo RS, Lejoly J, Aloni JK, Mafuka PM-M (2016) Caractéristiques des sols sous savane et sous forêt naturelle sur le plateau des Batéké en République démocratique du Congo. Tropicultura 34(1):87–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Papy L (1949) Les populations Batéké (Afrique Equatoriale Française). Cahiers d’outre-mer 2(6):112–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Pattanayak SK, Mercer DE, Sills E, Yang JC (2003) Taking stock of agroforestry adoption studies. Agrofor Syst 57(3):173–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Peltier R, Bisiaux F, Dubiez E, Marien J-N, Freycon V (2017) Agriculture sur brûlis de jachères à acacias: est-ce durable sur les sables du plateau Batéké, en République Démocratique du Congo? In: Roose E (ed) Restauration de la productivité des sols tropicaux et méditerranéens: contribution à l’agroécologie. IRD Editions, Marseille, pp 101–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Raintree JB (1986) Les voies de l’agroforesterie: Régime foncier, culture itinérante et agriculture permanente. FAO La revue internationale des forêts et des industries forestières. Unasylva 38(154):1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers EM (2003) Diffusion of innovations, 5th edn. The Free Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Roussy C, Ridier A, Chaïb K (2015) Adoption d’innovations par les agriculteurs: rôle des perceptions et des préférences. Working Paper SMART—LERECO N 15-03. INRA, Rennes, p 33

  • Sanchez PA (1999) Improved fallows come of age in the tropics. Agrofor Syst 47(1–3):3–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Schure J, Ingram V, Assembe-Mvondo S, Mvula-Mampasi E, Inzamba J, Levang P (2013) La filière bois-énergie des villes de Kinshasa et Kisangani (RDC). In: Marien J-N, Dubiez E, Louppe D, Larzillière A (eds) Quand la ville mange la forêt: Les défis du bois-énergie en Afrique centrale. Quae, Versailles, pp 27–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Shomba SK, Mukoka FN, Olela DN, Kaminar TM, Mbalanda W (2015) Monographie de la ville de Kinshasa 2015, seconde édition. CRDI, UKAID, Kinshasa, pp 40–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Torquebiau E (2007) L’agroforesterie: Des arbres et des champs. Harmattan, Paris, pp 100–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Wanlin P (2007) L’analyse de contenu comme méthode d’analyse qualitative d’entretiens: une comparaison entre les traitements manuels et l’utilisation de logiciels. Res Qual 3(3):243–272

    Google Scholar 

  • WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) (2019) Batéké Plateaux Landscape. https://congo.wcs.org/wild-places/bateke-plateaux.aspx. Accessed Nov 17 2019

  • WRB (World Reference Base) (2006) World Reference Base for soil resources 2006, 2nd ed. World Soil Resources Report No. 103, FAO, Rome

  • Young A (1997) Agroforestry for soil management (No. Ed. 2). CAB International, p 320

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank the farmers of Mampu who made this study possible. Special thanks to Mr. Raoul Mbambi, coordinator of UFAM (Farmers Association of Mampu). The authors would like to thank Dr Marie Coyea (Department of Wood and Forest Sciences, Laval University) who translated the manuscript from French to English and provided comments on the draft manuscript. Our research did not receive any specific funding from public, commercial or not-for-profit funding agencies. Etienne Kachaka Yusufu however received funding from the laboratories of Professors Damase Khasa and Alison Munson as well as financial support from his father, Professor Kachaka Sudi Kaiko.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Wood and Forest Sciences, Center of Forest Research, Faculty of Forestry, Geography and Geomatics, Université Laval, 2405 de la Terrasse, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada

    Étienne Yusufu Kachaka, Alison D. Munson & Damase Khasa

  2. Department of Wood and Forest Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, Geography and Geomatics, Laval University, 2405 de la Terrasse, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada

    Nancy Gélinas

Authors
  1. Étienne Yusufu Kachaka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alison D. Munson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nancy Gélinas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Damase Khasa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Étienne Yusufu Kachaka.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

None.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix

Appendix

Quantitative analysis

Survey 1

  1. 1.

    Sex: Male, female

  2. 2.

    Age:

  3. 3.

    Education (training): Yes, No

  4. 4.

    Marital Status: Married (In a relationship) (1) or single (0)

  5. 5.

    Since when have you settled in Mampu as a farmer? (Number of years)

  6. 6.

    What is the size of your household? (Number of persons in the family)

  7. 7.

    How many people in your household work in the fields?

  8. 8.

    Do you hire other collaborators? Yes (1) or No (0)

  9. 9.

    If yes, how many collaborators

  10. 10.

    Do you own your land? Yes (1) or Non (0)

  11. 11.

    Do you employ hired labour? Yes (1) or No (0)

    If yes, how many persons?

  12. 12.

    How much would you estimate your annual farm income? (Number of bags of cassava, number of bags of corn)

  13. 13.

    How much would you estimate your annual fuelwood income? (Number of bags of charcoal)

  14. 14.

    How much would you estimate your annual income from honey sales? (Number of bottles of honey or number of litres)

  15. 15.

    Do you have a secondary activity outside agriculture (farming)? Yes (1) or No (0)

  16. 16.

    Do you have good access to a market for the flow of your productions? Yes (1) or No (0)

  17. 17.

    Do you practice breeding? Yes (1) or No (0)

  18. 18.

    Do you benefit from material assistance for the realization of your agricultural activities? Yes (1) or No (0)

Qualitative analysis

Survey 2

  1. 1.

    Sex: Male, female

  2. 2.

    Age:

  3. 3.

    Education (training): Yes, No

  4. 4.

    Marital status: Married (In a relationship) or single

  5. 5.

    What is the size of your household?

  6. 6.

    What does improved fallow represent to you?

  7. 7.

    (Expected response: perception (understanding) of improved fallow)

  8. 8.

    Is improved fallow a way for you to generate more income?

  9. 9.

    Is improved fallow a way to organize your farming activities?

  10. 10.

    Is improved fallow a useful or unnecessary occupation of your land?

  11. 11.

    Is improved fallow a way to produce honey or charcoal?

  12. 12.

    Does improved fallow represent extra work or investment?

  13. 13.

    What crop rotations do you make?

  14. 14.

    Do you use other tree species than Acacia auriculiformis?

  15. 15.

    What are the spacings used during your Acacia auriculiformis plantings?

  16. 16.

    When do you decide to harvest the trees? (at what age?)

  17. 17.

    Do you have a marketing channel for wood, cassava or honey?

  18. 18.

    Is your wood sold as charcoal?

  19. 19.

    Is wood processing difficult or expensive?

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kachaka, É.Y., Munson, A.D., Gélinas, N. et al. Adoption of an improved fallow practice using Acacia auriculiformis on the Batéké Plateau in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Agroforest Syst 94, 1047–1058 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-019-00474-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-019-00474-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation