This document summarizes the results of the Africa RISING SIMLEZA-AR project in Eastern Zambia, which evaluated sustainable intensification techniques for maize-legume systems. Key findings include: - Baby and mother conservation agriculture demonstrations reached over 800 and 28 farmers respectively across 7 agricultural camps. - Conservation agriculture techniques like minimum tillage and crop rotation led to increased maize and soybean yields compared to traditional ridge and furrow cultivation or continuous maize. - Maize yields after soybean rotation were higher than continuous maize, indicating crop rotation benefits. - Benefit-cost ratios showed that while sustainable intensification benefits vary by context, crop rotation helps mitigate downside risk.

1. Update on the Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume Systems
for the Eastern Province of Zambia-Africa RISING (SIMLEZA-AR)
Project
Walter Mupangwa
CIMMYT
Africa RISING East and Southern Africa Review and Planning Meeting, Malawi, 14-16 July 2015

2. Enhancing adoption of SIMLEZA-AR technologies

3. Field visits in February 2015
On site discussions with host farmers &
neighbors in each camp
On site discussions with host farmers &
neighbors in each camp

4. Baby CA demonstrations
4 drought tolerant maize varieties
under CA
Maize & cowpea rotation under CA Weed control using herbicides in
CA

5. • 827 farmers hosted
‘’Baby CA’’
demonstrations across 7
camps
• 28 farmers hosted
‘’Mother CA’’ trials
across 7 camps
Baby CA demonstrations in each agricultural camp (2014/15 season)

6. Print & Electronic media
Radio, TV & Newspaper journalists interviewed
researchers
• Times of Zambia &
The Post
newspapers
(article published
on 7 February
2015)
• Radio Breeze from
Chipata
• National Television
of Zambia
Radio, TV & Newspaper journalists interviewed
District Agricultural Co-ordinators
• Kuphindula ndi TLC radio program with Radio Breeze

7. Discussions with stakeholders in IPs
• Discussions aimed at addressing bottlenecks to technology adoption & use
• Meetings held: 20 November 2014 & 7 February 2015

8. 0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Vuu Mtaya kapara chanje
numberofpeople
Camps
Field Days attenandance
Men
Women

11. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Chanje Mtaya Vuu Kafumbwe
Labour demands under different practices in Eastern
Zambia
Ridge & furrow
Maize continuous
Dibble stick Maize
continuous
Dibble stick-
Maize/Cowpea intercrop
Dibble stick-
Maize -Cowpea rot

12. Maize Productivity under different CA and CV manual systems
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
2012/13 2013/14
yieldkg/ha
seasons
Kafumbwe
Ridge & furrow
Maize continuous
Dibble stick Maize
continuous
Dibble stick-
Maize/Cowpea intercrop
Dibble stick-
Maize -Cowpea rot
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
2012/13 2013/14
yieldkg/ha
seasons
Mtaya
Ridge & furrow
Maize continuous
Dibble stick Maize
continuous
Dibble stick-
Maize/Cowpea intercrop
Dibble stick-
Maize -Cowpea rot0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
5000
2012/13 2013/14
yieldkg/ha
seasons
Chanje
Ridge & furrow
Maize continuous
Dibble stick Maize
continuous
Dibble stick-
Maize/Cowpea intercrop
Dibble stick-
Maize -Cowpea rot
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
2012/13 2013/14
yieldkg/ha
seasons
Vuu
Ridge & furrow
Maize continuous
Dibble stick Maize
continuous
Dibble stick-
Maize/Cowpea intercrop
Dibble stick-
Maize -Cowpea rot

13. Maize productivity under different tillage practices (Mechanise system)
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
yieldkg/ha
seasons
Kawalala
CN Sole Maize
Ripper Maize
continuous
Ripper maize
soy rotation
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
2012/13 2013/14
yieldkg/ha
seasons
Hoya
CN Sole Maize
Ripper Maize continuous
Ripper maize soy rotation
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
2012/13 2013/14
yield/ha/kg
seasons
Kapara
CN Sole Maize
Direct Seeder Maize
continuous
Direct Seeder maize soy
rotation

14. Cumulative Distributions of Soybean Yields (2012-2015)
0
.2.4.6.8
1
Probability
27.69 260.1 492.51 724.92 957.33 1189.74
Soybean Yields (kg/ha)
Soybean (no inputs) Fertilized soybean
Inoculated soybeans Inoculated & fertilized soybeans

15. Cumulative Distributions of Maize-Soybean Rotation Benefits (2012-2015)
0
.2.4.6.8
1
-153.8 60.02 273.84 487.66 701.48 915.3
Gross value of production (US$)
Continous Maize Maize after soybean (no inoculants)
Maize after fertilized soybeans Maize after inoculated soybeans
Maize after fertlized & inoculated soybeans

16. Benefit Cost Ratios (Maize-Soybean Rotation)

17. Lessons
• SI technology benefits are context specific (state contingent)
• SI technology benefits are most apparent in down-side risk
mitigation

18. Adaption of SIMLEZA-AR technologies to farmer circumstances
• Timely weed management – Herbicide use, maintaining recommended
mulching levels, intercropping
• Variety choice ( Maize & legume) according to farmer circumstance,
seasonal quality and agro-ecological season
• Adapting CA principles to farmer circumstances
• Inoculation & rotation of maize and legumes to improve yields