Author Description

The aim of this book is to highlight some of the problems facing African farmers and to suggest some possible approaches toward solutions. The book focuses on the savanna zone since it is widely considered to be the zone of greatest risk of declining agricultural production at present, and parts of it have been severely affected by drought and food shortages. At the same time, parts of the savanna receiving adequate rain have large potential for expansion of agricultural production. The book begins with an introduction on African farming and the breakdown of traditional farming systems. It then describes the African savanna and its bioclimatic zones. Later chapters analyze information on selected farming systems in each zone to identify common features and differences from which lessons can be derived on possible improvements to the systems. Possible solutions are discussed in chapters on physical environment, farming systems, agricultural research, and future prospects.