This book presents contemporary case studies of land use, management practices,
and innovation in Africa with a view to exploring how multifunctional land uses
can alleviate food insecurity and poverty.
Food security and livelihoods in Africa face multiple challenges in the form of
feeding a growing population on declining land areas under the impacts of climate
change. The overall question is what kind of farming systems can provide resilient
livelihoods? This volume presents a selection of existing farming systems that
demonstrate how more efficient use of land and natural resources, labour and other
inputs can have positive effects on household food security and livelihoods. It
examines how aquaculture, integrated water management, peri-urban
farming
systems, climate-smart
agriculture practices and parkland agroforestry contribute
multiple benefits. Drawing on case studies from Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and
Burkina Faso, contributed by young African scientists, this book provides a unique
perspective on multifunctional land use in Africa and illustrates how non-conventional
uses can be profitable while promoting social and environmental
sustainability. Tapping into the global discussion on land scarcity and linking food
security to existing land use change processes, this volume will stimulate readers
looking for diversified land uses that are compatible with both household and
national food security ambitions.
This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of African development,
agriculture, food security, land use and environmental management, as well
as sustainable development more generally, in addition to policymakers and practitioners
working in these areas.