A Quantitative Appraisal of Selected Agroforestry Studies in the Sub-Saharan Africa
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Date
2022
Authors
Muthee, Kennedy
Duguma, Lalisa
Majale, Christine
Mucheru-Muna, Monicah
Wainaina, Priscilla
Minang, Peter
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cell Press
Abstract
The multiple ecosystem services and livelihood assets development challenges facing the world, including climate
change, land degradation, and high poverty levels, have necessitated cross-cutting solutions. Such includes
agroforestry technologies, where trees are integrated with crop and pasture lands to yield multiple ecosystem
goods and services. Though an ancient approach to land management, agroforestry faces a modern and urgent
demand for expansion to counter ecosystems-livelihoods imbalances in most regions across the globe. This paper
sought to synthesize the dynamics and characteristics of agroforestry technologies in sub-Saharan Africa by
adopting the systematic review approach. Eighty-six (86) agroforestry studies were reviewed, analysing variables
such as the dominant agroforestry technologies, production systems, types of studies, and ecosystem services
generated by different agroforestry technologies. It established that majority of the agroforestry studies are
multiple (undefined) in nature at 36%, have moderately changed over the years, the dominant agroforestry study
type is journal articles (59%), and they are mostly scientific in nature (57%). Further, income generation was the
dominant provisioning service (31%), greenhouse gas emission reduction was the main regulatory service (31%),
and soil fertility management was the key support service. Tradeoffs associated with agroforestry technologies,
including increased deforestation rates, tree-crops competition, increased pests and diseases, and potential food
insecurity due to reduced crop production were also identified. Barriers to agroforestry such as insecure land
tenure systems and inadequate research development are discussed. Pathways towards increased agroforestry
technologies adoption, such as creating a conducive institutional and policy environment, as well as developing
business support services for agroforestry-related goods and services were identified. The study reiterates the need
for increased agroforestry technologies adoption to create the ecosystems-livelihoods balances, with sufficient
measures to minimize the potential tradeoffs.
Description
Article
Keywords
Agroforestry, Climate change, Ecosystem services, Livelihoods, Nature-based solutions, Sub-Saharan Africa, Systematic review
Citation
Muthee, K., Duguma, L., Majale, C., Mucheru-Muna, M., Wainaina, P., & Minang, P. (2022). A quantitative appraisal of selected agroforestry studies in the Sub-Saharan Africa. Heliyon.