ABSTRACT
For most farmers of any continent, the immediate question about modern-day agriculture is not one of sustainability but of survival. Many scientists have become used to the term “farming systems”—which is finally understood by international agencies, donors and, most important, many governments. The actual transfer and adoption levels of all the research undertaken in sub-Saharan Africa is low. No more than one percent of African rural households use an improved crop variety. Most African households plant between six and eight varieties. If the post-harvest, nutritional, and garden factors are considered, today’s agriculture appears to be at the same stage in terms of sustainability as farming systems were about five years ago. The nutritional situation in Africa has not improved since the early 1970s.
