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AFRICA CONGRESS ON CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE

18 - 21 March | Lusaka, Zambia

1st Africa Congress on Conservation Agriculture

Conservation Agriculture: Building entrepreneurship and resilient farming systems
Conservation Agriculture (CA) has been spreading steadily in Africa in recent years as a response to the ever increasing food insecurity, unsustainable farming and climate change challenges. The CAADP process and the recently launched Climate Change Initiative by the COMESA, EAC and SADC are among many African initiatives that are working to improve food security in Africa. CA programmes provide climate smart options for African governments in addressing the food security situation. The use of CA technologies, which addresses both land and water management, and productivity issues, has the potential to minimize the impact of some of the major causes of food insecurity, thus contributing to the success of food security initiatives at national, regional and continental levels. Putting farmers at the centre of agricultural innovation and development is considered one of the effective ways towards sustainable production intensication. To support the farmer-centred CA adoption, the First African Congress for Conservation Agriculture (1st ACCA) intends to bring together key CA stakeholders, including farmers and their organisations, from the continent to interact and co-own a permanent CA knowledge and information sharing platform that takes into account the needs of farmers, increased networking, partnerships and information sharing on CA.

WHAT IS CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE? Conservation Agriculture was developed as a response to the negative environmental consequences related to the use of the plough such as high rates of soil erosion (the US dust bowl), high energy demand in ploughing, reduced soil organic matter content, reduction in soil life and emission of CO2 (Aune 2012). Conservation Agriculture Conservation agriculture is based on three major principles (FAO 2011): 1. Continuous minimum mechanical soil disturbance (minimum tillage) 2. Permanent organic soil cover surface mulch 3. Diversication of crop species grown in sequences and/or associations OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE CONGRESS Share and Expose experiences and lessons and facilitate alliances to unblock hindrances to expanded and scaled-up adoption of conservation agriculture especially among the smallholder farming systems and related industry in Africa.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS I. Information/data/experiences and lessons highlighting issues and circumstances that (a) enhance, (b) hinder effective CA dissemination and adoption ii. Increased awareness and interest in CA even among those not directly interested and working in agriculture iii. Statement highlighting principle issues and areas of concern in widespread promotion/adoption of CA worldwide

iv. Congress Participants motivated to play their role (within their communities of practice) in the development and promotion of sustainable natural resource management linked to high yields v. Access to information that would help in future formal and informal contacts and liaison/partnership in promotions of CA. vi. Establishment of a permanent continental CA knowledge hub facilitating networking and information sharing on CA.

SUB-THEMES FOR PAPER SUBMISSION: 1. Growing more with less the future of sustainable intensication. 2. Weather proong agriculture - the adaption of farming practices to address climate variability and change. 3. CA for sustained wealth creation unlocking barriers to entrepreneurship along the value chains. 4. Food sovereignty integrated CA based systems and family farms. 5. Effective research and targeting strategies for enhanced CA adoption 6. Harnessing the power of collaboration networking, partnerships and communities of practice 7. Increasing CA adoption - how innovative technology, approaches, infrastructure support and policies can drive greater adoption of conservation agricultural systems.

PARTICIPATION CHARGES REGISTRATION FEES Every participant is required to pay USD 300 charged for early bird, by November 30th, 2013 and USD 400 thereafter (as from 1st December 2013). Registration fees cover conference materials, teas/ lunches and eld visit costs only EXHIBITION BOOTH Organizations and companies who wish to book exhibition booths and space are required to pay an additional fee of USD 1000.

To register & submit papers visit: www.act-africa.org

Important dates
Registration Opens Deadline of submission for Abstract Early-bird Deadline Paper submission Deadline Submission of reviewed and revised papers on-site registration Conference & Field Tour 1st July 2013

30th November 2013

30th November 2013 10th January 2014

2nd February 2014

17th March 2014

18th-21st March 2014

Norad

For more information contact: ACT Head Ofce: +254 20 807 6064 ACT Southern Africa Ofce: +263 712 236 768 Email: cacongress@act-africa.org helpdesk@act-africa.org

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL)