indigenous_soil_and_water_conservation_in_africa外文学习材料.pdfVIP

International Institute for GATEKEEPER SERIES No. 27 Environment and Development Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods Programme Indigenous Soil and Water Conservation in Africa CHRIS REIJ This Gatekeeper Series is produced by the International Institute for Environment and Development to highlight key topics in the field of sustainable agriculture. Each paper reviews a selected issue of contemporary importance and draws preliminary conclusions of relevance to development activities. References are provided to important sources and background material. The Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA) funds the series, which is aimed especially at the field staff, researchers and decision makers of such agencies. Chris Reij is at the Centre for Development of Cooperative Services, Vrije university, Van der Boechorstraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. GATEKEEPER SERIES NO. SA27 1 INDIGENOUS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION IN AFRICA Chris Reij Introduction Many parts of Africa are experiencing annual population growth rates between 2 and 4%, degradation of the natural resource base, recurrent droughts and a growing dependence on food aid as well as the import of cereals to cover food deficits. During the last two decades increasing financial outlays for agricultural research in Africa have neither produced significant breakthroughs nor led t