Continued population growth, rapidly changing consumption patterns and the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation are driving limited resources of food, energy, water and materials towards critical thresholds worldwide. These pressures are likely to be substantial across Africa, where countries will have to find innovative ways to boost crop and livestock production to avoid becoming more reliant on imports and food aid. Sustainable agricultural intensification - producing more output from the same area of land while reducing the negative environmental impacts - represents a solution for millions of African farmers. This volume presents the lessons learned from 40 sustainable agricultural intensification programmes in 20 countries across Africa, commissioned as part of the UK Government's Foresight project. Through detailed case studies, the authors of each chapter examine how to develop productive and sustainable agricultural systems and how to scale up these systems to reach many more millions of people in the future. Themes covered include crop improvements, agroforestry and soil conservation, conservation agriculture, integrated pest management, horticulture, livestock and fodder crops, aquaculture, and novel policies and partnerships.

Originally published in 1984, this text was written as a guide to agricultural policy makers, planners and project managers in developing countries, particularly for those in the areas of programme formulation and implementation. Elements from successful agricultural and rural development plans have been selected. The work discusses the link between agricultural and overall planning, the various aspects of agricultural planning (including the usual components and deficiencies of plans, time horizons and scope of plans, and regional planning), and it concludes with brief look at the preparation of a plan and objectives for agricultural development.

A more integrated, harmonious, prosperous, and equitable Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) requires agriculture to be the lead contributing sector. Regional cooperation in the agriculture sector is guided by the Core Agriculture Support Program (CASP), which is implemented by the Working Group on Agriculture. Under CASP Phase I (2006-2010), GMS member countries expanded agriculture trading, resulting in sizable gains in the global market. The current CASP Phase II (2011-2015) addresses issues on expanding cross-border trade in agri-food products, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and promotion of inclusive supply chain to enhance food security.