Y1 Progress report | Judith Falola-Olasunkanmi

Resilient Cropping Systems for African Smallholders: Integrating Weed Management, Climate Adaptation, and Agronomic Innovations

My first year of the fellowship has been both professionally enriching and scientifically rewarding. The fellowship has provided an exceptional platform to develop my research, strengthen my technical capacity, expand my professional network, and advance climate-resilient agriculture for smallholder farming systems. The project has progressed from planning and experimental establishment to successful field implementation, comprehensive data collection, preliminary analysis, and preparation of scientific outputs. The research focuses on developing resilient maize–cowpea cropping systems that improve productivity while addressing challenges of weed infestation, pest pressure, and climate variability in the Guinea Savanna of Nigeria.

During the first year, all planned field experiments were successfully established at three representative locations in Kwara State: Asomu (Moro Local Government Area), Bala (Asa Local Government Area), and the University of Ilorin Teaching and Research Farm. The experiments were conducted using a split–split-plot design with four cowpea population densities, three maize varieties, three weed control methods, and three replications. The field trials were carefully managed throughout the cropping season, and comprehensive datasets were collected covering weed dynamics, crop growth, grain yield, pest incidence (particularly Fall Armyworm), and climatic variables.

In addition to the field experiment, extensive stakeholder engagement activities were undertaken with smallholder farmers and relevant agricultural stakeholders. These interactions enhanced the practical relevance of the research and ensured that the project remained aligned with farmers' production realities and local agricultural priorities. The relationships established with farmer groups have also laid a strong foundation for the stakeholder dissemination workshop and farmer handbook planned for the second year.

A major milestone achieved during the first year has been the successful completion of field data collection and the transition into data organisation and analysis. The datasets have been carefully structured according to the experimental design, ensuring consistency across treatments and replications and preparing the project for robust statistical analysis. Preliminary analyses have already revealed promising findings. Higher cowpea population densities consistently reduced weed biomass, demonstrating the potential of dense intercrop canopies to suppress weed growth naturally. Manual hoe weeding produced the lowest weed biomass across treatments, while intercropped plots showed lower Fall Armyworm incidence compared with sole cropping systems. These findings demonstrate the potential of integrated crop management strategies to simultaneously improve weed management and reduce pest pressure while supporting climate-resilient crop production.

Another significant achievement during the first year has been the strengthening of the climate component of the research. Initially, the project relied on long-term climate records already available for the study area. However, since my current placement at Future Africa, University of Pretoria, under the ARUA Early Career Research Fellowship, I have had more opportunities to interact with my FAR-LeaF mentor. Through his support and professional network, I was introduced to researchers at the University of Pretoria's Hatfield Campus, which led to a valuable research collaboration. This collaboration has provided access to an additional 44-year climate dataset comprising rainfall, maximum temperature, and minimum temperature records. The availability of these data represents a significant enhancement to the project, allowing for more comprehensive long-term climate analyses and strengthening the scientific quality of the research. I am currently harmonising these climate datasets with the existing project data to improve the robustness of the final analyses and increase the publication potential of the research outputs.

This year has also been highly productive in terms of research dissemination and professional development. I presented aspects of the research at the International Conference hosted by Debark University in Ethiopia, which provided an opportunity to share emerging findings with an international audience and receive valuable scholarly feedback. The project has also generated strong publication outputs. The first manuscript, focusing on climate variability, drought stress, and crop system resilience, has been substantially developed and is being refined for submission to a peer-reviewed journal after its withdrawal from the conference due to scheduling constraints. A second manuscript examining the adoption of resilient cropping systems among smallholder farmers is nearing completion and is undergoing internal review. These manuscripts represent important milestones in translating research findings into scientific knowledge.

Beyond research outputs, the Programme has made a profound contribution to my professional growth. The fellowship has significantly enhanced my visibility as an early-career researcher and provided opportunities to expand my academic network and strengthen my research capacity. I believe the experience, mentorship, and exposure gained through FAR-LeaF contributed significantly to my successful selection for the ARUA Early Career Research Fellowship at the University of Pretoria. Through the fellowship, I have been privileged to participate in numerous seminars, lectures, workshops, and interdisciplinary discussions with leading researchers from across Africa. These engagements have broadened my understanding of sustainable food systems, encouraged interdisciplinary thinking, and strengthened my ability to approach agricultural research from multiple perspectives.

I am currently undertaking specialised training in policy report writing, which is enhancing my capacity to translate scientific evidence into policy-relevant recommendations for decision-makers and development practitioners. Throughout the year, I have benefited immensely from the guidance of both my supervisor and my FAR-LeaF mentor. Their technical advice, constructive feedback, and continuous encouragement have significantly improved the quality of my research, strengthened my scientific writing, and expanded opportunities for collaboration and professional development.

Although security challenges continued to affect parts of Kwara State during the reporting period, appropriate planning and risk management ensured they did not adversely affect the project's successful implementation. All major first-year milestones were achieved as planned.

Over the past 12 months, my understanding of transdisciplinary research has evolved significantly. At the beginning of the fellowship, I viewed my research primarily through an agronomic lens, focusing on enhancing maize–cowpea production by improving weed management, climate resilience, and sustainable cropping systems. However, through the fellowship, I have come to appreciate that addressing complex agricultural challenges requires integrating knowledge, expertise, and experience from multiple disciplines and actively involving stakeholders beyond academia.

The project combines field experimentation, farmer engagement, and climate analysis to generate practical, evidence-based recommendations that can support sustainable agricultural production under changing climatic conditions. My research has involved continuous interaction with smallholder farmers, agricultural extension stakeholders, climate scientists, academic researchers, and policy-oriented professionals. Working with farmers has helped me understand that scientific recommendations must be practical, locally relevant, and responsive to the realities faced by farming communities. Their experiences and indigenous knowledge have complemented the scientific findings from field experiments, providing valuable insights into the opportunities and constraints of adopting climate-resilient cropping systems.

Looking ahead to the second year, the project will focus on completing statistical analyses, publishing research findings in peer-reviewed journals, conducting stakeholder dissemination activities, and developing a farmer handbook that translates the research findings into practical recommendations for smallholder farmers. Continued financial support will be important for implementing these planned dissemination activities and maximising the project's impact.

Overall, the project has progressed from concept to evidence generation, producing high-quality datasets, establishing strong stakeholder relationships, strengthening international collaborations, and generating promising scientific findings. With additional climate datasets, expanded collaborations, and ongoing capacity development, the project is well-positioned to deliver meaningful scientific contributions and practical solutions that support climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable food systems in Nigeria and beyond.

Annual report submitted by Dr Judith Falola-Olasunkanmi

(summarised for publication by Heidi Sonnekus for the FAR-LeaF Programme)