Government organizations need to serve farmer clients in more interdisciplinary and participatory ways Re-orient agriculture and rural development programmes to promote and nurture active participation of farmers and their organizations Target the production chain: GAP-LWM productivity + food quality  markets  health and nutrition Participatory research and support services to facilitate transition from conventional agriculture to GAP-LWM Restructure inappropriate macro-economic and agricultural policies Adopt policies that promote and enforce sustainable and productive land and water use through GAP protocols Protect the integrity of agricultural families – land tenure, build on indigenous knowledge, promote youth in agriculture, reduce labour/drudgery Adjust legislation to facilitate initiatives of local groups adopting GAP (help meet their needs)

1. Best Practices in Land and Water Management by José R. Benites, FAO Land and Water Development Division (AGL) for FAO Workshop on GAPs, October 2004

3. Integrated systems approaches Soil biological management Soil moisture management - WHC Soil physical + chemical management Farmer benefits of Integrated land management Human management of the landscape and ecosystem Tied ridges, mulch, cover crops, etc Soil life and OM (crop species; roots, rotations) Soil tillage, fertilizers, manure, lime Reliable yield & quality

5. Objective: Sustainable and Productive Land Use and Management Practices to work with farmers and decision makers Improving land quality, farming capacity and productivity & food and livelihood security to use multiple stakeholders approaches: linking farmer groups, extension, research, urban land owners/ herders, consumers, government, NGO, private sector

6. Suggested Norms for GAP Protocols in relation to land management COMPULSORY: 100 % OF NORMS SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED REQUIRED (MAJORS): 85% OF NORMS SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED SUGGESTED (MINORS): MUST BE ENCOURAGED AND SUPPORTED ALTHOUGH THEIR UPTAKE IS NOT COMPULSORY

14. Lessons for GAP work (8): Monitor using Visual Soil Assessment VSA score <10 (Poor condition): Pasture & crop performance is poor and production costs high. 20–45% decline in crop yield VSA score = 15 (Moderate condition): 10–15% decline in crop yields VSA score >20 (Good condition): Pasture + crop performance excellent, production costs low (provided climatic conditions, soil moisture, soil fertility, pest and plant diseases, etc. are non-limiting. soil structure and texture 1 3 20yrs Maize Williams – E2722760 N6095000 15 August 2001 Kairanga silty clay loam    0.5 1.5 1 2 1.5 3 0 0 1 2 1 1 2 4 16.5 

15. Lessons for GAP work (9): Land degradation Assessment - LADA 2. Establishment of a LADA Task Force 1. Identification of Land Degradation Problems and Users Needs Assessment 3. Stocktaking & Preliminary Analysis 5. Field Surveys & Participatory Assessment 7. Monitoring Strategies & Tools 6. Information Integration 4. Stratification & Sampling Strategy LADA Steps