Crop residues are a key livelihood resource in smallholder mixed crop-livestock systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. With expansion of arable land and resultant decline in grazing resources, crop residues are becoming an increasingly important component of livestock feeds. This demand for livestock feeds has implications for the long-term sustainability of such systems since failure to return biomass to soils has implications for soil quality and the capacity of soils to support long-term productivity.

The CPWF was designed to be different. Developed in response to a call for change in a previous round of Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) system

reform, the CPWF was intended to foster cross-CGIAR cooperation and find ways to bring in new partners. Over time the CPWF has successfully broadened the CGIAR’s sources of

innovative research on water and food. Through its broad partnerships, the program conducts research that leads to positive impact on the poor and to policy change. The CPWF does this by

This introductory section covers the period since the submission of the last Mid-Term

Plan until present, and concentrates on the following areas:

> Principal areas of progress.

> Developments in 2005 and early 2006.

> Changes to the CPMT strategic plan.

> Research achievement highlights.

> Program progress.

At this point – just under half way (two years and six months) in the implementation

of the first CPWF phase (and three-and-a-half years since inception began)

The research and development community faces the challenge of sustaining crop productivity gains, improving rural livelihoods and securing environmental sustainability in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). This calls for a better understanding of farming systems and of rural livelihoods, particularly with the advent of, and strong advocacy for, conservation farming and resource-conserving technologies.

The research and development community faces the challenge of sustaining crop productivity gains, improving rural livelihoods and securing environmental sustainability in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). This calls for a better understanding of farming systems and of rural livelihoods, particularly with the advent of, and strong advocacy for, conservation farming and resource-conserving technologies.