Africa RISING Project: Local knowledge of farmers on constraints and opportunities to sustainable intensification of tree-crop-livestock mixed systems in Basona Woreda, Amhara region, Ethiopia

Conducted under the AfricaRISING project, the overall objective of the study was to characterize local knowledge of farmers about resources which their livelihood depends on in Basona woreda, Amhara region. This research is one of the several studies that are geared towards contributing to the achievement of sustainable tree-crop-livestock intensification as a pillar for the Ethiopian Climate Resilient Green Economy Initiative by providing opportunities for integrating early win tree species and management options in fields, farms and landscapes customized to local conditions and circumstances. Therefore, the main goal of the study was to identify opportunities through which trees-crop-livestock mixed system can be sustainably intensified to contribute towards achieving whole System Level Outcomes (SLO’s) namely: reducing rural poverty and promoting income diversification, improving food security, improving nutrition and health and ensuring sustainable management of natural resources. Specific objectives of the study were: 1. To assess land use and livelihood strategies at the household level 2. To identify and map out community resources 3. To determine temporal variation in availability of provisioning resources (livestock feed, crops, income, fuel, etc.) 4. To characterize existing tree cover and assess the drivers of land use/ tree cover change 5. To identify existing challenges and assess opportunities for sustainable intensification