Sustainable Intensification of Mixed Farming Systems Initiative, Ethiopia Baseline Data

"The Sustainable Intensification of Mixed Farming Systems (SI-MFS) Initiative targets the sustainable intensification of farming on approximately 2.5 billion hectares globally focusing on seven mixed farming systems in Africa and Asia. These are: Cereal–root-crop-based mixed system (West Africa, Ghana), Highland crop-livestock mixed farming systems (East Africa, Ethiopia), Maize-based mixed farming system (Southern Africa, Malawi), Rice-based mixed farming system (South Asia, Bangladesh), Highland mixed farming system (South Asia, Nepal), Upland intensive mixed farming system (Southeast Asia, Laos), Highland extensive mixed farming system (Southeast Asia, Laos). Mixed farming systems (MFS) play a crucial role, providing 75% of milk, 60% of meat, and 41–86% of cereals consumed in the developing world. Livestock in MFS serves multiple purposes, from draft power and manure for crop cultivation to providing additional income during unfavorable crop years. MFS offer advantages such as risk diversification, efficient labor use, and cash access, allowing farmers to add value to products. However, these systems face challenges from various sources, including population growth, urbanization, water scarcity, soil degradation, climate change, shifting food consumption patterns, and price volatility. These challenges deepen resource access inequalities, leading to conflicts and migration, particularly affecting women, youth, and marginalized actors. While local knowledge aids adaptation to challenges, the speed of changes often surpasses farmers' capacity. Sustainable intensification (SI) emerges as a solution, balancing the need to feed growing populations with environmental conservation. SI requires integrated systems research to establish resilient and scalable MFS, preserving natural capital and providing equitable benefits. Existing research focuses on individual components but lacks a holistic understanding of the biophysical and socio-economic interactions within MFS. This knowledge gap undermines development interventions aimed at sustainable intensification. The Sustainable Intensification of Mixed Farming Systems (SI-MFS) Initiative seeks to bridge these gaps and create gender-transformative pathways for 1.5 million male and female actors in seven prioritized MFS by 2024. This initiative aims to achieve measurable impacts on livelihoods, food security, and environmental health, especially for women, youth, and marginalized farmers. Over a three-year period, the initiative outlines specific outcomes and targets, including the transition of key actors towards SI, the adoption of a systems approach by partners, the development and validation of SI options through participatory processes, and the widespread adoption of gender-transformative innovation packages. The initiative also envisions the establishment of a global virtual institute for SI of MFS and regional scaling hubs to promote capacity building and mainstream MFS thinking and gender-transformative approaches. The ultimate goal is to address the complex challenges facing MFS, ensuring sustainable intensification at a global scale."