The processes of agricultural intensification will vary according to rainfall, type of soil, market access, relations between input prices and product prices and means available to farmers. Intensification may signify increased production per area unit or production per working hour, or both. The ladder for agricultural intensification which is presented here may be considered as a possible model of intensification. The use of organic and mineral fertilizer is presented here as a starting point for intensification of farming in the Sahel because the other technologies such as the new varieties have little impact if soil fertility is not improved. Thus, soil fertility is the foundation on which it is possible to build sustainable agriculture in the Sahel.

The process of intensification is comparable to climbing a ladder. On this ladder, the distances between the different steps are not the same, which means that some steps in the process of intensification of agriculture are more difficult than others. The process of intensification presented here is hypothetical, but it represents possible steps based on the means of the farmers. When one climbs one step, the steps climbed represent the foundation for climbing to another step. 

At the bottom of the ladder the farmers’ practices are found to be characterized by the use of fallow and limited use of organic inputs. Yields are low, in the order of 200 to 300 kg of grain/ha. The first step in agricultural intensification is the use of organic matter, as it is important to recycle as much organic matter as possible. It is recommended to use organic fertilizer in gardens and fields that are near homes because the transport of organic fertilizer to distant fields is a real challenge in terms of manpower and means of transport. The use of organic fertilizer may be combined with seed priming. In case of runoff (loss of water) it also becomes necessary to establish structures such as the zaï or stone bunds. An assisted regeneration of Faidherbia albida may also be one of the first steps of intensification. The regeneration of this tree will improve the quality of the soil and will facilitate access to fuel wood. The approaches proposed here as initial steps do not require capital, but considerable manpower.    

The third step in the process of intensification of agriculture is to apply 0.3 g of mineral fertilizer per pocket of millet, sorghum or cowpea. This low cost method helps increase agricultural yield without any need for additional manpower. 

The fourth step could be the application of 2 g of DAP or 6 g of NPK. This second fertilizer input may intervene around the first weeding if the water conditions of the soil are favourable. The application of 2 g of fertilizer per pocket is most appropriate for farmers who can normally afford to sell a portion of their grain harvest or those who have access to other sources of income such as the profits from the sale of animals or money transfers by migrant relatives. At this stage of intensification of agriculture, it is also interesting to increase the density of cowpea. The fodder produced by the cowpea coupled with increased millet grain and straw production due to fertilizer application constitutes an opportunity for intensification of livestock production through fattening and poultry farming. 

The fifth step consists in introducing agroforestry systems and cash crops. Important cash crops can be sesame and hibiscus. The Ecofarm system in the Sahel as proposed by ICRISAT is an example of an agroforestry system. This farm is composed of Acacia tumida rows distant from one another. Between the rows of Acia tumida trees of Ziziphus are planted. Annual crops such as millet, cowpea, and hibiscus are planted in rotation between tree rows.  

Certain farmers in the Sahel have already passed the steps presented in this ladder. These farmers have enough means and are cultivating cash crops by using advanced irrigation systems as in Europe. But for the majority of farmers in the Sahel, this type of agriculture is beyond reach.   

It is important to point out that the higher one climbs up the ladder, the more demanding the intensification becomes in terms of access to the market, manpower and capital requirements. It is difficult for farmers who are distant from the market or who have little means to participate in such an intensification. For such farmers, adopting just the first steps of intensification would be the only feasible option. An intensification which requires up to 0.3g of fertilizer does not necessitate the use of credit as very little fertilizer used. The use of 2 g of fertilizer per pocket is almost 7 times as demanding in terms of capital. Such method also doubles the manpower requirement at the time of planting. As a result, it is easier to climb the initial steps of intensification than the final ones.      

The initial steps of intensification of agriculture do not require profound changes in the production system as is the case with agroforestry. The introduction of agroforestry in the form of planting hedges and fruit trees such as the Ziziphus mauritania require another type of land management. It is particularly important to protect the trees against roaming animal. The adoption of the agroforestry system may increase farmers’ income, but it is difficult for a farmer to do it alone. This requires a community approach and the development of institutions in charge of land management. For this reason, the development of the agroforestry system is much more complicated than the initial steps of intensification.

Credit is not absolutely necessary if the technology is profitable. Farmers may sell a few goats or sheep in order to purchase inputs with the income from such sales. For the poorest groups, however, it might be necessary to contract a loan but the latter are reluctant to buy fertilizer on credit, as food security is their first priority 

The risks increase when moving up the ladder because of more use of inputs and more dependence on the market. These risks are addressed in the following chapter.  

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