Dr. Mango is a Rural Development Sociologist specialized in agrarian transformation processes with an emphasis on small scale-farming, technology development and social change, endogenous development and rural livelihoods. His research work has focused on the following areas: socio-technical dimensions of maize, zero-grazing dairy farming and soil fertility (re)production in Western Kenya
This study underlines that development processes and more particularly technological change essen... more This study underlines that development processes and more particularly technological change essentially is non-linear. By focusing on two domains of agricultural production in Luoland i.e maize varieties and soil fertility aspects, the study show that both domains are identified as problematic and the actors involved commonly share this. However, as the thesis argues, this cannot be said of the proposed solutions, as these are heavily debated and claims made by one leads frequently to counterclaims by others. In other words, it is more accurate here to talk of knowledge conflicts, encounters and claims, rather than a consensus situation. In analysing these encounters, processes of knowledge production and exchange in the breeding and selection of maize varieties and ways of reproducing soil fertility were explored in detail. To explore these issues further, the recent literature on technology development and technological change provided some theoretical and methodological clues and guidelines. The study has elaborated the various socio-technical networks through which maize spread in Luoland and the regimes that sustained them. It shows that most farmers in Luoland today produce maize from the regime based on the mass selection of local maize, rather than the maize generated by modern hybrid and open pollinated variety breeding techniques. Farmers argue that the myth of the superiority of hybrids no longer holds for them. In exploring the complexities of soil fertility and the strategies to enhance it, the study reveals that farmers have developed soil fertility management strategies of their own that correspond to what we call here the niche or 'hidden novelties' within the socio-technical landscape. These niches operate independently of the predominant hybrid maize and fertiliser regime. These social processes constitute the cores of the socio-technical niches that have emerged over time in Luoland.
Mutuo, P., Desta, L., Winowiecki, L., Kihara, J. and Mango, N. 2012. Catalogue of tested crop, so... more Mutuo, P., Desta, L., Winowiecki, L., Kihara, J. and Mango, N. 2012. Catalogue of tested crop, soil, and water management options in target areas of Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia. Presented at the Africa RISING East and Southern Africa Research Review and Planning Meeting, Arusha, Tanzania, 1-5 October 2012. Cali, Colombia: CIAT.
While there is growing discussion and dialogue about climate change and agriculture, relatively l... more While there is growing discussion and dialogue about climate change and agriculture, relatively little analysis and focus has been put on climate change and food systems. A narrower focus on climate change and agriculture, which is often associated with production, limits the ability to pursue a broad range of mitigation and adaptation strategies that support necessary system-level changes. Adopting a food systems perspective for climate change mitigation and adaption will be critical to addressing GHG emissions and to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This paper maps out how kinship relations and customary law of the Luo of Western Kenya at presen... more This paper maps out how kinship relations and customary law of the Luo of Western Kenya at present mediate people’s social relationships and attributes regarding land. Kinship relations represent what may be called general organizing principles of social life, or an ideology, and are interpreted here as intertwined with customary law. Customarily, land is regarded as being the inalienable property of the clan, to be inherited according to lineage membership. Fieldwork has revealed, however, that land issues are often surrounded by conflict and confusion. This can be partly explained by the fact that customary land tenure arrangements have been reshaped over the years by the introduction of private land ownership, which dates back to the colonial period, and more specifically to the Swynnerton Plan implemented since the 1950s. Land, customarily belonging to a lineage and given in usufruct to a lineage member, is now formally individual property. It is registered, and title deeds are issued according to modern state land laws. This has opened doors for the sale and the acquisition of land outside the realm of customary law, but if the ‘owner’ wishes to sell the land he still needs the consent of the council of village elders. Thus, a situation has evolved whereby customary and private land tenure arrangements are welded into the way the Luo deal with land, understand land issues and resolve conflicts over land. Currently, land conflicts take place in arenas where the two different systems of land tenure form the background for different positions and interpretations.
Conservation agriculture is promoted as a green technology that enhances the productivity and foo... more Conservation agriculture is promoted as a green technology that enhances the productivity and food security of farmers. However, there is limited evidence from practising farmers regarding these expected outcomes. This study evaluates the impact of conservation agriculture on the productivity of maize and food security outcomes among smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. The propensity score-matching approach was used to estimate the impact. The data is based on a 2013 survey of 488 households. Conservation agriculture, largely defined by the use of planting basins, had a positive and significant (p < 0.05) impact on maize grain yield (ATT = 473 kgha-1), with the magnitude more pronounced among female-headed households (ATT = 515.53 kgha-1). The increased grain production extended the households' grain self-provision period by 1.14 months for the pooled sample, and by a slightly longer period of 2.89 months for the female-headed sample. The study concludes that conservation agricu...
A large body of research has explored opportunities to mitigate climate change in agricultural sy... more A large body of research has explored opportunities to mitigate climate change in agricultural systems; however, less research has explored opportunities across the food system. Here we expand the existing research with a review of potential mitigation opportunities across the entire food system, including in pre-production, production, processing, transport, consumption and loss and waste. We detail and synthesize recent research on the topic, and explore the applicability of different climate mitigation strategies in varying country contexts with different economic and agricultural systems. Further, we highlight some potential adaptation co-benefits of food system mitigation strategies and explore the potential implications of such strategies on food systems as a whole. We suggest that a food systems research approach is greatly needed to capture such potential synergies, and highlight key areas of additional research including a greater focus on low- and middle-income countries i...
This study underlines that development processes and more particularly technological change essen... more This study underlines that development processes and more particularly technological change essentially is non-linear. By focusing on two domains of agricultural production in Luoland i.e maize varieties and soil fertility aspects, the study show that both domains are identified as problematic and the actors involved commonly share this. However, as the thesis argues, this cannot be said of the proposed solutions, as these are heavily debated and claims made by one leads frequently to counterclaims by others. In other words, it is more accurate here to talk of knowledge conflicts, encounters and claims, rather than a consensus situation. In analysing these encounters, processes of knowledge production and exchange in the breeding and selection of maize varieties and ways of reproducing soil fertility were explored in detail. To explore these issues further, the recent literature on technology development and technological change provided some theoretical and methodological clues and guidelines. The study has elaborated the various socio-technical networks through which maize spread in Luoland and the regimes that sustained them. It shows that most farmers in Luoland today produce maize from the regime based on the mass selection of local maize, rather than the maize generated by modern hybrid and open pollinated variety breeding techniques. Farmers argue that the myth of the superiority of hybrids no longer holds for them. In exploring the complexities of soil fertility and the strategies to enhance it, the study reveals that farmers have developed soil fertility management strategies of their own that correspond to what we call here the niche or 'hidden novelties' within the socio-technical landscape. These niches operate independently of the predominant hybrid maize and fertiliser regime. These social processes constitute the cores of the socio-technical niches that have emerged over time in Luoland.
Mutuo, P., Desta, L., Winowiecki, L., Kihara, J. and Mango, N. 2012. Catalogue of tested crop, so... more Mutuo, P., Desta, L., Winowiecki, L., Kihara, J. and Mango, N. 2012. Catalogue of tested crop, soil, and water management options in target areas of Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia. Presented at the Africa RISING East and Southern Africa Research Review and Planning Meeting, Arusha, Tanzania, 1-5 October 2012. Cali, Colombia: CIAT.
While there is growing discussion and dialogue about climate change and agriculture, relatively l... more While there is growing discussion and dialogue about climate change and agriculture, relatively little analysis and focus has been put on climate change and food systems. A narrower focus on climate change and agriculture, which is often associated with production, limits the ability to pursue a broad range of mitigation and adaptation strategies that support necessary system-level changes. Adopting a food systems perspective for climate change mitigation and adaption will be critical to addressing GHG emissions and to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This paper maps out how kinship relations and customary law of the Luo of Western Kenya at presen... more This paper maps out how kinship relations and customary law of the Luo of Western Kenya at present mediate people’s social relationships and attributes regarding land. Kinship relations represent what may be called general organizing principles of social life, or an ideology, and are interpreted here as intertwined with customary law. Customarily, land is regarded as being the inalienable property of the clan, to be inherited according to lineage membership. Fieldwork has revealed, however, that land issues are often surrounded by conflict and confusion. This can be partly explained by the fact that customary land tenure arrangements have been reshaped over the years by the introduction of private land ownership, which dates back to the colonial period, and more specifically to the Swynnerton Plan implemented since the 1950s. Land, customarily belonging to a lineage and given in usufruct to a lineage member, is now formally individual property. It is registered, and title deeds are issued according to modern state land laws. This has opened doors for the sale and the acquisition of land outside the realm of customary law, but if the ‘owner’ wishes to sell the land he still needs the consent of the council of village elders. Thus, a situation has evolved whereby customary and private land tenure arrangements are welded into the way the Luo deal with land, understand land issues and resolve conflicts over land. Currently, land conflicts take place in arenas where the two different systems of land tenure form the background for different positions and interpretations.
Conservation agriculture is promoted as a green technology that enhances the productivity and foo... more Conservation agriculture is promoted as a green technology that enhances the productivity and food security of farmers. However, there is limited evidence from practising farmers regarding these expected outcomes. This study evaluates the impact of conservation agriculture on the productivity of maize and food security outcomes among smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. The propensity score-matching approach was used to estimate the impact. The data is based on a 2013 survey of 488 households. Conservation agriculture, largely defined by the use of planting basins, had a positive and significant (p < 0.05) impact on maize grain yield (ATT = 473 kgha-1), with the magnitude more pronounced among female-headed households (ATT = 515.53 kgha-1). The increased grain production extended the households' grain self-provision period by 1.14 months for the pooled sample, and by a slightly longer period of 2.89 months for the female-headed sample. The study concludes that conservation agricu...
A large body of research has explored opportunities to mitigate climate change in agricultural sy... more A large body of research has explored opportunities to mitigate climate change in agricultural systems; however, less research has explored opportunities across the food system. Here we expand the existing research with a review of potential mitigation opportunities across the entire food system, including in pre-production, production, processing, transport, consumption and loss and waste. We detail and synthesize recent research on the topic, and explore the applicability of different climate mitigation strategies in varying country contexts with different economic and agricultural systems. Further, we highlight some potential adaptation co-benefits of food system mitigation strategies and explore the potential implications of such strategies on food systems as a whole. We suggest that a food systems research approach is greatly needed to capture such potential synergies, and highlight key areas of additional research including a greater focus on low- and middle-income countries i...
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Papers by Nelson Mango