scholarly journals The value of climate-resilient seeds for smallholder adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 162 (3) ◽  
pp. 1213-1229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar J. Cacho ◽  
Jonathan Moss ◽  
Philip K. Thornton ◽  
Mario Herrero ◽  
Ben Henderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Climate Shocks

Abstract Climate change is threatening food security in many tropical countries, where a large proportion of food is produced by vulnerable smallholder farmers. Interventions are available to offset many of the negative impacts of climate change on agriculture, and they can be tailored to local conditions often through relative modest investments. However, little quantitative information is available to guide investment or policy choices at a time when countries and development agencies are under pressure to implement policies that can help achieve Sustainable Development Goals while coping with climate change. Among smallholder adaptation options, developing seeds resilient to current and future climate shocks expected locally is one of the most important actions available now. In this paper, we used national and local data to estimate the costs of climate change to smallholder farmers in Malawi and Tanzania. We found that the benefits from adopting resilient seeds ranged between 984 million and 2.1 billion USD during 2020–2050. Our analysis demonstrates the benefits of establishing and maintaining a flexible national seed sector with participation by communities in the breeding, delivery, and adoption cycle.

scholarly journals Exploring the concept of place in the literature on smallholder farmers and climate change adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Tetteh Quarshie
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Place Meaning ◽  
Rural Livelihood ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Climate Shocks

This critical review paper expands on the meaning of place. It opens a new narrative on how the geographic concept of place is conceptualized in smallholder farmers and climate change adaptation literature in Sub-Saharan Africa. The review suggested that place is not only the 'where' of a location but a location geographically connected and interdependent to illustrate how smallholder farmers' experiences in adapting to climate shocks interact with global efforts such as improving food security, eliminating poverty and building sustainable rural livelihood. Through the various climate change adaptation strategies exhibited by different farmer groups, the paper demonstrated that people in places have the agency to make choices that control their destinies irrespective of whatever global force overwhelms them. The paper argues sense of place expressed through ecological place meaning shapes people's intuition, beliefs, actions and experiences as illustrated by smallholders' perception of the determinant and barriers to effective adaptation strategies. The ecological place meaning also influences the 'glocalization' of climate impact on agroecological-based livelihoods at different locations and how maladaptive outcomes are perceived. Place gives people identity by (re)shaping actions and experiences and vice versa. There is an undeviating relationship between power, place and people's experience. Further exploration of the relationship between lifeworld experiences, people, and power is central in understanding the meaning of place to smallholder farmers and climate change interaction

scholarly journals The Implications of Extreme Weather Events for Attaining the Sustainable Development Goals in Sub-Saharan Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel N. A. Codjoe ◽  
D. Yaw Atiglo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sub Saharan

Sub-Saharan Africa is among the regions that contribute least to global climate change, yet it is among the most vulnerable to its impacts due to low levels of economic and technological development. The frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events in the region are rising at a faster rate than the population capacity to deal with the attendant disasters. This paper interrogates some emerging and existing evidence of the potential for extreme weather events to obviate countries' attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Whilst previous studies have assessed the vulnerabilities of sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries to extreme weather events on specific sectors, a comprehensive assessment of the implications of these extreme events for attaining the SDGs remains largely untouched. This paper assesses the impacts of flooding, extreme heat and drought on five key SDGs—Zero hunger (Goal 2), Good health and well-being (Goal 3), Quality education (Goal 4), Clean water and sanitation (Goal 6), and Sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11). Based on empirical cases from different SSA country contexts, and guided by the SDG targets and indicators, we discuss the main interactions between extreme weather events and different SDGs, emerging with a framework for the climate change—sustainable development nexus. Such an assessment, with regard to specific national and local case studies, would inform policy formulation and implementation, research and investment toward sustainable development in the region. Integrating resilence strategies into national development policies will offer sub-Saharan African countries the opportunity to reduce the impacts of extreme weather events on attaining their targets for sustainable development towards Agenda 2030.

scholarly journals Assessing the Climate Resilience of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): A Metric-Based Approach

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1205
Author(s):  
Douglas Sono ◽  
Ye Wei ◽  
Ying Jin
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Cape Verde ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Climate Resilience ◽  
Resilience Index ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Negative Impacts

The impacts of climate change have resulted in the emergence of resilience as the de factor framework for countries seeking to capture the differential and uneven ability to prepare, react, respond and cope with volatile and rapid changes of climate-related stresses. Despite being considered by many researchers the most vulnerable region to the negative effects of climate change, the climate resilience of Sub-Saharan Africa has not been extensively studied. Using countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) as a study area, this paper constructed a pragmatically based resilience metric called the composite national climate resilience index (CNCRI) that can be used as a tool for the policy word. The inherent variables used to construct the CNCRI were justified and used to measure the resilience of countries in SSA based on five different dimensions. The result indicates that the CNCRI score, 1.05 (least resilient) to 44.8 (most resilient), and the island countries of Mauritius, Seychelles, and Cape Verde are comparatively more resilient than the rest of the countries in the study area. Regionally, Southern Africa is more resilient compared to East, West, and Central Africa. The vulnerability and readiness metric suggested that Cape Verde is the only country in SSA to have low vulnerability and high readiness, while most countries have high vulnerability and low readiness, making them the least resilient countries needing urgent mitigation and adaptation actions. Lastly, finding from this study could provide the policy world with insight for improving the overall ability to prepare and respond to the negative impacts of climate in the study area.

scholarly journals Soil Nutrients and Maize Yields Responses to Agroforestry Tree Post-fallows Management in Tanzania

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent G. Vyamana ◽  
Shabani A.O. Chamshama ◽  
Samora Macrice Andrew
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Degraded Land ◽  
Agricultural Technologies ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Continuous Maize ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Agriculture forms a backbone of many countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) thus has the potential to contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, agriculture in the SSA is characterized by low production due to soil fertility depletion. Use of appropriate low input agricultural technologies may increase production and benefit smallholder farmers through increased productivity in already degraded land. A field experiment was established to assess tree coppice intercropping of Albizia harveyi and Albizia versicolor for soil fertility and maize yield improvements in Morogoro, Tanzania. Tree fallows of A. versicolor aged three years increased significantly soil organic Carbon, Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium. Yields of maize grain, cobs and stover in maize fields intercropped with A. versicolor were significantly higher than those with A. harveyi. Fields with continuous maize cropping had the least yields of grain, cobs and stover. The studied agroforestry tree species are recommended for rotational woodlots and short rotation coppice systems to enhance agricultural productivity for achieving SDGs.

scholarly journals Climate Change and the Future Heat Stress Challenges among Smallholder Farmers in East Africa

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 753
Author(s):  
Genesis Tambang Yengoh ◽  
Jonas Ardö
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
General Circulation Models ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Critical Element ◽  
Critical Periods ◽  
The Future ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

Agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa remains dependent on high inputs of human labor, a situation associated with direct exposure to daylight heat during critical periods of the agricultural calendar. We ask the question: how is the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) going to be distributed in the future, and how will this affect the ability of smallholder farmers to perform agricultural activities? Data from general circulation models are used to estimate the distribution of WBGT in 2000, 2050 and 2100, and for high activity periods in the agricultural calendar. The distribution of WBGT is divided into recommended maximum WBGT exposure levels (°C) at different work intensities, and rest/work ratios for an average acclimatized worker wearing light clothing (ISO, 18). High WBGTs are observed during the two periods of the East African. In February to March, eastern and coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania witness high WBGT values—some necessitating up to 75% rest/hour work intensities in 2050 and 2100. In August to September, eastern and northern Kenya and north and central Uganda are vulnerable to high WBGT values. Designing policies to address this key challenge is a critical element in adaptation methods to address the impact of climate change.

scholarly journals Determinant factors of climate change adaptation by pastoral/agro-pastoral communities and smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-321
Author(s):  
Habtamu Taddele Menghistu ◽  
Amanuel Zenebe Abraha ◽  
Girmay Tesfay ◽  
Gebrehiwot Tadesse Mawcha
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Determinant Factors ◽  
Sub Saharan

Purpose The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the determinant factors of climate change adaptation (CCA) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Design/methodology/approach Studies that focused on determinant factors of CCA by crop–livestock farmers and pastoralists in SSA and written in English were reviewed from five major databases using the applications of Endnote and NVivo. The review process followed a sequence of steps to reach into the final selection. Findings A total of 3,028 papers were recovered from the databases and screened for duplicates (777) and publications before 2000 (218). The titles and abstracts of 2,033 papers were reviewed, and 1,903 of them were excluded owing to preliminary exclusion criteria. Finally, 130 papers were selected for full-text review and more detailed assessment, where 36 papers qualified for the final review. The most important determinant factors of CCA by pastoralists were household income, access to information, access to extension services, government support and access to market. In the case of agro-pastoralists, access to information, household income, age and land/livestock ownership were found as the major determinant factors. Household income, land ownership, access to information, farm size, household size and access to extension services were the determinant factors found for CCA by smallholder farmers. Research limitations/implications This systematic review identified the major determinant factors according to production systems and highlights the importance of considering specific factors in designing CCA strategies. Originality/value After clearly stating the research question, a literature search was conducted from the major databases for climate-related research, and a comprehensive search was performed by two independent researchers.

scholarly journals Efficiency and possibilities for Arabica coffee-banana management systems switching in the Mt. Elgon landscape of Uganda

1970 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-439
Author(s):  
C. Sebatta ◽  
J. Mugisha ◽  
F. Bagamba ◽  
E.A. Nuppenau ◽  
S.E. Domptail ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Or Efficiency ◽  
Arabica Coffee ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sub Saharan

Sustainably intensifying rural agricultural systems is now a development goal that has gained momentum in the recent decades due to a rapidly growing population and feeds directly into the Sustainable Development Goals of ending poverty and hunger. By 2050, the world will be inhabited by 10 billion people, 68% of whom will be city dwellers which will pose serious food and livelihoods security threats to millions of people, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to analyse technical efficiency of four production systems in Arabica coffee-banana farming system of the Mt. Elgon in Uganda and assesses possibilities for switching from one system to another. The study was motivated by the notion that smallholder farmers do not easily adopt new systems because of opportunity costs related to input substitution, input and/or efficiency reduction and systems redesigning. We estimated a production function to measure technical efficiency and ordered the intensification pathways to create a Technical Efficiency (TE) gradient. An ordered logit model was then estimated to determine the factors influencing farmers to switch among systems, by adopting one or more following a TE gradient. Results showed that farmers produced 50% of the maximum possible Arabica coffee output, indicating huge gaps between actual and potential yields. Use of fertiliser for the lowest efficiency. Low-input-low-output pathway and improved coffee genotypes, manure and labour intensification for the higher technical efficiency clusters such as conventional and mild agroecological would also significantly increase the chances of switching from low to highly efficient and sustainable Arabica coffee production systems in the Mt. Elgon watershed of Uganda.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document