Ex-ante adaptation strategies for climate challenges in sub-Saharan Africa: Macro and micro perspectives

Several studies predict that climate change will highly affect the African continent. These changes in climate and climate variability may be challenging issues for future economic development of the continent in general, and particularly in the region of sub Saharan Africa. Offering a case study of Sahelian zone of Mali in the present study aimed to understand farmers’ perceptions of climate variability and change and to evaluate adaptation options used by farmers in the Cinzana commune of Mali. One hundred and nineteen farmers were interviewed using a questionnaire designed with six sections. The result showed that all farmers interviewed were aware of climate change and climate variability. The Farmers perceived a decrease in annual rainfall variability and an increase of temperature as main factors of climate change and climate variability. The observed meteorological data, showed a decrease of precipitation distribution during the last 14 years of which was observed by farmers. Several strategies such as selling animals, use of improved crop varieties, new activities (outside agriculture) and credit were the commonly preferred adaptation strategies to deal with climate change and variability. Factors surveyed, age, gender, education, household size, farm size were found to be significantly correlated to self-reported to adaptation.

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Ex-ante profitability of animal traction investments in semi-arid Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Niger and Nigeria

Agricultural Systems ◽

10.1016/0308-521x(93)90018-w ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 43 (3) ◽

pp. 323-349 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Hans G.P. Jansen

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Ex Ante ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Semi Arid

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

10.31235/osf.io/6tvm9 ◽

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

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Agriculture and food systems in sub-Saharan Africa in a 4 ° C+ world

Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences ◽

10.1098/rsta.2010.0246 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 369 (1934) ◽

pp. 117-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 208

Author(s):

Philip K. Thornton ◽

Peter G. Jones ◽

Polly J. Ericksen ◽

Andrew J. Challinor

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Systems ◽

Agricultural Development ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Commodity Price ◽

Adaptation Strategies ◽

Policy Support ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Agriculture And Food

Agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa faces daunting challenges, which climate change and increasing climate variability will compound in vulnerable areas. The impacts of a changing climate on agricultural production in a world that warms by 4 ° C or more are likely to be severe in places. The livelihoods of many croppers and livestock keepers in Africa are associated with diversity of options. The changes in crop and livestock production that are likely to result in a 4 ° C+ world will diminish the options available to most smallholders. In such a world, current crop and livestock varieties and agricultural practices will often be inadequate, and food security will be more difficult to achieve because of commodity price increases and local production shortfalls. While adaptation strategies exist, considerable institutional and policy support will be needed to implement them successfully on the scale required. Even in the 2 ° C+ world that appears inevitable, planning for and implementing successful adaptation strategies are critical if agricultural growth in the region is to occur, food security be achieved and household livelihoods be enhanced. As part of this effort, better understanding of the critical thresholds in global and African food systems requires urgent research.

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Ex-ante assessment of different vaccination-based control schedules against the peste des petits ruminants virus in sub-Saharan Africa

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0190296 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. e0190296 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Pachka Hammami ◽

Renaud Lancelot ◽

Joseph Domenech ◽

Matthieu Lesnoff

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Peste Des Petits Ruminants ◽

Ex Ante ◽

Sub Saharan

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In-Situ Adaptation and Coastal Vulnerabilities in Ghana and Tanzania

The Journal of Environment & Development ◽

10.1177/1070496519852992 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 282-308 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jeasurk Yang ◽

Victor Owusu ◽

Edo Andriesse ◽

Austin Dziwornu Ablo

Keyword(s):

Adaptation Strategies ◽

Coastal Development ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Environmental Pressures ◽

Socioeconomic Vulnerability ◽

Coastal Fisheries ◽

The Face ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Study Sites

Coastal fisheries communities in sub-Saharan Africa are under high socioeconomic vulnerability in the face of environmental pressures. This article contributes to the current adaptation debate by revisiting the benefits of in-situ adaptation. We assess possible in-situ adaptation strategies amid ongoing vulnerabilities by comparing Ghana and Tanzania. A total of 441 household surveys were conducted in four study sites. The major findings of the study are as follows: First, the three major in-situ adaptation strategies are regular changes of nondestructive fisheries techniques, alternative occupations, and collective action. Second, all three strategies have a significant relationship with income change. Finally, the communities in Tanzania utilized all three strategies more and performed better economically than those in Ghana. On the basis of these insights, we suggest implications of in-situ adaptation for future coastal development in sub-Saharan Africa.

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