Drought-tolerant Varieties as an Adaptation Strategy in the Context of Climate Change: Insight from Maize Production Systems in Benin

Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension Economics & Sociology ◽

10.9734/ajaees/2019/v37i430287 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Mohamed Nasser Baco

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Food Security ◽

Crop Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Value Chains ◽

Maize Production ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Agro Ecological Zones

Previous studies suggested that maize is set to become a cash crop while ensuring food security better than any other crop. However, climate change has become one of the key production constraints that are now hampering and threatening the sustainability of maize production systems. We conducted a study to better understand changes here defined as adaptations made by smallholder farmers to ensure food security and improve income through maize production in a climate change context. Our results show that maize farmers in northern Benin mainly rely on traditional seeds. Drought as abiotic stress is perceived by farmers in many agro-ecological zones as a disruptive factor for crop production, including maize. When drought is associated with pest damages, both the quantity (i.e. yield) and the quality (i.e. attributes) of products/harvests are negatively affected. The adverse effects of drought continue to reduce production in different agro-ecological zones of the country, because of the lack of widespread adoption of tolerant varieties. The study suggests actions towards the production of drought-tolerant maize seeds, a promotion of seed companies, the organization of actors and value chains. Apart from climate change, the promotion of value chains is also emerging as one of the important aspects to take into account to sustain maize production in Benin.

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Analysis of smallholder farmers’ vulnerability to climate change and variability in south Wollo, north east highlands of Ethiopia: An agro-ecological system-based approach

10.21203/rs.3.rs-106882/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yimer Mohammed ◽

Kindie Tesfaye ◽

Menfese Tadesse ◽

Fantaw Yimer

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Adaptive Capacity ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Scale Level ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Micro Scale ◽

Climate Change And Variability ◽

North East ◽

Agro Ecological Zones

Abstract Background: Climate change and variability has been significantly affecting the Ethiopian agricultural production and thereby smallholder farmers livelihoods. The level of vulnerability varied across agro-ecological zones (AEZs). Identification of difference in the level of vulnerability of a system is important in selecting appropriate and effective adaption options to climate change. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the level of vulnerability of agricultural communities to climate change and variability at micro-scale level in five agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of south Wollo, north east highlands of Ethiopia. Data was collected from a representative of 502 sample households from five AEZs through multi stage random sampling methods. Focus group discussion and key informant interviews were also carried out to supplement and substantiate the quantitative data. The indicator based approach was used to empirically calculate vulnerability. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to give weight for indicators and generate index of vulnerability contributing factors. Results: The results showed that each of the vulnerability contributing factors (exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity) varied across the AEZs. M3, SM2 and SM3 are the most exposed AEZs but having a relatively better adaptive capacity whereas M1, M2 and M3 are the most sensitive AEZs with relatively low adaptive capacity to climate variability and change. Overall, SM2 is the most vulnerable AEZ which exhibited high sensitivity and low adaptive capacity followed by M1. Conclusions: The study explored sources and levels of vulnerability to each agro-ecology. Since the study is conducted at micro-scale level, it helps decision makers and development partners to have context-specific understanding of the impact of climate change and variability and design appropriate adaptation measures to address the specific situations.

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Variability and Trends of Temperature and Rainfall Over Three Agro-Ecological Zones in North Shewa, Central Ethiopia

10.21203/rs.3.rs-53268/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ashenafi Hailu Shekuru ◽

Arega Bazezew Berlie ◽

Yechale Kebede Bizuneh

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Annual Rainfall ◽

Maximum Temperature ◽

Upward Trend ◽

Central Ethiopia ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Annual Minimum Temperature ◽

Rainfall Anomalies ◽

Agro Ecological Zones

Abstract This study aims to analyze variability and trends of temperature and rainfall over three agro-ecological zones (AEZs) in Central Ethiopia. Gridded rainfall and temperature data, recorded on daily basis for 35 years (1979 - 2013) at 30 meteorological stations, were used for analysis. While Mann–Kendall test was applied to analyze the trends in rainfall and temperature, Sen’s slope estimator was used to determine the magnitude of change. The study detected an upward trend of 0.07°C/annum (p < 0.001) in mean annual maximum temperature at Kolla AEZ. It also showed an upward trend of 0.06/year (p < 0.001) for both Dega and Woina Dega AEZs. Mean annual minimum temperature exhibited an upward trend of 0.03°C/year at Kolla (p < 0.001), Woina Dega (p < 0.05), and Dega (p < 0.01), signifying a 1.05°C increase between 1979 and 2013. Results from precipitation concentration index (PCI) revealed highest percentage (97.1%) of irregular distributions in annual rainfall pattern at Kolla AEZ, followed by Woina Dega (82.9%). Standardized rainfall anomalies (SRA) computed in the study also showed higher percentage (28.6%) of drought in Kolla AEZ, which experienced drought once in every 3 or 4 years. The study revealed negative annual rainfall anomalies for 18 years in Kolla and 16 years in both Dega and Woina Dega AEZs. The reduced precipitation and rise in temperature could trigger wide-ranging influences on agricultural practices and crop production of smallholder farmers. Policymakers and stakeholders should give priority in designing and introducing pro-poor plus geographically differentiated adaptive strategies.

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Assessment of the Impacts of Climate Change on Maize Production in the Southern and Western Highlands Sub-agro Ecological Zones of Tanzania

Frontiers in Environmental Science ◽

10.3389/fenvs.2017.00051 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Philbert M. Luhunga

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Maize Production ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Impacts Of Climate Change ◽

Agro Ecological Zones

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Food Security and the Dynamics of Wheat and Maize Value Chains in Africa and Asia

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems ◽

10.3389/fsufs.2020.617009 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

Author(s):

Ulrike Grote ◽

Anja Fasse ◽

Trung Thanh Nguyen ◽

Olaf Erenstein

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Food Security ◽

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Green Revolution ◽

Value Chains ◽

World Population ◽

System Transformation ◽

Maize Production ◽

Long Run

There is an ongoing debate about how best to feed the growing world population in the long run and associated implications for research and development. Some call for a new Green Revolution to secure the supply of staple foods, whereas others emphasize the importance of diversifying and improving people's diets. We aim to contribute to this debate by reviewing the case of wheat and maize value chains and their contribution to food security in Africa and Asia. We first identify drivers transforming food systems. We then apply these to the cereal value chains and disentangle their effects on food security. We thereby add to the three strands in the literature around production, consumption, and food system transformation and point to different research needs and recommendations for the future. The review highlights: (1) Wheat and maize production will be increasingly impaired by ecological drivers such as land degradation, water scarcity and climate change. (2) There are promising innovations to increase and maintain productivity, but constraints in adopting these innovations have to be overcome (i.e., access to seeds, finance, and education/training). (3) The drivers affect all four dimensions of food security, but first and foremost they determine the availability and stability of maize and wheat. This indirectly also influences the economic and physical access of people to maize and wheat. (4) Research tends to focus on improving the productivity and sustainability of wheat and maize farming which is largely interlinked with the availability dimension of food security. (5) The stability and utilization dimension of food security merits continued yet increased support. First, to address climate change and implications for biotic and abiotic stresses. Second, to promote healthier diets and enable the equitable transformation of food systems.

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The impact of climatic changes on total horticultural production and food security in agro-ecological zones of Iran

Journal of Water and Climate Change ◽

10.2166/wcc.2019.139 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 1712-1723

Author(s):

Nader Barani ◽

Ayatollah Karami ◽

Mahmoud Ahmadpour Borazjani

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Wind Speed ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Time Series Data ◽

Production Systems ◽

Climatic Changes ◽

Series Data ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

The Impact ◽

Agro Ecological Zones

Abstract Arid and semi-arid climates, including that of Iran, are more susceptible to environmental changes due to their special ecological structure than other climates. Therefore, climate change in these areas appears to have significant effects on agricultural and food production systems. The present study explores the effect of climatic changes on total horticultural production and food security in agro-ecological zones of Iran. The study was conducted in two steps. In the first step, the effects of climatic parameters on total horticultural production were investigated using time series data (1985–2017) and a regression model. In the second step, due to the important role of horticultural products in per capita food consumption in Iran, the effect of climate parameters on food security was also examined. Results revealed that total horticultural production was influenced by temperature, evapotranspiration, and wind speed at the 0.05 level. With the increase in temperature (at a rate of one unit), total horticultural production is reduced to 0.01 million tons. Evapotranspiration and wind speed have had a negative effect on total horticultural production, and with increasing evapotranspiration and wind speed, total horticultural production was 0.029 and 0.008 million, respectively, tons decreased. Also, food security was influenced by temperature, precipitation, and wind speed.

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Garden production systems and food security in Ghana: Characteristics of traditional knowledge and management systems

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1079/raf2005112 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 168-180 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Emmanuel K. Yiridoe ◽

Vincent M. Anchirinah

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Land Tenure ◽

Family Income ◽

Deciduous Forest ◽

Production Systems ◽

Scientific Information ◽

Ecological Monitoring ◽

Adult Males ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Agro Ecological Zones

AbstractThere is limited documented scientific information on garden production systems managed in developing countries, partly because both researchers and research administrators have, until recently, ignored them as legitimate areas of study, and because such production systems have been regarded as informal production activities, managed outside conventional market and economic channels. Yet in a developing country such as Ghana, these production systems are potentially able to contribute substantially to the food security and health needs of households. This study was aimed primarily at providing critical scientific information for understanding the complex web of production and management factors associated with garden production systems. A total of 300 survey responses, representing the Sudan savannah, Guinea savannah and moist deciduous forest agro-ecological zones of Ghana, were analyzed (27% of respondents were females and 73% were males). Several hypotheses from the field agriculture literature were tested to determine their relevance in garden production systems. Although, for the country as a whole, a variety of garden crops are cultivated, each agro-ecological zone concentrated on a set of four major crops, with the actual food crops differing across agro-ecological zones. The type of protective fencing used was not statistically associated with land tenure (i.e., own versus rented land) status of the gardener (χ2=3.285, P=0.4501). Gender responsibilities in garden production and management tended to be more equally shared in the forest agro-ecology, where garden crops are cultivated for household consumption and for generating family income. In contrast, in the two savannah zones, adult males undertook a disproportionate share of activities to produce garden crops that were primarily for marketing. Valuable information on production and management exist within the traditional garden production systems studied, and range from socio-economic, agronomic and medicinal considerations in selecting garden crops and fruit trees, to ecological monitoring systems and strategies for garden management.

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Empirical Analysis of the Factors that Affecting Maize Production of Farmers among Smallholders: The Case of Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia

Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology ◽

10.24925/turjaf.v9i1.137-145.3769 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 137-145

Author(s):

Murad Mohammed

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Primary Data ◽

High Yield ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Potential Yield ◽

Maize Crop ◽

Maize Production ◽

Smallholder Farm

In Ethiopia, maize is the second largest in production areas and first in its productivity but there are high yield gaps between the actual yield currently producing and the potential yield. Therefore, this study was aimed to identify factors that affecting maize production of smallholder farmers at the farm level in the Meta district in the east Hararge zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. A two-stage random sampling technique was employed and a total of 200 smallholder farmers were randomly and proportionally selected to collect primary data. Multiple linear regression models were used to analysis factors that affect maize production among smallholder farmers. The result showed that the production of maize was influenced by several factors. The coefficient provided that as the farmers obtained 1 dollar from non-farm activity, the maize production of farmers increased by 293.2 kg, keeping other factors constant. Thus, the farmers who had money from non-farm sources used as additional income to gain agricultural inputs for maize production and thus generate more maize quantity. The result was pointed out that the size of the cultivated areas of land had a positive influence on the quantity of maize production of farmers. The coefficient entailed that as the size of the cultivated areas of land increased by one hectare, the farmer’s quantity of maize production increased by 140.4 kg by keeping other factors constant. The result was also indicated that other factors being constant, the maize crop production of smallholder farmers of Meta district was decreased by 4 kg as Development Agent’s (DA’s) office distance increased by one minute. The possible explanation was that extension services were a critical source of information on agronomic practices. Therefore, policy makers should encourage the current maize production and supplying improved seed and chemical fertilizer which support to improve smallholder farm households’ welfare by increasing their sources of income.

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