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State of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Africa: Implications for Food, Nutrition Security, and Sustainable Agriculture

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Air, Climate Change and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 49139

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Abiodun Oluwole Fatunbi

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Guest Editor

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Accra Ghana
Interests: Farming systems; Soil fertility; Sustainable agriculture; Agricultural innovation systems and Climate smart agriculture

Dr. Paolo Sarfatti

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Guest Editor

Sustainable Agriculture and International Development, Via degli Artisti 6, 50132 Firenze, Italy
Interests: Agro-climatology; land cover analysis; climate-smart agriculture; international agricultural development

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The scourge of climate change has received broad attention at a global level in recent times. Several commitments have been made to tackle the issues of climate adaptation and resilience of food systems and agriculture. In Africa, attention has been focused on the concept and practice of climate-smart agriculture (CSA), which seems to be well established as a keyword in agricultural development. The FAO [http://www.fao.org/climate-smart-agriculture/en/ ] defined CSA as an approach that helps guide actions needed to transform and reorient agricultural systems to effectively support development and ensure food security in a changing climate. The CSA aims to tackle three main objectives: (1) sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes; (2) adapt and build resilience to climate change; and (3) reduce and/or remove greenhouse gas emissions, where possible.

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and other organizations that are coordinating agricultural research in Africa are channeling attention to the issues of CSA, starting from carrying out a scoping study and mapping of various CSA initiatives to identify the state of knowledge, available technologies, and institutional arrangement to foster adaptation and use and encourage steps to advance African agricultural development. An interactive portal on climate-smart agriculture initiatives for knowledge and technology exchange is envisaged. These efforts complement the ongoing coordination of AUDA-NEPAD and many other organizations involved in various components of CSA in Africa.

A biennial conference has been launched as a forum for discussion among the different practitioners involved in the generation and use of climate-relevant agricultural knowledge, technologies, and innovations in Africa. This conference will form a major platform for stock-taking, reporting on initiatives, and joint identification and prioritization of the next line of action, especially, in technology generation and use. It will also engage in policy and advocacy discussions. The conference will include a session dedicated to the presentation of research papers, to nurture the policy and technical dialogue among academicians, researchers, managers, policymakers, small producers organizations, civil society organizations, agribusiness sector, and students.

The Special Issue of Sustainability will publish high-quality papers that will be submitted and presented at the conference to contribute to the pool of knowledge on averting the negative effects of climate change and ensuring the sustainability of agriculture, food, and nutrition security, taking a food system approach. The following themes are proposed for the conference papers;

Assessment of the state of climate-smart agriculture in Africa
Technology development and adoption in CSA
Foresight, projections, and futures of CSA in Africa
Innovative CSA technologies and practices for Africa smallholder farmers
Synergies and trade-offs among the CSA pillars: productivity, adaptation, and mitigation
Role of the private sector in successful scaling mechanisms for CSA adoption

Dr. Abiodun Oluwole Fatunbi
Dr. Paolo Sarfatti
Guest Editors

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Keywords

climate-smart agriculture
agricultural development
technology generation.

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 787 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role and Perspective of Climate Smart Agriculture in Africa: A Scientific Review

by Victor O. Abegunde and Ajuruchukwu Obi

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2317; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042317 - 18 Feb 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5505

Abstract

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is gaining a wide acceptance as a laudable approach that can assist farmers to maximize the potential of the farming systems in Africa. A number of practices have been identified as CSA practices, and successful outcomes of CSA technologies are being reported. However, CSA uptake among African farmers remains low despite its proven potential. The aim of this paper is to analyse the state of CSA in Africa and identify the constraints to the uptake of the practices among smallholder farmers. This paper synthesizes a subset of literature between 2010 and 2020. The key findings are that the response to climate change and the pattern and extent of adoption of CSAs differs from one macro-area to another. Factors such as resource constraints, institutional instruments, climate and ecological settings, and farmers’ characteristics, such as farmers’ experience and access to extension services, are significant determinants of CSA adoption. Socioeconomic constraints, poor availability of data and mastery of CSA approach, inadequate labour, and the wide diversity of the farming systems in Africa are challenges militating CSA uptake in the system This paper argues that it is crucial to ensure that limited resources available are systematically harnessed to achieve the triple-win benefits of CSA. Furthermore, there is the need to identify and prioritize locally suitable CSA practices and provide an enabling environment needed for CSA uptake and sustenance in the African farming systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Africa: Implications for Food, Nutrition Security, and Sustainable Agriculture)

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19 pages, 2896 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Innovative Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Practices in the Smallholder Farming System of South Africa

by Ajuruchukwu Obi and Okuhle Maya

Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6848; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126848 - 17 Jun 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5339

Abstract

Climate change is easily the most serious human and environmental crisis of the present generation. While awareness of the existence and consequences of climate change is becoming widespread, the specific effects on agriculture and the extent to which innovative climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices are being adopted remain unclear. This study was conducted in three local municipalities of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa to determine the patterns of smallholder choice of alternative climate-smart agricultural practices and the factors affecting such choices. It was particularly crucial to investigate why adaptation of CSA practices continues to be lower than expectation despite awareness of their benefits, thus highlighting the social and cultural limits to adaptation to climate change. A total of 210 households were enumerated on the basis of their involvement in crop and livestock farming. The data were analyzed by means of multinomial logistic model, which was applied separately to individual local municipality data sets and a combined provincial data set, and it was revealed that most farmers were not being sufficiently motivated to move from established practices to adopt new CSA practices. The most influential factors in the decision process as to what CSA practice to adopt were primary occupation, farming system type, household size, age and membership of farmer groups. It seemed that asset fixity constrained farmers to continue with existing practices rather than shift to new, more profitable practices, a situation that can be resolved by external intervention by government agencies and/or other entities. Awareness creation targeting remote rural areas as well as institutions to ease farmers’ access to credit and information will contribute to higher adoption rates, which are likely to lead to enhanced food security and standard of living for rural dwellers as their agricultural production and productivity improve. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Africa: Implications for Food, Nutrition Security, and Sustainable Agriculture)

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24 pages, 8662 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transforming Agricultural Extension Service Delivery through Innovative Bottom–Up Climate-Resilient Agribusiness Farmer Field Schools

by Joab J. L. Osumba, John W. Recha and George W. Oroma

Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3938; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073938 - 2 Apr 2021

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 9917

Abstract

Conventional approaches to agricultural extension based on top–down technology transfer and information dissemination models are inadequate to help smallholder farmers tackle increasingly complex agroclimatic adversities. Innovative service delivery alternatives, such as field schools, exist but are mostly implemented in isolationistic silos with little effort to integrate them for cost reduction and greater technical effectiveness. This article presents a proof-of-concept effort to develop an innovative, climate-resilient field school methodology, integrating the attributes of Farmers’ Field School, Climate Field School, Climate-Smart Agriculture and indigenous technical knowledge of weather indicators in one package to address the gaps, while sensitizing actors on implications for policy advocacy. Some 661 local facilitators, 32% of them women and 54% youth, were trained on the innovation across East Africa. The initiative has reached 36 agribusiness champions working with 237,250 smallholder farmers in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Initial results show that the innovation is strengthening adaptation behaviour of agribusiness champions, farmers and supply chain actors, and reducing training costs. Preliminary findings indicate that the process is rapidly shaping group adaptive thinking. The integrated approach offers lessons to transform extension and to improve food security and resilience. The approach bundles the costs of previously separate processes into the cost of one joint, simultaneous process, while also strengthening technical service delivery through bundled messaging. Experience from this initiative can be leveraged to develop scalable participatory extension and training models, especially scaling out through farmer-to-farmer replication and scaling up through farmer group networks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Africa: Implications for Food, Nutrition Security, and Sustainable Agriculture)

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17 pages, 953 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Smallholder Farmers’ Preferences for Climate-Smart Seed Innovations: Empirical Evidence from Southern Ethiopia

by Shimelis Araya Geda and Rainer Kühl

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2786; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052786 - 4 Mar 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2641

Abstract

Rapid plant breeding is essential to overcome low productivity problems in the face of climatic challenges. Despite considerable efforts to improve breeding practices in Ethiopia, increasing varietal release does not necessarily imply that farmers have access to innovative varietal choices. Prior research did not adequately address whether varietal attributes are compatible with farmers’ preferences in harsh environmental conditions. With an agricultural policy mainly aiming to achieve productivity maximization, existing breeding programs prioritize varietal development based on yield superiority. Against this background, we estimated a multinomial logit (MNL) model based on choice-experiment data from 167 bean growers in southern Ethiopia to explore whether farmers’ attribute preferences significantly diverge from those of breeders’ priorities. Four important bean attributes identified through participatory research methods were used. The results demonstrate that farmers have a higher propensity toward drought-tolerant capability than any of the attributes considered. The model estimates further show the existence of significant preference heterogeneity across farmers. These findings provide important insight to design breeding profiles compatible with specific producer segments. We suggest demand-driven breeding innovations and dissemination strategies in order to accelerate the adoption of climate-smart and higher-yielding bean innovations that contribute to achieve the national and global sustainability goals in Ethiopia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Africa: Implications for Food, Nutrition Security, and Sustainable Agriculture)

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19 pages, 1337 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vulnerability of Smallholder Farmers to Climate Change-Induced Shocks in East Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia

by Titay Zeleke, Fekadu Beyene, Temesgen Deressa, Jemal Yousuf and Temesgen Kebede

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2162; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042162 - 18 Feb 2021

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4933

Abstract

Vulnerability assessment varies widely across households, countries, and regions. Though many previous studies assessed vulnerability to climate change, their unit of analysis was aggregate. Therefore, the objective of this study was to measure the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate change at the household level and identify its determinant factors in east Hararghe zone. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select districts, kebeles, and sample respondents. Vulnerability as expected poverty approach was used to measure household-level vulnerability. Logit model was also used to assess factors contributing to households’ vulnerability. The study revealed that 73% of households were vulnerable to climate-induced shocks. Households with better farm experience, land size, livestock ownership, access to credit, access to extension service, social capital, access to climate information, non-farm income, and headed by a male were not vulnerable to climate change; whereas households who were living in low and midland agro-ecologies, far from the market, and participating in productive safety-net programs were vulnerable to climate change. The study indicated that the vulnerability of smallholder farmers was sensitive to the minimum income required to maintain daily life. Income-generating activities that supplement farm income should be well designed in policy to reduce the vulnerability of smallholder farmers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Africa: Implications for Food, Nutrition Security, and Sustainable Agriculture)

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Review

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16 pages, 1822 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Climate-Smart Agriculture Technology Adoption by Farming Households in Sub-Saharan Africa

by Richard Kombat, Paolo Sarfatti and Oluwole Abiodun Fatunbi

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 12130; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112130 - 3 Nov 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6091

Abstract

Climate change is a major constraint to the progress of Africa’s agriculture, food, and nutrition security; its effect is tied to geographical position and driven by the limited adaptive capacity of the agricultural households. The most vulnerable stakeholder group are the smallholder farming households with limited resources and knowledge of adaptation and mitigation techniques. Sub-Saharan Africa owns more than 60% of the world’s arable land with over 85% of the farmers being smallholder farmers, who are predisposed to various risks. This paper analyzes the adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) processes and technologies by smallholder farming households in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study used mixed methods and an integrative literature review. This review indicated that the knowledge of CSA technologies by smallholder farmers in Africa is increasing and, thus, concerted efforts to continuously generate CSA technology would contribute to the desired positive outcome. To accelerate the pace of adoption and use of the technologies, the linkage of farmers, researchers, and extension practitioners is needed. Measures should also be put in place to ensure that CSA actions are implemented using bottom-up approaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Africa: Implications for Food, Nutrition Security, and Sustainable Agriculture)

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17 pages, 943 KiB

Open AccessReview

Transforming Food Systems in Africa under Climate Change Pressure: Role of Climate-Smart Agriculture

by Robert B. Zougmoré, Peter Läderach and Bruce M. Campbell

Sustainability 2021, 13(8), 4305; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084305 - 13 Apr 2021

Cited by 55 | Viewed by 9413

Abstract

Low-income producers and consumers of food in Africa are more vulnerable to climate change, owing to their comparatively limited ability to invest in more adapted institutions and technologies under increasing climatic risks. Therefore, the way we manage our food systems needs to be urgently changed if the goal is to achieve food security and sustainable development more quickly. This review paper analyzes the nexus “climate-smart agriculture-food systems-sustainable development” in order to draw sound ways that could allow rapid transformation of food systems in the context of climate change pressure. We followed an integrative review approach based on selected concrete example-experiences from ground-implemented projects across Africa (Ghana, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, in West Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania in East Africa). Mostly composed of examples from the Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security (CCAFS) Research Program of the CGIAR (former Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) and its partners, these also included ground initiatives from non-CGIAR that could provide demonstrable conditions for a transformative agriculture and food systems. The lessons learnt from the ground implementation of climate-smart agriculture (CSA), in the African context, were instrumental to informing the actions areas of the food-system transformation framework suggested in this paper (reroute, de-risk, reduce, and realign). Selected CSA example-cases to inform these action areas included 24 initiatives across Africa, but with a focus on the following studies for an in-depth analysis: (1) the climate-smart village approach to generate knowledge on climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices for their scaling, (2) the use of climate information services (CIS) to better manage climate variability and extremes, and (3) the science–policy interfacing to mainstream CSA into agricultural development policies and plans. The analysis of these examples showed that CSA can contribute driving a rapid change of food systems in Africa through: (1) the implementation of relevant climate-smart technologies and practices to reroute farming and rural livelihoods to new climate-resilient and low-emission trajectories; (2) the development and application of weather and climate information services (WCIS) that support de-risking of livelihoods, farms, and value chains in the face of increasing vagaries of weather and extreme events; (3) the use of climate-smart options that minimize waste of all the natural resources used for growing, processing, packaging, transporting, and marketing food, and therefore mitigating the carbon footprint attached to this food loss and waste; and (4) the realignment of policies and finance that facilitate action in the four proposed action areas through the identification of news ways to mobilize sustainable finance and create innovative financial mechanisms and delivery channels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Africa: Implications for Food, Nutrition Security, and Sustainable Agriculture)

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16 pages, 708 KiB

Open AccessReview

How Does Nutrition Feature in Climate-Smart Agricultural Policy in Southern Africa? A Systematic Policy Review

by Shaun Beattie and Susannah M. Sallu

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2785; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052785 - 4 Mar 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3800

Abstract

The ability to produce and supply more food that is both nutritious and environmentally sustainable is a momentous challenge facing Africa. Where climate change is expected to negatively impact the agricultural resource of many parts of Southern Africa specifically. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) has emerged as an approach considered capable of transforming and realigning agricultural systems to support food and nutritional security, and development under a changing climate. For sustainable food and nutrition security to be achieved, an effective policy environment is required that supports the widespread adoption of CSA application. In light of this context, this study aims to better understand nutrition’s current position within CSA-related policy at the national level by systematically reviewing all agriculture-related policy documents across Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia, published between 2010 and 2019. The main findings show that efforts to address nutrition are being made within all countries and a sizeable number of policies, with crop-diversification and intensification presented as popular practices promoted as part of CSA. Nonetheless, the widespread adoption of these efforts remains weak and policies lack detail and instruction for the delivery of nutritional security. Cross-ministerial collaboration is recognised as essential for an improved policy environment, but few provide plans to strengthen such linkages or to include nutritional strategies. Clearer actions and policy outlines that promote nutrition as part of CSA are necessary if more effective action is to be achieved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Africa: Implications for Food, Nutrition Security, and Sustainable Agriculture)

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