Climate Smart Agriculture to Build Resilience in Mitigating Effects of Climate Change

INTRODUCTION

Climate-Smart Agriculture is agriculture that sustainably increases productivity, resilience, reduces or removes Green House Gases (GHGs) and enhances achievement of national food security and development goals. Following the unpredictable recurring climate change in Sub Saharan Africa  leading to negative effects on  crop and livestock production, climate smart agriculture can be a solution in ensuring that smallholder farmers who are the most affected by impact of climate change are food secure. Furthermore, climate smart agriculture practices sustainably increase agricultural productivity, support equitable increases in farm incomes, food security and development.

DURATION

5 days

TOPICS TO BE COVERED

Module 1:  Impacts of climate change on agriculture and food security

• Climate Change
• Agriculture, Climate Change and Food Security
• Climate-Smart Agriculture Concept
• Farmers becoming resilient to climate change shocks and stresses when they adapt climate smart agriculture practices

Module 2: Basics of adaption and mitigation in the agricultural sector

• Climate-Smart Agriculture Solutions
• Removing Barriers and Enabling the Environment for Adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture
• Crop and livestock insurance
• Climate financing
• Gender in climate smart agriculture
• The Lead Farmer Concept in climate smart agriculture

Module 3: Incorporating climate change considerations into agricultural investment programmes

• Gender in climate-smart agriculture
• Gender and Climate Change Research in Agriculture and Food Security for Rural Development
• Climate Change and Food Security
• Barriers to adopting CSA
• Interactions between climate change and agriculture, including basic facts about the effects of climate change and the most important greenhouse gases.

Module 4: Describe the principles of climate smart agriculture, in particular the three pillars of mitigation, adaptation and productivity.

• Discuss the complexity of food production systems, why it can be difficult to implement climate smart agriculture and other forms of sustainable farming, and how the effects can be measured.
• Reflect on how consumer behaviour, policies and regulations, and financial aspects influence the adoption of climate smart and other sustainable practices.

Module 5: Field visit to farms practicing Climate Smart Agriculture