Adoption of climate-smart crop and livestock production in Africa: are the key pillars included?
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Date
2023
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Nairobi
Abstract
Studies have shown that climate change has a significant effect on the rural agricultural
landscape with the equilibrium of agrarian and forest ecosystems becoming increasingly
unstable and agricultural-dependent livelihoods in rural and peri-urban areas weakening very
rapidly. To address these and related challenges, many countries have attempted Climate Smart
Agriculture (CSA). The approach has been proven to address the intertwined challenge of
increasing agricultural productivity while at the same time maintaining sustainable levels of
carbon emissions from agriculture. Despite its many benefits, its adoption rate in Africa varies
widely across the continent. In some countries, adoption of important CSA practices is as low
as 10% and in others over 60%. Using scoping, narrative and descriptive approaches in the
analysis of literature, this study has demonstrated that Climate-Smart Agriculture technologies
are effective in improving food security and overall land productivity. However, there are still
big gaps in quantifying the actual contribution of CSA technologies to climate change
mitigation and adaptation. The study further revealed that while various factors such as
household characteristics, land ownership and gender were considered in the introduction and
adoption of CSA technologies, little attention was given to the key pillars of CSA including
indigenous knowledge systems, resource endowment, farmers preferences, among others. The
study recommends that, in order to enhance and the adoption of CSA technologies, more
knowledge is needed on the inclusion of indigenous knowledge systems and practices in the
development of CSA technologies. The study recommends further that, in order to position
CSA in policies and programs for agriculture transformation, it is also important to undertake
studies on the capacity of CSA to sequester carbon and how this may be included in climate
change mitigation and adaptation policies. Finally, the study recommends the inclusion of
women in the design and dissemination of CSA technologies.
Description
AGRO2023 - BIENNIAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
Keywords
Climate-Smart Agriculture, Indigenous knowledge, Adoption, Climate change