Abstract
Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is predominantly rain-fed, and erratic weather patterns and extreme weather events, exacerbated by the changing climate, adds to the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in producing enough food to feed the ever growing population of the region. While the farming communities are responding to these challenges, there is an intensive need for scaling-up adoption of appropriate interventions that can help increase crop yields and resilience to climate change. A review and analysis of potential climate-smart agricultural practices (CSAs) in SSA indicate that some CSAs are increasingly adopted by farmers and show potential for scaling up. Some particularly promising CSAs include drought tolerant (DT) maize varieties and sustainable intensification through crop associations which are increasingly adopted across SSA regions. Other CSA’s which also offer promise include water harvesting and small-scale irrigation, climate information, and natural resource conservation. The presence of successful smallholder CSA practices in SSA means that opportunities exist for cross-country learning and scaling up by supporting farmers’ efforts through exchange of knowledge, incentives and policies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Abate, T. (2013). DTMA III highlights for 2012/13: An overview. Presented at the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DMA) Annual Meeting, 23–27 September 2013, Nairobi, Kenya.
Abebe, A., Lasage, R., Alemu, E., Gowing, J., & Woldaregay, K. (2012). Ethiopia: Opportunities for building on tradition—Time for action. In W. Critchley & J. Gowing (Eds.), Water harvesting in Sub-Saharan Africa (pp. 70–84). London.
Adimassu, Z., Langan, S., & Johnston, R. (2015). Highlights of soil and water conservation investments in Ethiopia (In Press).
AGRA. (2014). Africa agriculture status report: Climate change and smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (No. 2). Nairobi, Kenya: Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, AGRA.
Alemayehu, F., Taha, N., Nyssen, J., Girma, A., Zenebe, A., Behailu, M., et al. (2009). The impacts of watershed management on land use and land cover dynamics in Eastern Tigray (Ethiopia). Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 53(4), 192–198.
Araya, H., & Edwards, S. (2006). The Tigray experience: A success story in sustainable agriculture (Vol. 4). Penang, Malaysia: TWN.
Araya, T., Nyssen, J., Govaerts, B., Baudron, F., Carpentier, L., Bauer, H., et al. (2015). Restoring cropland productivity and profitability in northern Ethiopian drylands after nine years of resource-conserving agriculture. Experimental Agriculture, 52(2), 165–187.
Balana, B. B., Muys, B., Haregeweyn, N., Descheemaeker, K., Deckers, J., Poesen, J., et al. (2012). Cost-benefit analysis of soil and water conservation measure: The case of exclosures in northern Ethiopia. Forest Policy and Economics, 15(2012), 27–36.
Biazin, B., Sterk, G., Temesgen, M., Abdulkedir, A., & Stroosnijder, L. (2012). Rainwater harvesting and management in rainfed agricultural systems in sub-Saharan Africa—A review. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 47–48, 139–151.
Bruce, W. B., Edmeades, G. O., & Barker, T. C. (2002). Molecular and physiological approaches to maize improvement for drought tolerance. Journal of Experimental Botany, 53(366), 13–25.
CGIAR. (2006). Drought tolerant crops for Drylands. http://www.cgiar.org/web-archives/www-cgiar-org-impact-global-des_fact2-html/#top. Accessed on January 19, 2016.
Cooper, P. J. M., Cappiello, S., Vermeulen, S. J., Campbell, B. M., Zougmoré, R., & Kinyangi, J. (2013). Large-scale implementation of adaptation and mitigation actions in agriculture. CCAFS Working paper, No. 50. Copenhagen, Denmark.
Corbeels, M., de Graaff, J., Ndah, T. H., Penot, E., Baudron, F., Naudin, K., et al. (2014). Understanding the impact and adoption of conservation agriculture in Africa: A multi-scale analysis. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 187, 155–170.
Critchley, W., & Gowing, J. (Eds.). (2012). Water harvesting in Sub-Saharan Africa. London: Routledge.
Deichert, G., Krämer, F., & Schöning, A. (2014). Turning degraded land into productive landscapes, Ethiopian highlands. ETFRN NEWS 56, pp. 82–87.
Edmeades, G. (2008). Drought tolerance in maize: An emerging reality. In J. Clive (Ed.), Global status of commercialized Biotech/GM Crops. ISAAA Brief No. 39. Ithaca, NY: ISAAA.
Edwards, S., Berhan, T., Egziabher, G., & Araya, H. (2007). Successes and challenges in ecological agriculture: Experiences from Tigray, Ethiopia. In L. L. Ching, S. Edwards, N. E.-H. Scialabba (Eds.), Climate change and food systems resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa, pp. 231–294. Rome, Italy: FAO.
Fisher, M., Abate, T., Lunduka, R. W., Asnake, W., Alemayehu, Y., & Madulu, R. B. (2015). Drought tolerant maize for farmer adaptation to drought in sub-Saharan Africa: Determinants of adoption in eastern and southern Africa. Climatic Change, 133(2), 283–299.
Gowin, J., & Bunclark, L. (2013). Water harvesting experience in sub-Saharan Africa—Lessons for sustainable intensification of rainfed agriculture and the influence of available soils and rainfall data. Geophysical Research Abstracts, 15, 13640.
Hadgu, K. M. (2011). Land rehabilitation and improved management: The case of Tigray, northern Ethiopia. http://worldagroforestry.org/sites/default/files/drylands-seminar/DRYLANDSDAY1/PRESENTATIONS/TigrayEthiopia.pdf. Accessed on December 10, 2015.
Haglund, E., Ndjeunga, J., Snook, L., & Pasternak, D. (2011). Dry land tree management for improved household livelihoods: Farmer managed natural regeneration in Niger. Journal of Environmental Management, 92(7), 1696–1705.
Haileslassie, A., Priess, J., Veldkamp, E., Teketay, D., & Lesschen, J. P. (2005). Assessment of soil nutrient depletion and its spatial variability on smallholders’ mixed farming systems in Ethiopia using partial versus full nutrient balances. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 108(1), 1–16.
Haregeweyn, N., Tsunekawa, A., Nyssen, J., Poesen, J., Tsubo, M., Meshesha, D. T., et al. (2015). Soil erosion and conservation in Ethiopia: A review. Progress in Physical Geography, 39(6), 750–774.
Hellmuth, M. E., Moorhead, A., Thomson, M. C., & Williams, J. (2007). Climate risk management in Africa: Learning from practice. In M. E. Hellmuth, A. Moorhead, M. C. Thomson, & J. Williams (Eds.), Climate and society: Climate risk management in Africa: Learning from practice (Vol. 1). Columbia University, New York, USA: IRI.
IWMI. (2007). Water for food, water for life: A comprehensive assessment of water management in agriculture. London: Earthscan.
Kassie, M., Teklewold, H., Marenya, P., Jaleta, M., & Erenstein, O. (2015). Production risk and food security under alternative technology choices in Malawi. Application of a multinomial endogenous switching regression. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 66(3), 640–659.
Kirui, O., & Mirzabaev, A. (2014). Economics of land degradation in Eastern Africa. ZEF Working Paper Series, No. 128. University of Bonn.
Lemenih, M., & Kassa, H. (2014). Re-greening Ethiopia: History, challenges and lessons. Forests, 5(8), 1896–1909.
Malesu, M., Khaka, E., Mati, B., Oduor, A., De Bock, T., Nyabenge, M., et al. (2007). Mapping the potential of rainwater harvesting technologies in Africa: A GIS overview and atlas of development domains for the continent and nine selected countries. Nairobi, Kenya.
Malesu, M. M., De Leeuw, J., & Oduor, A. (2012). Water harvesting experiences from the SearNet (2003–2012). http://whater.eu/pluginfile.php/137/mod_page/content/37/Malesu_WaterharvestingExperiencesfromtheSearnet2003-2012_IRC. Accessed on January 15, 2016.
Masih, I., Maskey, S., Mussá, F. E. F., & Trambauer, P. (2014). A review of droughts on the African continent: A geospatial and long-term perspective. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 18(9), 3635–3649.
Mekuria, W., Veldkamp, E., Haile, M., Nyssen, J., Muys, B., & Gebrehiwot, K. (2007). Effectiveness of exclosures to restore degraded soils as a result of overgrazing in Tigray, Ethiopia. Journal of Arid Environments, 69(2), 270–284.
Nyasimi, M., Amwata, D., Hove, L., Kinyangi, J., & Wamukoya, G. (2014). Evidence of impact : Climate-smart agriculture in Africa. CCAFS Working Paper No. 86, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Nyssen, J. (1998). Soil and water conservation under changing socio-economic conditions in the Tembien Highlands (Tigray, Ethiopia). Bulletin de La Société Géographique de Liège, 35, 5–17.
Nyssen, J., Descheemaeker, K., Haile, M., Deckers, J., & Poesen, J. (2007). Lessons learnt from 10 years research on soil erosion and soil and water conservation in Tigray. Tigray Livelihood Papers No. 7. Mekelle: Zala-Daget Project, Mekelle University, K.U. Leuven, Relief Society of Tigray, Africa museum and Tigray Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development, 53 p.
Nyssen, J., Frankl, A., Haile, M., Hurni, H., Descheemaeker, K., Crummey, D., et al. (2014). Environmental conditions and human drivers for changes to north Ethiopian mountain landscapes over 145 years. Science of the Total Environment, 485–486, 164–179.
Nyssen, J., Frankl, A., Zenebe, A., Deckers, J., & Poesen, J. (2015a). Land management in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands: Local and global perspectives; past, present and future. Land Degradation and Development, 26(7), 759–764.
Nyssen, J., Frankl, A., Zenebe, A., Poesen, J., & Deckers, J. (2015b). Environmental conservation for food production and sustainable livelihood in Tropical Africa. Land Degradation and Development, 26(7), 629–631.
Nyssen, J., Haile, M., Naudts, J., Munro, N., Poesen, J., Moeyersons, J., et al. (2009a). Desertification? Northern Ethiopia re-photographed after 140 years. Science of the Total Environment, 407(8), 2749–2755.
Nyssen, J., Poesen, J., & Deckers, J. (2009b). Land degradation and soil and water conservation in tropical highlands. Soil and Tillage Research, 103, 197–202.
Pachpute, J. S., Tumbo, S. D., Sally, H., & Mul, M. L. (2009). Sustainability of rainwater harvesting systems in rural catchment of Sub-Saharan Africa. Water Resources Management, 23(13), 2815–2839.
Pretty, J., Toulmin, C., & Williams, S. (2011). Sustainable intensification in African agriculture. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 9(1), 5–24.
Rinaudo, T. (2007). The development of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration. http://fmnrhub.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Rinaudo-2007-Development-of-FMNR.pdf. Accessed on January 29, 2016.
Schroter, D., Cramer, W., Leemans, R., Prentice, I. C. C., Araujo, M. B., Arnell, N. W., et al. (2005). Ecosystem service supply and vulnerability to global change in Europe. Science, 310(5752), 1333–1337.
Shiferaw, B., Tesfaye, K., Kassie, M., Abate, T., Prasanna, B. M., & Menkir, A. (2014). Managing vulnerability to drought and enhancing livelihood resilience in sub-Saharan Africa: Technological, institutional and policy options. Weather and Climate Extremes, 3, 67–79.
Steenwerth, K. L., Hodson, A. K., Bloom, A. J., Carter, M. R., Cattaneo, A., Chartres, C. J., et al. (2014). Climate-smart agriculture global research agenda: Scientific basis for action. Agriculture & Food Security, 3(1), 1–39.
Stroosnijder, L. (2009). Modifying land management in order to improve efficiency of rainwater use in the African highlands. Soil and Tillage Research, 103(2), 247–256.
Synnevag, G., & Lambrou, J. (2012). Climate-smart agriculture: Possible roles of Agricultural Universities in a strengthened Norwegian climate change engagement in Africa. Noragric Report No. 64, Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Noragric Norwegian University of Life Sciences, UMB.
Tadesse, M., Shiferaw, B., & Erenstein, O. (2015). Weather index insurance for managing drought risk in smallholder agriculture: Lessons and policy implications for Sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural and Food Economics, 3, 26.
Tall, A., Hansen, J., Jay, A., Campbell, B., Kinyangi, J., Aggarwal, P. K., et al. (2014). Scaling up climate services for farmers: Mission possible. Learning from good practice in Africa and South Asia. CCAFS Report No. 13.
Teklewold, H., Kassie, M., Shiferaw, B., & Kohlin, G. (2013). Cropping system diversification, conservation tillage and modern seed adoption in Ethiopia: Impacts on household income, agricultural chemical use and demand for labor. Ecological Economics, 93, 85–93.
Tesfaye, K., Gbegbelegbe, S., Cairns, J. E., Shiferaw, B., Prasanna, B. M., Sonder, K., et al. (2015). Maize systems under climate change in sub-Saharan Africa: Potential impacts on production and food security. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 7(3), 247–271.
Tigabu, M., Lemenih, M., Negash, M., & Teketay, D. (2014). Rehabilitation of degraded forest and woodland ecosystems in Ethiopia for sustenance of livelihoods and ecosystem services. In P. Katila, G. Galloway, W. de Jong, P. Pacheco, & G. Mery (Eds.), Forests under pressure—Local responses to global issues (pp. 299–313). Vantaa: International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO).
Tougiani, A., Guero, C., & Rinaudo, T. (2009). Community mobilisation for improved livelihoods through tree crop management in Niger. GeoJournal, 74(5), 377–389.
Wakeyo, M. B. (2012). Economic analysis of water harvesting technologies in Ethiopia. http://edepot.wur.nl/240909. Accessed on January 15, 2016.
Walraevens, K., Vandecasteele, I., Martens, K., Nyssen, J., Moeyersons, J., Gebreyohannes, T., et al. (2009). Groundwater recharge and flow in a small mountain catchment in northern Ethiopia. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 54(4), 739–753.
WMO. (2005). Climate and land degradation. http://www.wmo.int/pages/themes/wmoprod/documents/WMO989E.pdf. Accessed on January 24, 2016.
World Bank, African Development Bank. (2012). The transformational use of information and communication technologies in Africa. http://www.infodev.org/en/Publication.1162.html. Accessed on January 24, 2016.
Xoconostle-Cázares, B., Ramírez-Ortega, F. A., Flores-Elenes, L., & Ruiz-Medrano, R. (2010). Drought tolerance in crop plants. American Journal of Plant Physiology, 5(5), 241–256.
Acknowledgements
This review paper was supported by the CGIAR Research Programs on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), CRP MAIZE, Drought Tolerance Maize for Africa (DTMA) project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Adoption Pathways and Maize–Legume Cropping Systems for Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA) projects funded by Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the donor or the authors’ institutions.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Tesfaye, K. et al. (2017). Potential for Scaling up Climate Smart Agricultural Practices: Examples from Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Leal Filho, W., Belay, S., Kalangu, J., Menas, W., Munishi, P., Musiyiwa, K. (eds) Climate Change Adaptation in Africa. Climate Change Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49520-0_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49520-0_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-49519-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-49520-0
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)