Critical enablers for climate-smart agriculture: a case analysis of peri-urban environments in Southern Africa

Transcription

1 Critical enablers for climate-smart agriculture: a case analysis of peri-urban environments in Southern Africa Oral Presentation at The 4th Global Science Conference On Climate Smart Agriculture, November 2017, Johannesburg by Munya Chitakira 1 * & Mucha Togo 1 *Corresponding author: chitam1@unisa.ac.za 1 Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa

2 Outline Introduction Aim & Objectives Materials and Methods Results and Discussion Concluding remarks Acknowledgement

3 Introduction & Conceptual framework It is known that climate change will influence crop distribution and production and increase risks associated with farming. Agro-ecological based livelihoods (closely linked to agriculture and local ecosystems) will suffer due to increasing temperatures and reduced precipitation (Dube et al, 2016). Meanwhile, many African countries face increasing food insecurity and environmental degradation. One way to address this predicament is adopting Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA).

4 Introduction & Conceptual framework CSA is a framework that contributes to cross-cutting development goals, under a changing climate and increasing food demand, including: increased productivity and incomes, enhanced resilience of livelihoods and ecosystems, Reducing/removing greenhouse gas emissions, and Mitigation. CSA involves various sustainable agricultural practices being used widely such as conservation tillage, agroforestry, forest / grassland management, animal husbandry as well as soil, water and nutrient management. CSA => agricultural systems can be developed and implemented to simultaneously improve food security and rural livelihoods, facilitate climate change adaptation and provide mitigation benefits (Scherr et al., 2012).

5 Introduction & Conceptual framework Despite the development of several CSA technologies and the advantages these technologies provide, wide scale adoption of CSA practices in Africa remains a challenge (The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), 2015). This slow pace is due to hardware (or physical) and software (non-physical) barriers (FARA, 2015). Examples of hardware barriers: Limited access to appropriate farm equipment and tools inadequate farm inputs and materials. Limited credit and finance Shortages in labor supply Examples of software barriers: Inadequate relevant CSA information, knowledge and skills. Inappropriate technologies and their dissemination. Poor governance structure. Unfavorable land tenure systems. Culture limitations. Gender inequalities

6 Introduction & Conceptual framework There is need for more information as regards the key enablers to successful adoption of CSA practices. Hence, the present study. Note: present study is ongoing still to collect more data. Comments on the focus and direction of study are welcome.

7 Aim & Objectives This research aimed to establish critical enablers of CSA at two capacity building organisations: - Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre (KATC) in Zambia - Africa Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC) in Malawi The KATC is a farmer-training institution situated 30 km North - East of Lusaka, established in It is involved with training, extension, research, production and lobbying and advocacy (awareness, education and communication). The AICC is a non-governmental organization whose main mandate is to promote the role of business in development. It was established in 2001 in South Africa and the Malawi office was opened in Operates on a partnership model.

8 Aim & Objectives Specific objectives were to: understand the nature of CSA related capacity building practices the organisations are involved in; Assess the successes and challenges these organisations face; Establish critical enablers for CSA capacity building in the organisational contexts.

9 Methods - Case Study design; - Qualitative

10 Methods: Data collection KATC Field observations Workshop Review of website content AICC Key informant interviews (faceto-face) Interviews of practicing farmers working for AICC (face-to-face) Review of website content Guided tour

11 Results and Discussion: Nature of CSA related capacity building practices KATC Offers training to small-scale farmers in diverse sustainable organic agricultural practices - Indigenous knowledge Extension services Research participatory - Research questions arise from farmers. Demonstration plots learning by doing marketing Training AICC Extension services Provision of advisory services and supervision. Work with 2,500 households 40% commercial & 60% subsistence

12 Results and Discussion: Nature of CSA related practices: KATC Employs a systems approach inclusive of productivity, livelihoods and environmental Allocates plots to trainees to practice sustainable vegetable production.

13 Results and Discussion: Nature of CSA related practices: AICC Provision of inputs Offers input support in terms of seeds, fertilizers, advisory services and supervision. Farmers use special hoes (Chaka hoes from Zambia) to prevent soil loss; Minimal soil movement; Intercrop with herbs, leave the herbs in the ground for soil conservation and manure; conserve moisture. In the case of supported AICC employees, CSA has improved farmer productivity from mere subsistence to producing excess for sale. CSA projects: pit planting, manure application, Conservation agric; Both crop and animal husbandry

14 Results and Discussion: Pictures - KATC

15 Results and Discussion: Pictures - KATC Demo plots Intercropping for pest control

16 Results and Discussion: Pictures - KATC For fodder. Moringa Milk & yoghurt processing - organic

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18 Successes KATC Yield 800kg to 6 tonnes per ha in production Milk processing plant, to add value Market the products in Lusaka - short distance reduced carbon footprint AICC High production of the produce Increase in income after sales Reduction in cost of production

19 Challenges KATC Lack of immediate results. It takes time esp building fertility yet farmers can't wait for yields. Adoption not as much. AICC Low adoption rate resistance by farmers and labourers - Farmers complain that it s labour intensive at the beginning. Land tenure Capital

20 Could these be the Critical Enablers? KATC training Theory Demonstration Learning by doing Holistic (systems approach) Mimic nature - Nature was never meant to be a monoculture Indigenous knowledge Partnerships work with universities Participatory research AICC Input support Demo sites Advisory services Supervision Guidance/training land availability

21 Concluding remarks & Recommendations Case studies reveal pointers of success stories of CSA adoption by smallholder farmers. Interesting to note that the institutions provide inputs and supervision support to their employees so that they can practice what they teach. Positive impact of support provided by the two organisations to farmers was revealed. Learning by doing from the plots allocated to trainees at KATC was established for CSA training. Trainee farmers produce and market a variety of vegetables from allocated 40X30 meter plots and have improved their livelihoods from the proceeds. Study revealed that in Malawi, CSA has changed the farmers from subsistence to semicommercial. Further research could follow up on trained farmers to establish impact of the advisory services or training received in terms of CSA, productivity and sustainability.

22 Acknowledgement University of South Africa for logistical support. All participants in this study for cooperation and support. 4 th Global CSA for funding attendance of this conference

23 Thank You Comments / Questions / Answers?