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Supporting smallholder farmers to mitigate - how do we move forward?

Submitted by Cecilia on 17th September 2012
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Farmers in developing countries can contribute significantly to mitigation

by Lini Wollenberg

Smallholder farmers in developing countries can contribute significantly to climate change mitigation. However, to have any meaningful impact on emissions, thousands if not millions of farmers will need to change their practices.  For that to happen interventions will need to be scaled up and a wider range of incentives put into place.  While selling carbon credits will work for some farmers, wider mitigation impacts are likely if climate finance and other sources of funds can be channeled through existing financial and technical services to directly support farmers’ needs. How can governments and others give farmers the incentives and support they need to transition to low emission agriculture in ways that are aligned with farmer’s livelihood and food security priorities? Read more »

Climate finance could help smallholders adopt sustainable agriculture

Submitted by Vanessa on 2nd March 2012
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Climate finance can be used as an instrument to overcome barriers to smallholder

by Charlotte Streck and Leticia Guimares

Improving the efficiency of small-scale agriculture is essential for securing economic development, poverty alleviation and food security. At the same time, the agricultural sector is among the most vulnerable to climate change, and increasing climate resilience is a condition for increased productivity of smallholder systems. Agriculture also has significant potential to mitigate climate change, through emissions reductions and carbon storage. However, this is largely untapped.

Climate finance can be used as an instrument to help smallholders overcome some of the numerous barriers to investments in sustainable agricultural practices. It can catalyze the transition to a more resilient agricultural sector that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and increases carbon sequestration while fostering food security and promoting the local economic development. A new report developed by Climate Focus Towards Policies for Climate Change Mitigation: Incentives and benefits for smallholder farmers (PDF) provides an overview of climate finance instruments that can be used to support changes in smallholding practices and an assessment of how these instruments can be linked to mitigation actions. The conclusion of the report is that climate finance can be used as an instrument to overcome barriers to smallholders' adoption of sustainable agricultural practices by accessing new funds, designing new disbursement mechanisms, and forging new partnerships. The report was prepared for the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security. Read more »

Africans put agriculture in climate focus

Submitted by Vanessa on 12th December 2011
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“Where are the priorities for agriculture?" asked Prof Jumanne Maghembe, Tanzani

African farmers, researchers and high-level politicians join to push climate-smart agriculture to the forefront at COP17 in Durban

“We must deliver the resources poor farmers need to sustain their lives,” said Honourable Professor Jumanne A. Maghembe, Tanzania’s Minister of Agriculture to a crowded room at the Africa Pavilion. He spoke to the opportunities and challenges of climate-smart agriculture for African farmers, one of the hottest, and sometimes contentious, issues at this year’s UN Climate Conference in Durban.

Prof. Maghembe was joined by Professor Tekalign Mamo, a State Minister at the Ministry of Agriculture in Ethiopia, as well as the leaders of African farmers unions’ from Southern, Eastern and Western Africa; the common message was clear – negotiators at COP17 must put agriculture up front and centre. The UNFCCC has largely ignored agriculture, especially the adaptation benefits. Climate smart agriculture can help African farmers adapt to climate change and safeguard their food security and livelihoods, while enhancing their ecosystems and supporting mitigation.

In Africa, the biggest threat to poor farmers is the increase in unexpected extreme events that come with climate change. Prof. Maghembe described the vicious cycle of droughts and floods that are currently affecting areas of East Africa, killing livestock and destroying farms. “Where are the priorities for agriculture faced with these conditions?” he asked.

There are solutions Read more »

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