Cecilia's blog

by Alexa Jay and Gopal Datt Bhatta

South Asia has historically been characterized by the dominance of smallholder, rainfed agriculture. Increasing climate variability creates yearly fluctuations in production that adds new risks to farming systems.

Precipitation is a very important component for agriculture in the region. The region has relatively low-to-moderate seasonal forecast skill during summer. It is however very crucial to assess seasonal predictions and inform the design of actionable seasonal climate information for rural communities to meet the associated risks. Read more »

by Manon Verchot

“The main problem is water and rain,” said Joseph, a farmer from Makueni, Kenya on an episode of Shamba Shape-Up. Joseph and his wife Angela are among many farmers who are suffering from the unpredictable weather patterns caused by climate change.

In response to farmer concerns, the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) has partnered with the East African TV show Shamba Shape-Up to bring sustainable agricultural innovations to farmers. Read more »

by Cecilia Schubert

Live blog from ongoing UNFCCC climate negotiations in Germany

After attending a thought-provoking climate conference session convened by the World Bank last week, we have one question on our minds: “Can we assist smallholders adapting to climate change while reducing agriculture’s damaging effects, without taking into account other sectors such as forests, grasslands and degraded soils?” Read more »