Climate change vulnerability and risk assessment of agriculture and food security in Ethiopia: which way forward?
Catherine Mungai(CCAFS East Africa)
A recently published working paper gives recommendations that provide a solid framework for the Ethiopian government to improve its climate change policies and enhance its research in critical sectors and regions.
Low agricultural productivity and recurrent food insecurity have already put Ethiopia in a precarious situation, which will only be exacerbated by climate change and variability.
To raise awareness on climate change and food security, and to understand the needs for research and priorities for agricultural adaptation and mitigation in Ethiopia, the Climate Change Forum – Ethiopia (CCF-E), the Ministry of Agriculture, USAID Ethiopia and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) East Africa organized a national conference in July 2011, in Addis Ababa.
The two day conference on Raising Awareness on Climate Change and Food Security in Ethiopia aimed to: review and assess the vulnerability and risks to Ethiopian agriculture as a result of climate change; explore the threats faced by Ethiopian agriculture as a result of climate change; identify gaps and opportunities in addressing the challenges of climate change; and create a plan for integrating adaptation and mitigation actions and policies into the national framework.
access the working paper here
Thirteen papers were presented at the conference on a range of topics. The recommendations from these papers provide a solid framework for the Ethiopian government to improve its climate change policies and enhance its research in critical sectors and regions.
The groundwork has been laid through such documents as the Climate Resilient Green Economy mission statement and the Ethiopian Programme of Adaptation on Climate Change.
Key recommendations from this workshop include enhancing capacity in key sectors such as agro-meteorological advisories and downscaling climate change models, improving agricultural extension services especially for women, increasing research in new crop varieties, and creating policies to allow mobility of pastoralists are all key areas which can help reduce the vulnerability of Ethiopian agriculture to climate change.
Read more from a CCAFS working paper No. 59: Climate Change Vulnerability and Risk Assessment of Agriculture and Food Security in Ethiopia Which Way Forward?
Working paper 59 has been authored by Henry Mahoo, Maren Radeny, James Kinyangi and Laura Cramer.
