Sika Gbegbelegbe

Maize systems under climate change in sub-Saharan Africa

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the biophysical and socioeconomic impacts of climate change on maize production and food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) using adapted improved maize varieties and well-calibrated and validated bioeconomic models. Design/methodology/approach – Using the past climate (1950-2000) as a baseline, the study estimated the biophysical impacts of climate change in 2050 (2040-2069) and 2080 (2070-2099) under the A1B emission scenario and three nitrogen levels, and the socioeconomic impacts in 2050. Findings – Climate change will affect maize yields across SSA in 2050 and 2080, and the extent of the impact at a given period will vary considerably between input levels, regions and maize mega environments (MMEs). Greater relative yield reductions may occur under medium and high-input intensification than under low intensification, in Western and Southern Africa than in Eastern and Central Africa and in lowland and dry mid-altitude than in highland and wet mid-alt...

Shaping sustainable intensive production systems: improved crops and cropping systems in the developing world.

Introduction 1 Climate projections for 2050 2 Rainfed Intensive Crop Systems 3 Climate Sensitivity of Intensive Rice-Wheat Systems in Tropical Asia: Focus on the Indo-Gangetic Plains 4 Climate Change Challenges for Low Input Cropping and Grazing Systems - Australia 5 Diversity in Organic and Agro-ecological Farming Systems for Mitigation of Climate Change Impact, with Examples from Latin America 6 UK Fruit and Vegetable Production - Impacts of Climate Change and Opportunities for Adaptation 7 Intensive Livestock Systems for Dairy Cows 8 Climate Change and Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems in Temperate-Humid Regions of North and South America: Mitigation and Adaptation 9 Land Managed for Multiple Services 10 Adaptation of Mixed Crop-Livestock Systems in Asia 11 Enhancing Climate Resilience of Cropping Systems 12 Shaping Sustainable Intensive Production Systems: Improved Crops and Cropping Systems in the Developing World 13 The role of modeling in adapting and building the climate resilience of cropping systems 14 Agroforestry Solutions for Buffering Climate Variability and Adapting to Change 15 Channeling the future? The use of seasonal climate forecasts in climate adaptation 16 Agricultural adaptation to climate change: new approaches to knowledge and learning 17 What are the Factors that Dictate the Choice of Coping Strategies to Climate Extreme Events? The Case of Farmers in the Nile Basin of Ethiopia

Smallholder farmers in eastern Africa and climate change: a review of risks and adaptation options with implications for future adaptation programmes

This article reviews the published evidence of the climatic risks faced by smallholder farmers in eastern Africa and the adaptation strategies these farmers have so far adopted. In addition, the study draws on two detailed case studies in Kenya for a better understanding of the nuances of climate adaptation, requiring a range of measures to be adopted and institutions working together. Findings from the study reveal that the most consistent observation among farmers is that eastern Africa is experiencing increased temperature and decreased rainfall across all its agro-ecological zones. In response to their perceived climatic risks, smallholder farmers in the region are using both short-term and long-term strategies, with the former mainly consisting of coping mechanisms against climate chocks. In addition, the adaptation strategies implemented by the farmers are influenced by agro-ecological conditions which shape their farming systems and institutional settings including proximity to a major city and markets. The case studies highlight the importance of collaborative efforts between key local and external stakeholders in supporting adaptation to climate change. Key lessons are drawn from this study for the development of future adaptation programmes.