How can we build the adaptive capacity of vulnerable African farmers by developing response farming practices? Presentation by Mary O’Neill

1. How can we build the adaptive capacity of vulnerable
African farmers by developing response farming
practices?
Mary O’Neill
IDRC-DFID Climate Change Adaptation in Africa program

2. Evidence of impact
Participatory Action Research with smallholders led to testing of
various practices – including improved forecasting information, and
agricultural innovations to improve soils and water retention/
uptake. Key impacts and evidence:
1. Increase in demand for climate information from farmers and district
officials – In Kenyan test sites more than 80% of farmers said they’d be
willing to pay. In Same,Tanzania– consensus forecasts added to district
agricultural budgets.
2. Increase in yields, eg. Maize in Ethiopia test sites increased more than 7
fold using new water harvesting/ seeding technology developed with farmer
input. In Benin, 300 farmers in 60 field schools found mixing maize and
leguminous ground cover improved yield by >40% (soil protection &
enrichment to protect against drought)
3. Uptake of research findings – In Ethiopia, new water harvesting
planter/seeder is being commercialized for wider us; In Benin research
findings being integrated in a NAPA follow up project

3. Going to scale
1. National and district level decisions need to be taken
with input from the community level. Need
participatory processes institutionalized in decision
making. Intermediaries such as NGOs and farmers
unions play an important linking role.
2. Information alone is insufficient. Improved climate
info for farmers needs to be packaged with
training, and responsive technology transfer (both
hard and soft)
3. Need smart progress indicators that gauge the
effectiveness of adaptation supports – how are
households faring? How carbon and input intensive
are farming methods