A climate-smart agriculture transformation is needed across Africa to meet the challenges of climate change, food insecurity, malnutrition, poverty and environmental degradation, reports an article in the Business Times.

The article explains how the CGIAR is advocating climate-smart agriculture practices and technologies, such as agroforestry, that can sustainably increase productivity, support farmers’ adaptation to climate change, and where possible, reduce levels of greenhouse gases.

“At the local level, climate-smart agriculture shields farmers from the adverse effects of climate change. It improves farm yields and household incomes, leading to stronger and more resilient communities. At the national level, it helps deliver food security and development goals, while reducing emissions,” says the article.

A range of climate-smart agriculture initiatives are already underway in Africa, and examples of these are profiled in a booklet published jointly by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).

Among them are efforts under the East African Dairy Development project implemented by Heifer International in partnership with the World Agroforestry Centre, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Techno-Serve, African Breeders Service Total Cattle Management and farmers.

Read the full story: Climate-smart agriculture' vital, researchers pontificate

Download the booklet:

Nyasimi, M et al. (2014). Evidence of impact: Climate-smart agriculture in Africa. The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).