Climate-Smart Agriculture Approaches and Concepts for Food Systems Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Realities and Myths

Abstract

Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) agriculture, especially smallholding towards enhanced productivity and sustainability, is needed to address food challenges. The objective of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is to increase agricultural productivity, reinforce resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with agriculture activities. Through a qualitative approach based on interviews, our paper explored the successes and failures of CSA adoption in SSA. We established that several CSA options including; drought-tolerant crops livestock breeds, improved water management technologies, agroforestry, crop diversification, weather-based insurance, and soil fertility management improved yields, farmer incomes, and food security. However, CSA uptake remains low and unsatisfactory in SSA due to inadequate coherent policy and institutional actions. Also, the absence of ample practical evidence of CSA success stories, collapsing of CSA initiatives after donor funding dries up, and inadequate supportive strategic policies limited the implementation of CSA practices and technologies. We recommend countries strengthen national level institutions and carefully identify opportunities within already existing national policies to support the mainstreaming of CSA. Also, integrated efforts from various economic sectors are needed to evaluate, test and implement practical CSA options with greater potential of achieving sustainable development.