Mali smallholder farmers see benefits of smart climate agriculture technologies
ABIDJAN — While African agriculture experts emphasize the need to transform the continent’s raw food materials into finished goods, the impact of climate change — inconsistent rains and rising temperatures — could be disastrous for smallholder farmers seeking to maintain yields and harvest products beyond subsistence farming.
During the African Green Revolution Forum held in Abidjan earlier this month, leading researchers on agriculture discussed ways to build farmer resilience and adapt to climate change in Africa. An estimated 60 percent of the continent’s workforce is in agriculture — the majority being small-scale farmers. With a booming population that needs to be fed and nourished, the imperative for the development community is to mitigate the impact of climate change.
Speakers at the Abidjan meeting urged attendees to acknowledge the need to adopt farming techniques that can help them adapt to the shifting climate. Without these steps, climate change could cause Africa’s agricultural productivity fall at a time when it desperately needs to rise.
CIFOR