Adaptations - Impacts Explorer

Summary Climate Crops Livestock Economics Adaptations References

Stakeholder views on adaptation

Stakeholders believe that through diversification and market incentives farmers can step up from currently extremely low production to substantially higher volumes for food and sale and also increase the value per unit cropland, also under climate change.

It is clearly understood that multiple factors, including high spatial and temporal variability of rainfall, poor water resources, poor soils, limited access to inputs and markets, all contribute to the extremely low crop yields. In addition, human - wildlife conflicts, for instance elephant attacks and quelea bird invasions, devastate crops.

While maize is the predominant crop, and favored through current government and development interventions, it is not the only source of livelihoods. There is need to acknowledge that alternative crops can raise the value of land. Labeled as orphan crops, small grains and legumes have a potential to improve agricultural production. More research is needed to establish the comparative advantage and requirements of small grains and legumes in semi-arid areas under climate change, vis a vis the predominant staple crops. Policy support and industry investment are required for substantial change in crop systems to take off.

Crop modeling information on climate change adaptation can be complemented with Indigenous knowledge systems, e.g. on climate forecasts, crop processing and alternative livelihoods.

There is need to better understand farmers interest to invest in livestock and off-farm income to sustain food security, when own grain production is not sufficient.

Crop composition: It is critical to provide clear information on crops that can withstand heat and fluctuating rainfall, and how farmers can best diversify their crops to hedge agains climate risk.

Choice of crop varieties: With changing growing seasons farmers need to know which crops and variteies are suitable for their area, coping with increasing temperature and limited moisture.

Seasonal forecasts: Even if beyond AgMIP, forecasts must be available to farmers in time, such that they can plan crop management according to the expected length of growing period and distribution of rainfall.

Crop management: Climate information determines opportunities for integrating best fit management options, including flexible sequencing of crops and varieties along with low risk soil fertility, planting, weed and pest management.

Water harvesting techniques: There is general need to promote soil and water conservation techniques that allow farmers conserving available water while reducing run-off.

Crop livestock integration: Livestock is key to hedge against climate risk. Feed technologies that support livestock assist buffering grain losses.

Livestock

In areas like Nkayi there is need for planning strategies for livestock adaptation to the drier climate at various scales, by local extension and leadership and higher level policy and decision makers.

Windows of opportunities as identified by stakeholders

Identify profitable crops, livestock, income generation, and low risk technologies that support production to markets;
Inform about real market potential in resource poor areas, e.g. legumes and livestock. Private agents would invest and develop their own markets, if the conditions were conducive;
Strategize extension approaches to set more land under production and enhance production per unit land, towards developing climate smart food production systems, engage in input and output markets along crop and livestock value chains;
Improving the farming context (e.g. agricultural policies, markets) will allow farmers and other stakeholders implement and benefit more from climate change adaptation strategies.

Fig. 2. In Nkayi, as in more than half the country more than a third of households are food insecure during peak times of vulnerability. Source (ZimVAC, 2014).