Governments and agricultural research and development institutions in Africa are becoming increasingly anxious about climate change and variability, and its effects on agricultural productivity and livelihoods. In the East and Central Africa (ECA) sub-region as in many parts of the continent, agricultural research and development practitioners are

assess available agricultural innovations and technologies to respond to climate change and variability to improve livelihoods in the arid and semi-arid areas in the ten ASARECA member countries, and

make recommendations on how capacity of policy makers and researchers are enhanced to negotiate and facilitate the implementation of agreements and the way forward to respond to climate change and variability challenges to improve livelihoods in ECA countries.

In his welcome remark the State Minister of MoARD, HE Dr Abera Deressa stated that climate change has affected agricultural production and productivity tremendously. He also stated the readiness of the Government of Ethiopia to support practice the outputs of the Conference.

The Executive Director of ASARECA, Dr Seyfu Ketema on his part underlined that arable land has become scanty due to land degradation and urbanization, limited water; changing climate. Drought in ECA region has become a proportional state of being devastating. Flood is displacing people and livestock in the region.

In his official opening speech, the Minister of MoARD, HE Ato Tefera Deribew, noted that in January 2009 a national climate change conference organized under the national climate change forum was attended by over 400 participants from government offices, diplomats, donors, UN representatives, private sector and academicians. He also noted for solid recommendations, quality, and relevant technologies and targeted approaches from the Conference. The Minister also affirmed his persistent support in implementing the resolutions of the Conference and acknowledged all involved arranging the meeting.

It is worthy of notice that subsequent to the plenary session, lead papers were presented spanning on the following overarching issues of climate change:

The influence of current and future climate-induced risk on the agricultural sector in ECA;

Post-Copenhagen reflections and beyond Mexico;

Strategies for adopting to climate change in rural sub-Saharan Africa targeting the most vulnerable;

Climate change vulnerability, impact and adaptation strategies in agriculture in ECA;

Agricultural research innovations to respond to climate change that enhance food security and improve livelihoods in dry areas;

Challenges of up-scaling in drylands;

Predicting climate change impact on Coffee Arabica; and

Plans and expectations for the climate change, agriculture and food security program

On the second day participants were divided in groups to discuss and produce recommendations on the following major issues

• UNFCCC and the outcomes and implications of the Copenhagen conference resolution for African countries;
• Assessment of climate change vulnerability, impact and national agricultural adaptation strategies in ASARECA member countries; and
• Assessment of available agricultural innovations and technologies to respond to climate change

The group that dealt with the UNFCCC outcomes and implications and assessment of climate change recommendations the following as next steps / way forward

• address persistent obstacles to policy implementation;
• explore ways and means of encouraging policy makers to attend such conference – focus on first team of advisors as entry point and to demand for information (that are user friendly);
• domestication of international treaties;
• more studies to enhance/increase inventory on climate change;
• qualitative social-economic analysis on climate change;
• capacity building and awareness raising on climate change;
• support research to policy linkages; and
• engaging legislators

 Based on guidelines for completion of pro-forma for information on best-bet technologies or innovations to respond to climate variability and change various presentations were made on crops, livestock, and natural resources management. The pro-forma requests description of the technology or innovation, assessment of scaling up approaches used, current situation and future scaling up, and gender considerations

 The group that handled assessment of available agricultural innovations and technologies produced pertinent issues and priority areas including mitigation, adaptation, and technology transfer. To get the upper hand in the future, the group identified the following priority areas for mitigation:

• Develop methodologies to assess above and below ground carbon;
• Alternative household energy sources;
• Evaluation of bio-fuels as alternative source of energy source;
• Sustainable land management including agroforestry, afforestation, avoid deforestation and conservation agriculture;
• Linking farmers to carbon markets; and
• Developing framework for emission trading, piloting and rolling it over to other countries

Along the line, the group also identified the following adaptation priorities:

• Identify and map the most vulnerable agricultural systems and areas (climate information);
• Identify and test viable adaptation measures and scenarios  including indigenous and traditional coping mechanisms such as diversification, crop insurance, agricultural water management systems, early warning systems, crops varieties, and livestock breeds (stress tolerant);
• Conserving and protecting biodiversity and ecosystem resilience; and
• Knowledge generation and management (information, data, communication and sharing)

 As weapon of choice, technology transfer priorities were also identified as follows:

• Devising appropriate technology transfer strategies;
• Formulating incentives to promote adoption of high impact technologies by smallholders;
• Strengthening  research to make use of emerging technologies e.g. biotechnology; and
• Harnessing ICT to reach many and diverse stakeholders

Stakeholders for proper deliver technologies and innovations identified by the groups include the following:

• Farmers and pastoral communities and farmer organizations;
• CBOs and NGOs;
• State and non-state extension workers;
• Policy makers (legislative and administrative) plus focal points; and
• Private sector

Proper sensitization of partners and stakeholders were also isolated during the group discussions. The following approaches were identified to tighten the coalition to combat climate change impacts on agriculture:

• Mass media, demonstration sites, extension officers, farmer platforms, cluster meeting, agricultural shows, drama, farmer field schools, exchange visit;
• Workshops and conferences, short and long-term training, manuals; and
• Policy briefs, exchange visits to other countries, media, development of policy makers’ forum on climate change issues. Support to advocacy groups

Research scientists, extension officials, development partners, and university presidents from ASARECA member countries; and senior representatives of International Agricultural Research Centers operating in the ECA sub-region attended the Conference.

After consolidating the resolutions, participants, through their representatives, declared that what they have promised are liabilities to their constituencies. Thus, their involvement should exceed persuasive speech or writing on climate change.

The Conference was adjourned by a concrete guideline from the Executive Director of ASARECA, Dr Seyfu Ketema on the future of dealing with the complex and layered climate change impacts on agriculture in ECA sub-region and the expected top and resolute professional and political commitments by all concerned.

Abebe Kirub. ICPR

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it