Agricultural communities adapting to climate change
1. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Agriculture Communities Adapting to Climate
Change
Ntombizakhe Mlilo
ORAP- Amalima Project, Zimbabwe
With the support ofNAME
2. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Where we work in Zimbabwe
• Matabeleland
North and South,
Midlands
• Arid, semi arid
3. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
The agriculture communities
Communal farmers
• household crop fields
• Communal agricultural production assets
• Grazing land
• Water sources
• Dip tanks
• Both individual and communal approaches to
adaptation to climate change
4. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Climate Change challenges
• Frequent droughts
• Erratic rains, mid-season dry spells
• Floods or very wet spells (waterlogging)
• Very high day temperatures
5. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Climate Impacts
• Direct effects on soils
• Direct effects on rain-fed crops, pastures
• Indirect effects – disease outbreaks
• Food, nutrition and income insecurity
6. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Why Adaptation
• Affects food systems
• Short-term volatility
• Medium term yield losses and increasing cost structures
• Long term production collapse – food aid
• Affects food companies
• Short term volatility
• Medium term increasing cost structures
• Long term disappearance of supply chains
7. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Adapting Crop Prod. Practices
1. Change planting season
2. Stagger planting
3. Match genotype and environment
• Drought tolerant small grains (e.g. sorghum)
• Ultra short season maize varieties
4. Diversification of crops
5. Integrated pest management
8. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Adapting Crop Prod. Practices
Amalima Project
9. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Adapting Crop Prod. Practices
Soil and water conservation techniques
10. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Adapting Livestock Prod Practices
Use of indigenous breeds,
crossbreeding
Amalima Project
11. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Adapting Livestock Prod Practices
• Supplementary feed
• fodder production
• home-made mixes/ licks
• stockfeed purchases
• pen-fattening
• Grazing land rehabilitation
12. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Adapting Livestock Prod Practices
Water sources – dams, boreholes
Amalima Project
13. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Adapting Livestock Prod Practices
Disease control
• rehabilitation of dipping facilities
• Train community animal health workers
14. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Socio-cultural Adaptation
Community mobilisation
• Forming work groups – labour support to beat short rain
season
• Local institutions (committees) - e.g. information
sharing on weather and markets
• Youth involvement, gender, local leadership
15. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Amalima Project
16. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Socio-cultural Adaptation
• Communication
• Early warning systems
• Electronic communication – radios, whatsapp
• Negotiation skills
• By-laws e.g. cutting down of trees
17. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Economic Adaptation
• Farming as a business, value addition, income
• Private sector in rural areas: production, suppliers,
processing, financing, marketing
• Alternative sources of income – less dependence on
agriculture
• Local financing of agric production (VS&L)
• Improve prod assets, services and demand services
• Govnt: policies, services, national programs, funding,
facilitation
18. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Successes and challenges
19. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
increased adoption of adapted small grains BUT
Labour requirements for small grains
Amalima Project
20. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Improved production/ productivity BUT
• Dryland crops affected by droughts
• Irrigated crops and pests
• Land degradation
Amalima Project
21. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Links to markets, increased income BUT
Efficiency of markets (information)
Amalima Project
22. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
• Social behaviour change and communication
• Availability and affordability of food
• Diversity of food
• Post-harvest handling, losses, food safety
• Stunting rates:
2010 NNS 2018 NNS
National 33.8 26.2
Gwanda 24.7 17.8
Tsholotsho 37.4 24.7
Bulilima 28.6 27.9
Mangwe 29.2 26.2
23. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Bare ground
24. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
silted rivers
25. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Conclusion
• Climate Change now widely discussed
• CC effects have been accumulative and adaptation
has to be “incremental” or evolve
• Agricultural communities need to be more visible in
Climate Change discussions
• Climate Change is complex and integrated approach
needed – soils, production,
income, human nutrition
26. « 4 per 1000 » Africa Symposium
Johannesburg, 24-26th October 2018
With the support of
Thank You, Siyabonga
