Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods / Agriculture et moyens de subsistance en milieu rurale
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Item Adapting locally to global climate change : experiences from rural Africa; dialogue report(IDRC, Ottawa, ON, CA, 2007) O'Neill, MaryItem Application de la recherche-action participative à l'adaptation aux changements climatiques en Afrique : manuel de référence(Centre pour la recherche forestière internationale (CIFOR), Bogor, ID, 2012) German, Laura A.; Tiani, Anne-Marie; Daoudi, Ali; Maravanyika, Tendayi Mutimukuru; Chuma, EdwardItem Application of participatory action research to climate change adaptation in Africa : a reference guide(Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor, ID, 2012) German, Laura A.; Tiani, Anne-Marie; Daoudi, Ali; Maravanyika, Tendayi Mutimukuru; Chuma, EdwardThe Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) program works to establish a self-sustained African body of expertise on adaptation defined by African communities, decision-makers, and institutions. This Reference Guide presents a “best bet” approach to the application of participatory action research (PAR) in addressing adaptation challenges. Diverse PAR tools and processes are portrayed in detail, including basics used throughout the PAR process (facilitation, process documentation), preparatory steps in building teams and engaging stakeholders, ways of understanding the problem or opportunity and conceptualizing change, planning, managing of change, and the role of empirical research as inputs to decision making.Item Atelier de planification et de préparation de l'exécution du projet CoFCCA : rapport général de travaux(CIFOR, Yaoundé, CM, 2008) Bele, Youssoufa; Tchuante, ValeryItem Building adaptive capacity to cope with increasing vulnerability due to climate change : final technical report - Zimbabwe (30 September 2010)(Midlands State University, Gweru, ZW, 2010) Mugabe, F.T.; Munodawafa, A.; Dimes, J.; Nanja, D.H.; Carberry, P.Baseline data to describe cropping system and management under current climate variability and farmer perceptions about climate change across 4 districts of Zimbabwe and Zambia was collected and analyzed. Indigenous knowledge of climate and indicators to seasonal conditions were also documented and compared with scientific forecasts. Prediction of seasonal climate was consistent with that from the meteorological department. Seven workshops were held to educate farmers and extension agents on interpretation of the Seasonal Climate Forecast (SCF) and explore together its application in making cropping decisions. Management options in response to the SCF were then tested in participatory on-farm trials.Item Building adaptive capacity to cope with increasing vulnerability due to climate change : report of the Inception Workshop, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, 7-8 June 2007(Midlands State University, Gweru, ZW, 2007) Mugabe, FrancisParticipants at the inception workshop included officials from universities, meteorological offices, and extension services from Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as scientists from various international organizations. The objectives were to familiarize participants with farmers’ perceptions of climate change, as well as with current work on adaptation to climate change. This report provides detailed summaries of the presentations and discussions at the meeting, such as current coping strategies, reliability of meteorological data, Agromet information dissemination, precipitation changes, and farmer’s perceptions of climate quality.Item Cadre institutionnel en Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre en matière de changement climatique : rapport final(Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, SN, 2007) Niang, IsabelleItem Characteristics of snail farmers and constraints to increased production in West and Central Africa(Academic Journals, 2010) Ngenwi, A.A.; Mafeni, J.M.; Etchu, K.A.; Oben, F.T.Snail gathering/rearing is an important source of livelihood for rural dwellers in the humid forest and derived savanna zones of West and Central Africa. Recently, declining populations of Archachatina archachatina and Archachatina marginata species is being observed, with climatic conditions and changes in land use implicated as causal factors. However, these claims are still to be ascertained. A study was carried out to characterize snail farmers, identify constraints to increased snail production and suggest strategies required to conserve edible snail species and sustain livelihoods. Structured questionnaires and focus group discussions were used for data collection in selected locations in Cameroon and Ghana. Descriptive statistics (means and percentages) was used to summarize the data obtained. The results indicate that snail farmers are predominantly women with basic school level of education. Between 42 and 62% of rural income is derived from sale of snails. Causes of declining snail populations were attributed to habitat loss through deforestation, overexploitation, indiscriminate harvesting, climate change - indicated by extremely high temperatures and low rainfall, high dependence on agricultural chemicals (herbicides and pesticides) and lack of training on improved snail husbandry. A holistic approach to biodiversity conservation and capacity building of current and wouldbe snail farmers is suggested to increase snail supply in markets.Item Climate forecasting to serve communities in West Africa(Elsevier, 2010) Tall, ArameThe recent Red Cross experience acting on forecasts in west Africa provides examples of how climate information can be linked to decisions and serve development in low-income regions, and how climate and weather forecasts may become useful to communities at risk from climatic events, provided that the obstacles thwarting these communities’ access to and use of forecasts are clearly identified and overcome.Item Climate variability and change : perceptions, experiences and realities(2012) Rao, K P C; Oyoo, AFarming in the semi-arid tropics, where climatic conditions are marginal and highly variable, is a risky enterprise. The main source of this risk is the variability in rainfall that occurs at many different timescales, ranging from seasons to years to decades and beyond. Farmers operating under these conditions make decisions based on their perceptions and experiences gained from several years of keen observation and practice in the field. However, perceptions are influenced by many factors, both real and subjective. For agriculture, factors like farm productivity, crop, market and local preferences, capacity to invest, willingness to take risks and soil quality play an important role. While the role and significance of some of these factors on productivity and profitability can be perceived more easily due to their relative predictability, extreme variability in climate and the random nature of that variability makes it difficult for farmers to accurately perceive trends in climate. In the absence of detailed measurements, perceptions can be biased and unreliable. Climate information can play an important role in helping farmers better understand this variability and its associated risks, and enhancing their decision-making for effective risk management.Item Competing use of organic resources, village-level interactions between farm types and climate variability in a communal area of NE Zimbabwe(Elsevier, 2011) Rufino, M.C.; Dury, J.; P. Tittonell; Wijk, M.T. van; Herrero, M.Addition of crop residues or animal manure is needed to sustain agricultural production on inherently poor soils. This study assesses the effect of village-level interactions on carbon and nutrient flows, exploring their impact on long-term productivity of different farm types under climate variability. Increasing mineral fertiliser-use concurrently with keeping crop residues in fertile fields and allocating manure to poor fields, may boost crop and cattle productivity at village level. In communal areas of NE Zimbabwe, feed resources are collectively managed, with herds grazing on grasslands during the rainy season and on crop residues during the dry season.Item Design, development and testing of Water Harvesting in Rows Planter (Wahip) for marginal rainfed areas(ESRSA Publication, 2013-07) Yousif, Lotfie A.; Abdelhadi, A.W.; Babiker, Imad A. Ali; Babiker, EbtehagA water harvesting in-row planter (WaHIP) was developed for seeding sorghum in furrows in areas of low rainfall. Results showed that WaHIP constructed ridges, seeded sorghum in the furrow, and simultaneously covered about 2 hectares in one hour at the working speed of 8 km/hr. Its use resulted in the highest soil moisture, tallest plants and highest sorghum yield. Based on statistical and economic analyses, WaHIP is technically feasible, economically profitable and socially acceptable. Therefore, it is recommended as an indispensable machine for sorghum production in marginal rainfed areas such as the Sudan.Item Designing, developing and testing of a seeder for tree seeding and in situ water harvesting(Research Publisher, 2013) Ali Babiker, Imad-eldin; Yousif, Lotfie A.; Elgezouli, Hassan A.; Mohammed, Bakri S.; Daffalla, Mohamed Y.; Babiker, EbtehagCurrent methods of collection and processing of tree seed is difficult and expensive. Moreover, the germination of tree seeds and establishment of seedlings requires sufficient soil moisture over adequate periods of time. The objective of this research was to develop a tree seeder to: regulate spacing between tree seeds; harvest and conserve rain water; conserve tree seeds and optimize its seeding cost; test the developed seeder at different ecological sites; and conduct a socioeconomic evaluation for the developed seeder. Findings show the developed seeder is acceptable and technically viable while it reduces the costs of thinning.Item Determination of seasonal rainfall variability, onset and cessation in semi-arid Tharaka district, Kenya(Springer, 2012) Recha, C.W.; Makokha, G.L.; Traore, P.S.; Shisanya, C.; Lodoun, T.; Sako, A.The study quantified rainfall variability for March– May (MAM) and October–December (OND) seasons in Tharaka district, Kenya. The parameters analysed were interannual variability of seasonal rainfall, onset and cessation using daily rainfall data in three agro-ecological zones’ stations. Percentage mean cumulative method was used to determine onset and cessation, and seasonal variability was estimated using rainfall variability indices. Although both seasons are highly variable, OND has been persistently below mean over time while MAM shows high within-season variability. Despite the near uniformity in the mean onset and cessation dates, the former is highly variable on an interannual scale. The two rainfall seasons are inherently dissimilar and therefore require specific cropping in agro-ecological zone LM4 and LM4-5. It is possible that farmers in IL5 are missing an opportunity by under-utilising MAM rainfall. The results should be incorporated in implications of climate variability and vulnerability assessment in semi-arid Tharaka district.Item Éléments de stratégie régionale d'adaptation aux changement climatique basée sur l'approche de partage des risques : Afrique de l'Ouest; rapport final(Auteur, Dakar, SN, 2007) Niasse, MadiodioItem Elements of a regional climate change adaptation strategy based on the risk sharing approach : West Africa; final report(Author, Dakar, SN, 2007) Niasse, MadiodioItem Enhancing African food security in the face of climate change : are existing risk management mechanisms adequate?(IDRC, Ottawa, ON, CA, 2008) International Development Research Centre (IDRC)A COP 14 (Conference of the Parties) side event, this panel discussion hosted by the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa program invited representatives of key African subregional organizations to reflect on the adequacy of existing regional climate risk management mechanisms. While socioeconomic determinants of food security such as markets for agricultural products might be important in the short term, the long term stability and availability of food production are closely linked with environmental factors.Item Enhancing response farming for improved strategic and tactical agronomic adaptation to seasonal rainfall variability under the semi-arid conditions of Ethiopia(Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, TZ, 2013) Admassu, HabtamuThe research developed a strategic predictor capable of advanced prediction of rainfall parameters by a lead time of two to three months, a marked improvement over previous forecasting. Using the amount of off-season and cumulative early-season rainfall, seventeen prediction models that can facilitate in-season tactical response farming (RF) were developed. Predictive capacity is crucial for rainfall variability and farming conditions in the drylands of Ethiopia. An increased maize grain yield by 70% was achieved from enhanced RF (ERF) forecasts which guided maize production strategy, and was tested at 55 sites during the 2010-11 seasons.Item Enhancing smallhoders' capacity to cope with climate change : use of seasonal climate forecasts(2012) Mugabe, Francis T.; Admassu, Habtamu; Sall, Amadou; Omolo, Nancy A.; Honkponou, SaidThis document is one of a series of factsheets that aim to share practical experience of how Participatory Action Research (PAR) can be used to trigger technological, social and institutional innovation in Africa to enhance smallholders’ adaptive capacity in the face of climate change and increased climate variability. The uniqueness of this approach is the integration of the “what” (the technologies) with the “how” (PAR) and the “why” (increased capacity of smallholders to cope with climate change).Item Enhancing smallholders' capacity to cope with climate change : participatory action research and integrated soil fertility management(2012) Mapfumo, Paul; Adjei-Nsiah, Samuel; Mahoo, Henry; Majule, AmosThis document is one of a series of factsheets that aim to share practical experience of how Participatory Action Research (PAR) can be used to trigger technological, social and institutional innovation in Africa to enhance smallholders’ adaptive capacity in the face of climate change and increased climate variability. The uniqueness of this approach is the integration of the “what” (the technologies) with the “how” (PAR) and the “why” (increased capacity of smallholders to cope with climate change).