Climate-Smart Agriculture in African Countries: A Review of Strategies and Impacts on Smallholder Farmers

Thaddaeus Obaji Ariom, Elodie Dimon, Eva Nambeye (), Ndèye Seynabou Diouf, Oludotun Olusegun Adelusi and Sofiane Boudalia
Additional contact information
Thaddaeus Obaji Ariom: Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research, Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta P.O. Box 2240, Ogun State, Nigeria
Elodie Dimon: Laboratory of Animal Ecology, Health and Production, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Parakou, Parakou P.O. Box 123, Benin
Eva Nambeye: Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
Ndèye Seynabou Diouf: Independent Researcher, Cité Isra Bel Air, Dakar 10000, Senegal
Oludotun Olusegun Adelusi: Department of Animal Nutrition, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta P.O. Box 2240, Ogun State, Nigeria
Sofiane Boudalia: Laboratoire de Biologie, Eau et Environnement, Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie et Sciences de la Terre et de l’Univers, Université 8 Mai 1945 Guelma, P.O. Box 4010, Guelma 24000, Algeria

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-32

Abstract: The agricultural sector contributes approximately 10–20% of the total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions. Consequently, climate change can negatively affect crop yields and livestock production thus threatening food security, especially in a vulnerable continent like Africa. This review provides an overview of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices and their impacts on smallholder farmers in five African countries (Algeria, Senegal, Benin, Nigeria and Zambia). A total of 164 published articles on CSA practices were reviewed. Analysis of extracted data showed that CSA practices are classified as follows: agricultural practices, restoration practices of degraded lands, forest and cropland regeneration practices, practices in the livestock sub-sector, water resources and use of weather and climate information services. Moreover, climate change effects differed alongside strategies adapted from one country to another. Adoption of these strategies was often influenced by financial means put in place by governments, the role of policy legislation, access to climate information and farmers’ intellectual level. To address this deficiency, scientific-outcome-based research should be used to increase the effectiveness of climate adaptation management programs. In conclusion, to enhance the uptake of climate-smart agricultural practices in Africa, this review recommends the use of scientific-research-driven adaptation measures and prioritization of climate change in governments’ agendas.

Keywords: climate change; smallholder farmer; impact; food security; adaptation strategies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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