Current Practices and Prospects of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Democratic Republic of Congo: A Review

Abstract

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is one of the innovative approaches for sustainably increasing the agricultural productivity, improving livelihoods and incomes of farmers, while at the same time improving resilience and contributing to climate change mitigation. In spite of the fact that there is neither explicit policy nor practices branded as CSA in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), farmers are utilizing an array of farming practices whose attributes meet the CSA criteria. However, the intensity, distribution, efficiency, and dynamics of use as well as the sources of these technologies are not sufficiently documented. Therefore, this review paper provides a comprehensive evidence of CSA-associated farming practices in DRC, public and private efforts to promote CSA practices, and the associated benefits accruing from the practices as deployed by farmers in the DRC. We find evidence of progress among farming communities in the use of practices that can be classified as CSA. Communities using these practices are building on the traditional knowledge systems and adaptation of introduced technologies to suit the local conditions. Reported returns on use of these practices are promising, pointing to their potential continued use into the future. While progressive returns on investment are reported, they are relatively lower than those reported from other areas in sub-Saharan Africa deploying similar approaches. We recommend for strategic support for capacity building at various levels, including public institutions for policy development and guidance, extension and community level to support uptake of technologies and higher education institutions for mainstreaming CSA into curricula and training a generation of CSA sensitive human resources.

Scoping study on Ethiopian sesame value chain

“…Developing climate-smart technologies that fit different agro-ecologies and production systems should follow. Adapting to digitalizing weather information delivery methods is mandatory to take the necessary practices that enable farmers to adjust themselves in the changing environment (Abegunde et al, 2019;Karume et al, 2022;Shahzad et al, 2021). Short message information delivery system through Mobil phones is now widely used in many countries.…”

Farming practices, varietal preferences, and land suitability analyses for yam production in Eastern D.R. Congo: implications for breeding initiatives and food sovereignty

“…On the other hand, an increase in production (20.3%) was recently observed and this is tightly associated with the expansion of cultivated lands (21.9%) rather than the yield increase per unit area (FAO, 2023). Such agricultural practices are not sustainable and climate-smart since they accelerate deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions (Kiba et al, 2020;Karume et al, 2022).…”

“…Root and tubers crops, including yams, are the backbone of food security across the humid tropics in SSA, providing food and income to more than 300 million people in developing countries (Thiele et al, 2017;Agre et al, 2022b). This importance is expected to increase under the present and future climate change scenarios as these crops are highly resilient as compared to cereals and legumes (Thiele et al, 2017;Karume et al, 2022). As for other root and tuber crops, yam is a food security crop in DRC for several reasons: (i) it is the third most consumed tuber crop after cassava and sweet potato, (ii) it fills the hunger gap during drought and lean periods; (iii) it provides dietary fibers, vitamin C, vitamin B6, proteins, potassium, manganese, and low saturated fat and sodium contents (Agre et al, 2022b); (iv) it is less sensitive to biotic and abiotic stresses and thus could substitute cassava in disease-prone areas; (iv) it is a source of income for households involved in its production and trade (Mondo et al, 2021); etc.…”

Farmers Perceptions of Climate Change Issues in Tetritskaro Municipality, Georgia

“…This warming has various impacts, including rising global temperatures, melting ice caps and glaciers, sea level rise, and a rise in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (Easterling 2000;Ossó et al 2022). Climate change, characterized by an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, (Harvey et al2018;Camila et al 2019;Balasha and Nkulu 2021;Rasul 2021;Karume et al 2022;Balasha et al 2023), is believed to directly impact agricultural production and the well-being of populations worldwide (Pangapanga et al 2012;Chisale 2013;Ofoegbu et al 2016;Harvey et al 2018;Missanjo et al 2019;Camila et al 2019;Balasha and Nkulu 2021;Rasul 2021;Karume et al 2022;Balasha et al 2023). Anticipated future climate change and the impact of extreme weather events on agriculture escalates the need for socially just timely responses, the development and implementation of measures for adaptation, considering the characteristics of different countries, regions, and communities (Monirul Alam et al 2017;Adger 2001), where the local farmers can make the greatest contribution.…”

“…Therefore, knowing how male and female farmers perceive these impacts and what determines their adaptation strategy (Slegers 2008;Bryan et al 2009;Mertz et al 2009;Weber 2010;Zampaligré et al 2014;Chakraborty et al 2019;Lee et al 2019;Buylova et al 2020;. ) can allow us to provide farmers with new opportunities for more targeted all farmersresponsive adaptation policies (Amani et al 2022;Karume et al 2022) and to design interventions that are more appropriate for the local context Chuma et al 2022;Karume et al 2022).…”