Farmer’s Prioritization and Adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Technologies and Practices

Abstract

Climate change affects seriously household food security, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where agriculture is still using traditional methods of farming systems. As strategies against the impact of climate change and way to increase agricultural production, several Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices were introduced and experimented at sub-regional and national levels in Niger. The purpose of this study is to prioritize these technologies and practices using participatory assessment approach and to analyze the determinants of their adoption. Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), organic manure, forest management, Zaï pits and stone bunds are the most preferred technologies and practices by the farmers according to the three pillars of Climate-Smart-Agriculture. The results of econometric models revealed that access to credit/subsidy, access to training, membership of an organization, source of income, family size and ownership of animal of traction influence significantly and positively the adoption of these CSA technologies and practices. The government and other development agents should reinforce the access of credit and training to farmers to boost the adoption of these technologies and practices, and to build sustainable and climate resilient livelihoods in order to move out of chronic poverty and food insecurity.

Use of Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies in dry-season peri-urban agriculture in West Africa Sahel: A case study from Saga, Niger

“…Some of the studies in Niger found out several adaptation strategies to climate change have been adopted (Asfawa et al, 2016; Moussa & Abasse, 2020), such as organic fertilizer, mulching, fallows, agroforestry and manure applications. Standard CSAT adopted by farmers are improved crop varieties, zaï and halfmoon practices and planting of trees (Zakari et al, 2019). The utilisation of CSA in Niger can double cereals yields in the degraded lands (Lamanna et al, 2015).…”

“…Rainfed agriculture is still dominant among farmers across the continent. Conventional farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have impacted food security in households (Zakari et al, 2019). The Sahara and Sahel have recorded the highest increase in average annual and seasonal surface temperature of 1-3℃ beginning from the mid-1970s (CDKN, 2022; IPCC, 2022), and this is projected to be higher in the West African Sahel than the global warming average of 1.5℃ in 2021-2040, 2℃ in 2041-2060 and 3℃ in 2081-2100.…”

“…Despite agriculture accounting for the largest share of the country's employment sector, it faces crucial challenges. Food insecurity consequences threaten Niger, and agricultural production in the country is affected by climate change (Zakari et al, 2019). The climate change repercussions include drought, ood, high temperatures, intermittent and unpredictable rainfall, and threatened agriculture productivity, production, and incomes.…”

“…In East Africa, research ndings revealed that more than 62% of farmers adopted improved maize varieties in Western Kenya (Kurgat et al, 2020;Mungai et al, 2017) Farming practices that conform to the principles and strategies of sustainable agriculture, including CSA, are carried out mainly in climate-smart villages . A study conducted in Southern Niger (Fakara) revealed that CSAT and performance among farmers vary signi cantly considering land, climate variability and farmers' objectives (Zakari et al, 2019). Meanwhile, a study conducted by in Niger and other West African countries reported that adopting CSAT and practices can reduce approximately 15% of crop losses due to drought and improve crop productivity by 38% and enhance soil fertility up to 20%.…”

“…For instance, the majority of the studies about the use of CSA and the impacts of climate change on agriculture in West Africa Sahel focused on cropland farming systems such as those (Abdoul-Karim et al, 2022) conducted in Niger. Lessons from climate-smart villages practices study (Zakari et al, 2019), CSAT adopted by farmers in Niger, particularly in the dry season, involve the application of organic manure, forest management, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), irrigation, zaï pits, and stone buds. However, his study focused on rural communities with vast natural resources, including farmlands.…”