LAND AND COPENHAGEN
The climate of Africa has warmed by 0.5 ˚C in the last century, and the median temperature is projected to increase another 3 to 4 ˚C by the end of this century.
Changes in precipitation and the timing of the rainy season are already becoming visible in Eastern Africa and other regions. Across the continent there will be changes in temperature and in the timing, amounts and intensity of rainfall with a tendency towards wetter conditions in the tropics and drying in the sub-tropics.
In many parts the length of the growing period is likely to decrease over time with projected losses in yield of up to 50% by 2020 in some countries.
The land area suitable for rainfed agriculture is expected to significantly decrease affecting adversely land productivity potential of the continent.
These production challenges as a result of climate change will sit alongside increasing population pressures.
Should agriculture continue with ‘business as usual’ food scarcity will become more widespread reaching critical state in more and more locations and regions. Without reliable food supply it will be ever harder for governments and civil society to maintain economic growth and social stability.
Adaptation in farming systems through the adoption of SLM is a necessity.
Only though changes to the way farming is carried out will production be secured. This is not just a problem for Africa but one that will affect all countries on all continents.
Those of us who work with SLM in Africa know this – the question is, will this knowledge be shared, heard and acted upon in Copenhagen?
Mark
LATEST NEWS
Keep an eye on this space for the latest on the discussion. You can follow all the guest expert’s remarks and comments as well as the public discussion by clicking on the timeline above.
After an interesting first week we now discuss the challenges in financing SLM initiatives. Please click here for the latest.
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Please keep your comments brief and relevant to the discussion. Comments should be addressed directly to the moderator. Please treat your fellow readers with courtesy no matter how much you may disagree with their views.
wrote:
Per makes an really insightful point (echoed by Anne, Alex, Stephen and perhaps on the minds of many) that farmers see things very differently to ‘SLM experts’ and that engagement is the key to SLM uptake.
As SLM experts we are aware of the bigger picture, the need for solutions to landscape, region and country scale problems of balancing food security with social and economic well-being without degrading the environment. But this is not the picture that an African farmer sees – interestingly it is not the picture that graziers or cotton growers in Australia see either.
In the end farms are businesses that must be viable even if produce for family consumption is their primary output.
Maybe this is the problem, for the transactions that go on in business are for the benefit of the transacting parties and not the resource base.
So engagement with farmers will need to be about the benefit to their business.
This may also explain Stephen’s point about the disjunct between research, extension and policy people – 20 years among researchers and academics proved to me that this group at least, know very little about how to do business.
Mark
wrote:
Per makes an really insightful point (echoed by Anne, Alex, Stephen and perhaps on the minds of many) that farmers see things very differently to ‘SLM experts’ and that engagement is the key to SLM uptake.
As SLM experts we are aware of the bigger picture, the need for solutions to landscape, region and country scale problems of balancing food security with social and economic well-being without degrading the environment. But this is not the picture that an African farmer sees – interestingly it is not the picture that graziers or cotton growers in Australia see either.
In the end farms are businesses that must be viable even if produce for family consumption is their primary output.
Maybe this is the problem, for the transactions that go on in business are for the benefit of the transacting parties and not the resource base.
So engagement with farmers will need to be about the benefit to their business.
This may also explain Stephen’s point about the disjunct between research, extension and policy people – 20 years among researchers and academics proved to me that this group at least, know very little about how to do business.
Mark
Organisation: Moderator
Posted on: October 2, 2009 12:50 pm
moderator wrote:
Katya makes an interesting suggestion. Perhaps someone from the TerrAfrica Secretariat could share their views.
Organisation: Moderator
Posted on: September 30, 2009 12:31 am
Moderator wrote:
Does anyone have any thoughts on how we would encourage the practical implementation phase that Boaz points to?
Mark
Moderatorwrote:
Does anyone have any thoughts on how we would encourage the practical implementation phase that Boaz points to?
Mark
Organisation: Moderator
Posted on: September 28, 2009 7:44 am
Moderator wrote:
Are land rights a consequence or a prerequisite for productive management? I am not sure that it is alwys clear which comes first. Even when tenure is uncertain if an agricultural practice is known to deliver returns it is likely to be taken up, at least by some farmers. Then returns would accrue and create land value that encourages, where possible, tenure.
So should we be promoting awareness to generate tenure opportunity or promote (the harder issue I think) of tenure first?
Mark
Moderatorwrote:
Are land rights a consequence or a prerequisite for productive management? I am not sure that it is alwys clear which comes first. Even when tenure is uncertain if an agricultural practice is known to deliver returns it is likely to be taken up, at least by some farmers. Then returns would accrue and create land value that encourages, where possible, tenure.
So should we be promoting awareness to generate tenure opportunity or promote (the harder issue I think) of tenure first?
Mark
Organisation: Moderators Comment
Posted on: September 22, 2009 2:33 pm
Moderator wrote:
Does anyone have any thoughts on how SLM partnerships could be improved? Perhaps some examples of where they have worked well?
Mark
Moderatorwrote:
Does anyone have any thoughts on how SLM partnerships could be improved? Perhaps some examples of where they have worked well?
Mark
Organisation:
Posted on: September 19, 2009 8:15 am
Florence Richards wrote:
I am really looking forward to this discussion!
Organisation: Guest views
Posted on: September 12, 2009 3:24 pm
6
comments