Climate Smart Agriculture - A Comprehensive Scoping and Assessment Study with Particular Reference to Uganda

Authors

  • Prof. David. S.O Osiru Bishop Stuart University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59472/jodet.v1i1.6

Abstract

** The paper is based on the study carried out by the author for FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) and FANRPAN (Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network) as a consultant.

Based on the projection on population growth and food consumption pattern in developing countries, there is likely to be a deficit in the food production by the year

2050. Africa’s population has just passed 1 billion and it is expected to double by the year 2050 (FAO 2012) According to FAO, Sub Saharan Africa, Uganda inclusive, is the region that has the highest proportion of poor and undernourished people in Africa (FAO,2011a). Agricultural production will, therefore have to increase by at least 70% in order to ensure that the food demands are met.

Meeting the food demands of a growing population is already a formidable task for agricultural sector of many developing nations like Uganda but this will be further exacerbated by climate change. Largely due to climate change, agricultural productivity is likely to decrease. Similarly, the stability of production and incomes are likely to change. This trend may be even worse in countries which are already experiencing food insecurity (FAO 2012)

The important implication of this is that for Uganda, policy makers will be faced with an even greater challenge to ensure that agriculture contributes more in addressing food security issues, development and climate change (adaptation and mitigation). In other words, agriculture in Uganda must undergo major and significant transformation in order to address the challenges likely to be faced in achieving food security and responding to climate change. Put in another way, in order to stabilize output and income, production systems must become more resilient or more capable of performing well in the face of disruptive events. This requires transformation in the management of natural resources and higher efficiency in the use of these resources and inputs for production. 

According to FAO, approaches that seek to maximize the benefits and minimize the trade-offs across the multiple objectives, often associated with agricultural sector, require more integrated and coordinated planning, policies and institutional arrangements as well as financing and investments. Such approaches and related enabling requirements are referred to by FAO as climate smart agriculture. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) is thus a way to ensure the achievements of future food security under climate change. CSA encompasses sustainable agriculture and it includes the need for adaptation and the potential for mitigation with associated technical, policy and financing implications.

This scoping study attempts to review and examine the current production practices as it relates to CSA in Uganda. The study also seeks to conduct comprehensive reviews of the existing policies, analyze gaps and identify relevant policy recommendations.

Author Biography

Prof. David. S.O Osiru, Bishop Stuart University

Professor of Agronomy,
Department of Agriculture
Bishop Stuart University

References

FAO 2010: Climate Smart Agriculture Policies, Practices and Financing for Food Security, Adaptation and Mitigation.

D.S.O Osiru, 2013: Conservation Agriculture; Facilitators, Guide for Farmer Field School (FFS). Document for FAO.

(i) FAO, 2012: Why Climate Smart Agriculture, Forestry and fisheries

(ii) FAO, 2012: Why is Climate Smart Agriculture need?

FAO, 2012: Developing a climate Smart Agriculture

Strategy at the country Level: Lessons from Recent

Experience. Background paper for the 2nd Global

Conference on Agriculture, Food Security and

Climate Change, Hanoi, Vietnam, 3 -7 Sept. 2012

Richard Lambell, Valaria Nelson and Nick Natheniels, 2011 Emerging Approaches for Responding to Climate change in African Agricultural Advisory Services. “Challenges, opportunities and recommendations for an AFAAS Climate Change Response Strategy”.

Hobbs P.R., Ken Sayre and Raj Gupta 2012: The role of conservation Agriculture in Sustainable Agriculture.

Development Strategy and Investment Plan 2010-11 – 2014/15 (MAAIF). National Agriculture Policy (Final Draft) (MAAIF - December, 2011)

Identifying opportunities for climate-smart agriculture investments in Africa (FAO, 2012)

Gender and Climate Change. Assessing Impacts and Strategies for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change in Uganda.

James R. Oboth, W. Nalyongo and Alex Bonte

(2010): Facilitators guide for running a Farmer Field School. Adaptation to Post emergency recovery programme. FAO, Uganda.

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Published

2023-03-17

How to Cite

Osiru, D. S. (2023). Climate Smart Agriculture - A Comprehensive Scoping and Assessment Study with Particular Reference to Uganda. Bishop Stuart University Journal of Development, Education & Technology, 1(1), 55–94. https://doi.org/10.59472/jodet.v1i1.6

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