©FAO

16 October, 2016, Nairobi - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has urged African countries to upscale programmes meant to reach the 25 million farmers target that practice Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) to achieve continental food security by 2025 set by the African Union.

Several countries have reported success stories as well as challenges towards implementing CSA programmes on the ground, but there is need for an even more proactive, comprehensive, inter-sectoral and integrated regional and national coordination approach to ensure harmonization and standardization of policies and methodologies to support the climate-smart transformation of the agricultural sectors.

Speaking at a panel discussion at the second Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance Forum held in Nairobi within the framework of the NEPAD Agriculture Climate Change Programme and with the support of GIZ, FAO, IFAD and the Government of Kenya, Abebe Haile Gabriel, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Africa, emphasized the imperatives of accelerated sustainable agricultural transformation in Africa through adopting CSA approaches.

 “There are emerging opportunities for improved access to climate-smart knowledge and technologies as well as financial resources which can be innovatively used by African countries for increased agricultural productivity in the light of climate change, adding, “FAO works with member countries and regional partner institutions supporting their efforts towards taking advantage of such opportunities”, he said.

Preparing COP22

With the Paris Agreement now been ratified, and in the leading up to COP 22 in Marrakesh, the forum provided an excellent opportunity to take stock of the role of the agricultural sectors in the national climate commitments made by Countries.  

More than 400 Participants drawn from over 45 countries representing Government, Civil Society, Private and Farmer Organizations, as well as Regional Economic Communities and multi-lateral and bilateral partners participated at the forum.

Participants highlighted the need for a more proactive, comprehensive, inter-sectoral and integrated regional and national coordination approach to ensure harmonization and standardization of policies and methodologies to support the climate-smart transformation of the agricultural sectors.

The forum adopted a Declaration highlighting the need for a consolidated knowledge base on CSA technologies, practices and initiatives; the need to give special attention to smallholders, youth and women; and the need to put in place the necessary systems, tools and capacities for monitoring and evaluation and reporting on progress towards Vision 2025.

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Regional Office for Africa/Accra