Climate change is no new phenomenon. For decades changes in temperatures, precipitation, new and emergent pests, and loss of vegetative cover have been noted and documented. It is only after a direct effect on smallholder agricultural and pastoral production systems was realised that the attention was focussed on climate change.

A blend of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) and modern science can lead to an intervention that employs a community based adaptation planning approach that builds on the field based farmer to farmer learning strategy of the Field Schools approach.  Drawing lessons from the original the Farmers Field School (FFS) Methodology, the focus is to ensure that climate information is considered as a key aspect of field schools experimentation while at the same time ensuring that field schools inherently integrate aspects of climate change adaptation into their learning process.

Evidence from over two decades of implementing Filed schools in Africa indicate; (a) increased knowledge, utilization of CSA practices and resilience, (b) increased availability and adoption of shock-tolerant planting materials; (c) increased access to water for crops and livestock; and (d) increased crop and livestock production in and off season, and (e) increased economic-benefits of Climate Smart Agriculture practices.

The 3rd Africa Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) Extension Week that commenced from 30 October and will end on 3 November 2017 in Durban, South Africa. More information about the event is available at   http://afaas-aew.org/ and here .The conference is being held in conjunction with the 51st annual conference of the South African Society for Agricultural Extension (SASAE).

The theme of the 3rd AFAAS Extension Week is “Scaling up Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA): integrating youth, women, and the digital revolution. FAO –Resilience Team in Africa, is participating in this conference in two ways; a) A side event on “Field Schools and CSA” and  b) An exhibition stand showcasing CSA implementation in Field Schools by the nominated FAO country teams/Partners. FAO will also use this conference to showcase the East African Field School Community of Practice web platform.

A team of Master trainers and FS resource persons from Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan  will facilitate the side event on FS and CSA on 2^nd November 2017 from 1400Hrs -1700Hrs (CET). The recordings of this event will be availed later on through the AFAAS secretariat. Follow real-time social media uploads using the #AgricExtWeek2017