Tanzania launches National Guidelines for Climate Smart Agriculture
Addressing challenges and impact of climate change on agriculture
30 May 2017, Dar es Salaam – The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania in collaboration with development partners and the private sector have launched the National Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Guidelines. This standard-setting document will address challenges and impacts of climate change on agriculture to ensure food and nutrition security in the country.
Speaking at the launch (27 May 2017), Dr. Charles Tizeba, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries said that there were several efforts made at different levels in the country to build resilience to the impacts of climate change and that the Guidelines were meant to boost the drive.
“Along with other efforts and based on agro-ecological zones existing in Tanzania, it still seemed important for the nation to have a designated Guideline on Climate Smart Agriculture,” he said. “It aims to guide agriculture sector and stakeholders on the identification of practices and technologies suitable for successful Climate Smart Agriculture implementation,” he added.
The Minister said that the Guideline would also be used in the identification of strategies for up-scaling and to allow development of programs and plans for its successful adoption by farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector.
The CSA guidelines are a result of collaborative efforts between the United Republic of Tanzania, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), The United Kingdom’s Department of International Development (DfID), World Bank, CIAT, World Vision, VUNA, World Agroforest Centre and the private sector.
Better livelihoods for rural populations
Speaking at the event, the FAO Country Representative in Tanzania, Fred Kafeero, appreciated the lead role of the UN agency in preparing the key documents for addressing climate change effects on agriculture.
“Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction are at the core of FAO’s work, which targets better livelihoods for rural populations, with the aim of increasing their resilience to risks, threats and crises. We’re glad to be associated with the Guideline,” he said.
Mr Kafeero added that FAO would continue to stand with Tanzania in all aspects of policy support; strengthening generation of timely and accurate data and in the strengthening of the resilience of food and agriculture systems at national and local government levels.
About CSA
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an approach that helps to guide actions needed to transform and reorient agricultural systems to effectively support development and ensure food security in a changing climate. CSA aims to tackle three main objectives: sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes; adapting and building resilience to climate change; and reducing and/or removing greenhouse gas emissions, where possible.
CSA is an approach for developing agricultural strategies to secure sustainable food security under climate change. CSA provides the means to help stakeholders from local to national and international levels identify agricultural strategies suitable to their local conditions. It is in line with FAO’s vision for Sustainable Food and Agriculture and supports FAO’s goal to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and more sustainable.