Crop diversity, climate change adaptation and resilience: good practice cases from Africa
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
Abstract
Across Africa, erratic and less predictable rainfall, higher temperatures, heat spells, and
recurring droughts are predicted to become more frequent. This is leading to a change
of cropping seasons and growing cycles and occurrence of new pests and diseases. As a
result of these irregularities and uncertainties, farmers can no longer rely on crops and
crop varieties that used to do well, with negative impacts on nutrition and food security
and the capacity of farmers to withstand shocks. One strategy to face this new reality, is
to create better access to crop and varietal diversity. Increased access to inter and intracrop
genetic diversity could give farmers an opportunity to switch to crops that are more
resilient under new conditions, e.g. a switch from maize to millet in rain-stressed areas.
Farmers could also switch to varieties of the same crop that are better adapted to their
local situation. However, the potential of local diversity is not always well understood, and
with rural populations becoming older and youth migrating to urban areas, knowledge on
agrobiodiversity is disappearing.
Description
Keywords
Crop diversity, Climate change adaptation, Resilience, Practice cases, Africa
Citation
Vernooy, R., Adokorach, J., Coulibaly, H., Fadda, C., Jeko, M., Kakeeto, R., ... & Wahome, P. (2021). Crop diversity, climate change adaptation and resilience: good practice cases from Africa.