A recent study identifies climate information, water management, soil health and fertility, and promotion of climate smart agriculture inputs and technologies and policy issues as key areas of concern in enhancing climate resilience agriculture and food systems in Ethiopian.
The study indicates that climate information is critical for farmers to strategically plan their farming activities in light of the country’s heightened climatic variability, and it stresses the importance of having tailored weather information services for farmers in Ethiopia. It specifically recommends the integration of weather models for long term weather predictions, support for inter-ministry dialogue and liberalization of policy to support public-private partnership as key issues. It also recommends the integration of tailored weather advisory into the country’s extension systems and capacitating extension agents on how to use and disseminate climate technology information.
According to the findings of the study, soils in Ethiopian are unable to produce to their full potential due to severe degradation, deforestation, the trade-off of crop residue for livestock production, and increased high temperatures. In this regard, it advises expanding irrigation systems and restoring watersheds to ensure continued food production in the face of climate change.
The study also reveals that the promotion of climate smart agricultural practices has been affected by inadequate improved inputs and climate advisory on the technology packages. It proposes that untapped, tested climate smart agriculture technologies could be scaled up to increase Ethiopia’s climate resilience and food production.
The study emphasizes the importance of mainstreaming SMART action plans to realize the country’s climate-resilient strategies and policies and it further suggests mainstreaming weather advisory in the national extension systems, policy support to involve private service providers, support to farmers by subsidizing costs of agricultural insurance, climate information, strengthening capacities of research institutions, agro-weather and extension services, and support the government to establish strategic frameworks and plans that addresses the gaps in policy documents.
Please find the full report here:
RAISE-FS 