Economic impact of climate change and benefit of adaptations for maize production: Case from Namibia, Zambezi region

International audienceThe aim of this research is to examine the impact of climate change in maize farmers' livelihood in Zambezi region, Namibia and benefit of adaptation. Trade-off analysis–multidimensional (TOA-MD) model was presented as a method for evaluation with a combination of simulated baseline production and future simulated yield using Decision Support Systems for Agro-technology Transfer (DSSAT) in maize production system, under five different climate scenarios of Global Circulation Models (GCMs). Even though the magnitude and the impact of different GCMs differs, the projections shows to have a negative economic impact with the highest going up to 76% and lowest to be around 46% loss without any adaption strategies in the Zambezi region. Adaptation strategies and some policy options were tested. The analysis suggests that the introduction of an irrigation system may be sufficient to offset the negative effects of climate change. Since various assumptions and uncertainties are associated with using the proposed approach and results should be interpreted with caution. Despite these limitations, the methodology presented in this study shows the potential to yield new insights into the way that realistic adaptation strategies could improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. To safeguard the limited productive assets of rural Namibian's, the study suggested policy aim to target pro-poor disaster management and other adoption mechanism is very important. Apart from protecting productive resources of the rural population, policy should target the diversification of the rural economic environment and strengthen rural-urban linkages

Nutritional water productivity of selected leafy vegetables

The major challenge affecting rural resource-poor households (RRPHs) in South Africa is deficiencies in micronutrients (iron and zinc) and vitamin A. Traditional leafy vegetables (TLVs) are dense in iron, zinc, and β-carotene concentrations. Therefore, they are deemed suitable to improve the dietary diversity of RRPHs. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of irrigation regimes on nutritional water productivity (NWP) of selected leafy vegetables [Amaranthus cruentus (Amaranth) and Cleome gynandra (Spider flower), both TLVs, and Beta vulgaris (Swiss chard)]. Experiments were conducted under a rain shelter at the ARC-VOP, Pretoria, South Africa, during two consecutive seasons (2013/14 and 2014/15). Leafy vegetables were subjected to three irrigation regimes [well-watered (I30), moderate water stress (I50), and severe water stress (I80)]. Data collected [(aboveground biomass (AGB), aboveground edible biomass (AGEB), actual evapotranspiration, and nutrient concentrations (iron, zinc and β-carotene)] were used to calculate NWP of leafy vegetables. Swiss chard exhibited a higher portion of AGEB compared to TLVs due to its larger harvest index (0.57-0.92). Selected TLVs displayed superiority in terms of nutrient richness compared to Swiss chard, under I50. Results indicated that TLVs could provide more than the daily-recommended nutrient intake (DRNI) for vitamin A to all age groups. For iron, Spider flower could supply more than the DRNI to infants between 1 and 3 years of age, whereas for zinc, it could supply approximately 11% to this age group. However, higher micronutrient and β-carotene concentrations did not translate to superior nutritional yield (NY). Swiss chard showed higher Fe-NY and Zn-NY, whereas TLVs were rich in β-carotene-NY. Similarly, Swiss chard demonstrated the highest Fe-NWP (1090 mg m−3) and Zn-NWP (125 mg m−3), whereas Amaranth was larger in β-carotene-NWP (1799 mg m−3), under moderate water stress. These results show that there may be an opportunity to improve NWP under drought conditions. There is a need for future studies that will assess NWP for a wider range of leafy vegetables. These studies should be conducted in different locations and explore the effect of management factors (fertiliser, water stress, planting density and planting date), and soil type on NWP of micronutrients and β-carotene.</p

Projected impacts of climate change scenarios on the production of maize in southern Africa: an integrated assessment case study of the Bethlehem district, central Free State, South Africa

IN this chapter it is hypothesized that the AgMIP methodology be used to provide better understanding of a range of possible future adaptation and socio-economic strategies that can be followed to lessen the impact of climate change in the region. The aim of the overall project was to evaluate the impacts of climate change on production of staple and nutritionally important crops in the region.