Integrated ag-data hub in Zambia using existing CIS platforms coupled with the iSAT and DEA data cube

This report is divided into two parts (i) technical progress on building a prototype of the Agdatahub as well as generation and dissemination of advisories using iSAT (ii) governance mechanisms and stakeholder engagement to host Agdatahub

Analysis of rainfall variability and trends for better climate risk management in the major agro-ecological zones in Tanzania

Managing climate risk in agriculture requires a proper understanding of climatic conditions, regional and global climatic drivers, as well as major agricultural activities at the particular location of interest. Critical analyses of variability and trends in the historical climatic conditions are crucial in designing and implementing action plans to improve resilience and reduce the risks of exposure to harsh climatic conditions. However, in Tanzania, less is known about the variability and trends in the recent climatological conditions. The current study examined variability and trends in rainfall of major agroecological zones in Tanzania (1o - 12oS, 21o - 41oE) using station data from seven locations i.e. Hombolo, Igeri, Ilonga, Naliendele, Mlingano, Tumbi, and Ukiliguru which had records from 1981 to 2020 and two locations i.e. Dodoma and Tanga having records from 1958 to 2020. The variability in annual rainfall was high in Hombolo and Tanga locations (CV ≥ 28%) and low in Igeri (CV = 16%). The OND season showed the highest variability in rainfall (34% to 61%) as compared to the MAM (26% to 36%) and DJFMA (20% to 31%) seasons. We found increasing and decreasing trends in the number of rainy days in Ukiliguru and Tanga respectively, and a decreasing trend in the MAM rainfall in Mlingano. The trends in other locations were statistically insignificant. We assessed the forecast skills of seasonal rainfall forecasts issued by the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) and IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) Climate Prediction and Application Center (ICPAC). We found TMA forecasts had higher skills compared to ICPAC forecasts, however, our assessment was limited to MAM and OND seasons due to the unavailability of seasonal forecasts of the DJFMA season issued by ICPAC. Moreover, we showed that Integration of SCF with SSTa increases the reliability of the SCF to 80% at many locations which present an opportunity for better utilization of the SCF in agricultural decision making and better management of climate risks

AICCRA leveraging on networks to communicate climate information and climate smart agriculture to smallholder farmers in Zambia

AICCRA Zambia supports networks and community responses through programs on climate innovation and agribusiness, leveraging on media and communication channels. Interventions are designed to stimulate networks of actors at multiple levels (macro, meso, micro) that catalyse dissemination of climate information and climate smart products and services to smallholder farmers. At project level, communication and outreach strategies that support networks and linkages within and across the networks can also contribute to achieving impact. Network strengthening and media communications can provide an important bridge for research, development, climate and agri-business to achieve their targets of enhancing uptake of climate information and climate smart agriculture. Assessment tools are being developed to identify what networks, partnerships and strategic stakeholders the media can leverage on and start working with. Assessing value creation stories with key stakeholders will show how communication and outreach activities of the AICCRA project have resulted in stimulating response by intermediaries and end-users and improved program performance and impact on smallholder farmers. Providing feedback on how good the media interventions were, how they contributed to local impact pathways, and what new opportunities for partnerships were discovered, supports monitoring and evidencing achievements in accordance with the project results framework

Role of Responsible Governance in Enhancing Integrated Goat Keeping and Cropping Systems in Southern Malawi: Trade-offs and Synergies towards Agroecological Transitions and Transformation

This brief reflects on the cases of two villages in Lingoni section, Domasi EPA in Machinga district, combined with literature review and key informant interviews, to highlight the significant contribution of village-level responsible governance in enhancing agroecological intensification amongst small holders. The study reveals that through using village by-laws as tools, successful control of free grazing of livestock and uncontrolled fires has been prevented for many years, allowing local cropping systems to embrace long season crops such as cassava and pigeon peas, and winter cropping including multiple cropping with irrigation. The full range of resulting agroecological benefits are presented and discussed including the trade-offs from all sides of the systems

Launching the AICCRA-Zambia multistakeholder dialogue (MSD) space: Together scaling climate smart agriculture and climate information services in Zambia

The MSD launch meeting was co-organized by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the international Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the World Fish and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The specific objectives of the CSA-CIS multi-stakeholder dialogue space included: (i) exchanging experiences and expertise on climate-smart agriculture and climate information services (CSA-CIS) innovations across public, private and research sectors​; (ii) sharing insights into the existing multi-stakeholder platforms and processes in the agricultural, livestock, fisheries and water sectors in Zambia​; (iii) identifying interests, common goals, commitments and gaps in the CSA MSP space in Zambia; (iv) co-designing with participants the agenda for the AICCRA-Zambia MSD Space; (v) developing a framework for operationalizing, monitoring, evaluating and learning of the AICCRA Zambia MSD space, and (vi) exploring the most feasible pathways for sustainable and inclusive CSA-CIS scaling in Zambia

Multi-stakeholder Dialogue Space Together Scaling Climate Smart Agriculture and Climate Information Services in Zambia - Concept Note

AICCRA’s approach to facilitating CSA-CIS MSDs in Zambia is to interact with existing and relevant MSP through AICCRA CSA-CIS MSD Space at the regional, national level and sub national level. The CSA-CIS MSD Space is a physical and institutional space where members come together to exchange ideas and jointly explore opportunities to scale CSA-CIS innovations in specific agro-ecological contexts (Minh et al. 2020). Together, members in the CSA-CIS MSD Space enable the sustainable and inclusive scaling of CSA-CIS innovation bundles in key CSA value chain to benefit particularly lower part of the pyramid. Figure 1 illustrates the CSA-CIS MSD Space, presenting objectives, operational mechanism and thematic focus of collaboration with the intended new and existing groups of MSPs