Monitoring biophysical and socioeconomic impacts of CSA practices at Doyogena and Basona Climate-Smart Landscapes, Ethiopia

This activity was conducted to determine climate-smart agricultural practices’ biophysical and socioeconomic impacts over the last 12 months, using the Doyogena (Southern Ethiopia) and Basona (North Ethiopia) climate-smart landscapes as a case study. More specifically, this activity addressed if CSA practices (i) guarantee farmers resilience to climate change; (ii) increase food productivity and household income; and (iii) prevent gender-related bias (i.e., improving women’s participation in decisions, access/control over resources). From each site, 200 adopters (i.e., farmers who practice the above-mentioned practices) and 200 non-adopters (i.e., farmers` as usual practices) were selected randomly. Hence, 800 households were surveyed from six villages from Doyogena and 25 villages from Basona sites. The activity was conducted between 21 December 2020 to 05 January 2021 at Doyogena and between February 01 - 16, 2021 at Basona climate-smart landscapes. Twelve enumerators for Doyogena and fifteen for Basona sites were selected, trained for three days, and performed pre-testing with 8 – 10 farmers before data collection. At Doyogena, a portfolio of eleven promising CSA options was evaluated, namely, (i) terraces coupled with Desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum); (ii) controlled grazing; (iii) improved wheat seeds (high yielding, disease-resistant & early maturing); (iv) improved bean seeds (high yielding); (v) improved potato seeds (high yielding, bigger tuber size); (vi) cereal/potatolegume crop rotation (N fixing & non-N fixing); (vii) residue incorporation of wheat or barley; (viii) green manure: vetch and/or lupin during the off-season (N fixing in time); (ix) improved breeds for small ruminants; (x) agroforestry (woody perennials and crops); and (xi) cut and carry for animal feed. At Basona, on the other hand, the impact of seven CSA options was evaluated, namely, (i) terrace (soil bunds); (ii) terraces coupled with phalaris and tree lucerne); (iii) trenches; (iv) enclosure; (v) percolation pits; (vi) check-dams; and (vii) gully rehabilitation

Monitoring socioeconomic impacts of climate-smart agricultural practices at Doyogena and Basona Worena climate-smart landscapes, Ethiopia

To achieve food security and agricultural development goals, adaptation to climate change and lower emission intensities per output will be necessary. This transformation must be accomplished without depletion of the natural resource base. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an integrated approach to managing landscapes such as cropland, livestock, forests and fisheries that address the interlinked challenges of food security and climate change. CSA aims to simultaneously achieve increased productivity, enhanced resilience and reduced emissions. In Ethiopia, the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) in East Africa has established two climate-smart landscapes: one in southern Ethiopia in Doyogena district and the second one in central Ethiopia in Basona Worena district. In these sites, locally appropriate CSA practices are being tested and promoted by the European Union and International Fund for Agricultural Development (EU-IFAD) funded project "Building livelihoods and resilience to climate change in East & West Africa" that is supporting large-scale adoption of CSA technologies and practices. Although evidence from some East African countries suggests that the introduction of CSA practices among farmers contributes to the potential of agriculture to adapt to a changing climate, the impact of these CSA practices on food security and livelihoods of Ethiopian farmers is not well understood and documented. Therefore, this activity report is the result of the data collection process that was conducted to assess the impacts of CSA practices on agricultural production, income and household food security in Doyogena and Basona Worena Climate Smart Villages (CSVs). Based on the information gathered in the two CSVs, the socio-economic impacts of these practices will be estimated and documented to help donors and decision makers to justify funding and guide priorities in scaling up the adoption of CSA technologies and practices

Actor roles and networks in agricultural climate services in Ethiopia: a social network analysis

This paper aims to better understand actors involved in the generation, translation, communication and governance of agricultural climate services and their networks in Ethiopia. To achieve these objectives, about 65 actor organizations were selected across seven regions and two city administrations in Ethiopia through a scoping study, extensive literature review, and snowball sampling. Structured questionnaires with closed and open-ended questions were designed to gather relevant information. Results were used to compute network size, density and centrality measures. Our findings show that climate services are regularly communicated to only 10% of the total districts (woredas) on average, with only a third of the actors involved in communicating these services. No single organization or institution plays a dominant role in production, translation, communication or governance of climate services, but a network of organizations and institutions are involved. Major challenges faced by the actors involved in production, translation and delivery of climate services included lack of human and financial resources and weak monitoring and evaluation systems. The paper highlights the importance of strengthening partnerships and networking among actors including monitoring and evaluation systems at all levels to facilitate effective production, translation and dissemination of climate services to farmers

Estimating the economic benefits of alternative options for investing in agricultural climate services in Africa: A review of methodologies

Smallholder farmers in Africa are especially vulnerable to climate fluctuations and weather extremes, and are expected to suffer disproportionately from climate change. Climate services empower the poor particularly in climate-sensitive developing countries such as the ones in Africa, and allow them to reduce exposure and vulnerability of their agricultural sector to climate-related extreme events. Hence, the importance of investing in the enhancement of generating and delivery system of climate services to the resource poor farming communities of the continent provides a low regret adaptation to future climate change. This report reviews the suitability of ex-ante evaluation methods for informing funding agencies, private sectors, and other national and regional stakeholders about the benefits of alternative investment options in climate services. The review considers relevant and recent studies taking into account the agricultural sector. The review shows that economic modelling and stated preference approaches have the widest use and potential to estimate the benefits of climate services in Africa. However, comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of the methods conveys a message that there is no one type of method that fits into all different cases in estimating the benefits of climate services. Therefore, depending on particular cases, it would be necessary to use the appropriate method or combination of methods to enhance agricultural productivity, food and nutrition security, and the resilience of the resource poor vulnerable smallholder farming communities to climate variabilities and change in Africa

Modeling farmers' preference and willingness to pay for improved climate services in Rwanda

This study aims to understand how Rwandan farmers value the improved characteristics of climate services introduced to them in a choice experiment setting. Data were collected from 1,525 household heads in November 2019. A random parameters logit model was used to analyze the data. Results suggest that Rwandan farmers value forecast accuracy, dissemination through a combination of extension agents and the Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture process, and bundling with market price information. This study suggests that to improve agricultural management planning and food security of farmers through the provision of climate services, these services need to be accurate, user-tailored, and accessible

Estimating the economic value of climate services for strengthening resilience of smallholder farmers to climate risks in Ethiopia: A choice experiment approach

This study estimated the economic value of agricultural climate services for strengthening the resilience of smallholder farmers to climate variability and risks in Ethiopia. Using a choice experiment approach, the study introduced a hypothetical package of improved climate services to 600 randomly selected smallholder farmers in three districts across three different agro-ecological zones in the Oromia Regional State. A generalized multinomial logit (G-MNL) model was used to estimate preferred attributes of climate services and willingness-to-pay (WTP) values. The results show that the preferred bundle of improved climate services among smallholder farmers was one that could be communicated in short text message system, provided along with credit facility, and market information and one that favors participatory decision making by smallholders. The results further reveal that the WTP value exhibited high implicit price for participatory decision-making. The study sheds light on important characteristics of agricultural climate services that may improve their acceptability and usability among smallholders. It also highlights the importance of packaging additional services including digital and ICT-based solutions, financial and market information along with climate services to promote demand-driven last mile delivery systems. Engaging smallholder farmers in a participatory manner in the decision-making process can help them make informed decision

Rwanda Climate Services for Agriculture: Farmers willingness to pay for improved climate services

This willingness-to-pay (WTP) study aims to understand how Rwandan farmers value the improved characteristics of agricultural climate services introduced to them in a choice experiment (CE) setting; estimate how Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA) and Radio Listener Clubs (RLC) influenced perceived value; and provide insights into how the products and services can be improved. Data were collected in November 2019 from 1525 households in each intervention category (PICSA only (n=395)), RLC only (n=321), PICSA + RLC (n=182)), and a control group from sectors where the interventions were not implemented (n=627). A random parameters logit model was used to analyse the data. The estimation was conducted by disaggregating the data into the three treatment groups and the control group that was set-up by the Rwandan Climate Services for Agriculture (RCSA) project to evaluate the effectiveness of PICSA and RLCs in improving farmers’ awareness, access, use and value of climate services. For all the treatment and control groups, results suggest that Rwandan farmers value forecast accuracy; dissemination through a combination of extension agents and the PICSA process; and bundling with market price information. PICSA participation was associated with higher WTP for all of the improved characteristics of climate services introduced as a package, as indicated by the WTP values attached to the different characteristics of these services. Accuracy of information scored the highest WTP value, particularly in the PICSA treatment group. This study suggests that to improve agricultural management planning and food security of farmers through the provision of climate services, these services need to be accurate, user-tailored, and accessible. In addition, setting up a reliable market information system and bundling with climate services may help farmers make informed decisions. Results suggest that project communication interventions increased the perceived value of climate information to farmers

Gender-differentiated perception of climate-smart agricultural practices in contrasting landscapes of the Ethiopian highlands

Climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices have been promoted as a prominent strategy to offset the adverse effect of climate change on food production and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Even though several studies have shown farmers` perception on CSA practices, gender-differentiated perception has hardly been studied. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate gender-disaggregated differences in terms of: (i) experience in climate change and its negative impacts, (ii) perception towards CSA practices, and (iii) motivation and constraining factors to uptake CSA. A total of 800 farmers were interviewed from two climate-smart landscapes – which vary in terms of practices, years of implementation and degree of gender-inclusion in decision making. CSA interventions increased yield and income by two-to-threefold. Food availability and diversity also increased owing to CSA practices. Farmers who adopted CSA practices were almost twice less likely to borrow or spend money for food and other goods. A higher number of CSA non-adopters sold their assets and/or changed food consumption pattern following climate-related shocks. The gender-disaggregated data showed variation in the perception of CSA practices between female and male headed households. This difference is mainly attributed to variation in access to resources, education, information on weather forecasts and participation in decisionmaking. Male farmers tended to have better knowledge on the benefits of CSA practices, and the difference was more pronounced at the landscape level where women participation in decision-making is limited. Female farmers showed low preference for CSA practices which requires labour (i.e., soil bunds and green manuring) and knowledge (i.e., crop diversification). The findings demonstrate the significance of gender equality in decision-making, access to climate information and agricultural extension services for rapid uptake of CSA practices, thereby curbing the negative effects of climate change on agricultural production in Ethiopia

The impacts of climate-smart agricultural practices on household income and food security: evidence from Doyogena and Basona climate-smart landscapes

The aim of this paper is to assess the impacts of CSA practices on household income and food security in Ethiopia. Data was collected from 796 randomly selected smallholder farmers from the two climate-smart villages of Doyogena (399) and Basona (397) districts. Half of the selected farmers were implementing CSA practices, while the remaining half were farmers who were not implementing CSA practices. Using a propensity score matching approach, the paper examined the contribution of CSA practices on farm household income and food security. The estimated results show that the adoption of CSA practices has enhanced household food security in Doyogena, whereas, in Basona, the implementation of CSA practices improved the average annual income of households. This study suggests that introducing CSA practices and scaling up of these practices should be site-specific but not be a one-size-fits-all approach. Promoting and scaling up of these practices may require assessing the needs and priorities of communities living in different locations

Lessons Learned on Participatory Action Research to Adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural Options with an Emphasis on Gender and Social Inclusion

Participatory action research (PAR) has been around for years, and can add significant value to agriculture research for development projects. The use of PAR in climate-smart villages (CSVs) is no different. This review aimed to assess the impact that PAR approaches had on the adoption of CSA practices and technologies, with an emphasis on gender and social inclusion. Through a portfolio review, interviews with regional CSV teams, and surveys sent to local partners, this report demonstrates the benefit of PAR use in the implementation of the CSV approach. Specifically, the working paper discusses how the use of PAR methods can facilitate social learning, increase adoption rates and improve access to climate information services (CIS) to inform better decision-making. It can also foster conversations around gender roles and dynamics, improve women and youth’s participation in CSA activities, and contribute to scaling. Additionally, PAR can provide communities with a sense of ownership over projects, which can make interventions more sustainable even after the project cycle has ended