There is a need for more focus in understanding the economic benefits of Climate-Smart Agriculture(CSA)interventions,particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,where extreme climate events are significantly affecting agricult...There is a need for more focus in understanding the economic benefits of Climate-Smart Agriculture(CSA)interventions,particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,where extreme climate events are significantly affecting agriculture and rural livelihoods.This study used the Net Present Value(NPV),Internal Rate of Return(IRR),Benefit-Cost Ratio(BCR),and payback period to evaluate the economic viability of the adopted CSA interventions in the three villages(Doggoh,Jeffiri,and Wulling)of the dryland farming systems of northern Ghana,where CSA interventions were mostly practiced.Data were collected from 161 farm households by the questionnaire survey.The results showed that CSA interventions including livestock-crop integration,mixed cropping,crop rotation,nutrient integration,and tie ridging enhanced crop yield and the household income of smallholder farmers.The five CSA interventions selected by smallholders were in the following order of priority:livestock-crop integration(BCR=2.87),mixed cropping(BCR=2.54),crop rotation(BCR=2.24),nutrient integration(BCR=1.98),and tie ridging(BCR=1.42).Results further showed that livestock-crop integration was the most profitable CSA intervention even under a pessimistic assumption with a long payback period of 5.00 a.Moreover,this study indicated that the implementation of CSA interventions,on average,was relatively profitable and had a nominal financial risk for smallholder farmers.Understanding the economic viability of CSA interventions will help in decision-making process toward selecting the right CSA interventions for resilience development.展开更多
Agriculture extension and advisory services(AEAS)are integral to smart agricultural systems and play a pivotal role in supporting sustainable agricultural development.The study aimed to assess the role of AEAS in stre...Agriculture extension and advisory services(AEAS)are integral to smart agricultural systems and play a pivotal role in supporting sustainable agricultural development.The study aimed to assess the role of AEAS in strengthening climate-smart coastal farming system to enhance coastal agricultural sustainability.A mixed-methods study was conducted in the southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh in 2023,which involved administering a structured questionnaire and conducing face-to-face interviews with 390 farmers.Perceived role index(PRI)was employed to assess the potential role of AEAS.To forecast the perceived role outcomes,the machine learning model was undertaken by utilizing suitable algorithms.Additionally,feature importance was calculated to underpin the significant factors of perceived role outcomes.The findings showed that coastal farming communities held a comprehensive understanding of the role of AEAS.Key roles included diffusion of agricultural innovations,acting as a bridge between farmers and research organizations,using demonstration techniques to educate farmers,training farmers on food storage,processing,and utilization,and promoting awareness and adoption of best practices.The machine learning model exposed a significant relationship between farmers’socio-economic characteristics and their perception behavior.The results identified that factors like innovativeness,awareness,training exposure,access to AEAS,and access to information significantly influenced how farmers perceived the efficacy of AEAS in promoting a smart coastal farming system.However,farmers confronted multiple constraints in receiving demand-driven services and maintaining coastal farm sustainability.These insights can guide concerned authorities and policy-makers in providing AEAS for the purpose of strengthening climate-smart coastal farming system,particularly with a special focus on capacity building programs and machine learning application.Moreover,the outcomes of this study can assist the authorities of similar coastal systems throughout the world to initiate potential strategies for enhancing region-specific agricultural sustainability.展开更多
This research paper assesses the reality of Climate-Smart Agriculture(CSA)practices’potential to promote the outcomes of sustainable food systems(SFS)within Ghana’s smallholding agriculture context.The study demon-s...This research paper assesses the reality of Climate-Smart Agriculture(CSA)practices’potential to promote the outcomes of sustainable food systems(SFS)within Ghana’s smallholding agriculture context.The study demon-strates that rural farmers generally perceive CSA’s contribution to‘food and nutrition security’and‘economic performance’as more important than CSA’s contribution to‘social equity’and‘environmental stewardship’.From a narrow perspective,the study demonstrates that farmers perceive CSA’s potential to‘prevent pest and disease outbreaks’and‘increase human capital information’as the most important contribution of CSA to SFS outcomes.In contrast,CSA’s potential to promote environmental stewardship is perceived as the least important among Ghana’s rural farmers.This enormity of displacement of smallholders’perceptions at large is motivated by de-mographic,socioeconomic and ecological factors.Moreso,the CSA for SFS outcomes narratives is driven by farmers’self-apprise,social networks and other local information dissemination agents.Furthermore,research findings suggest farmers’awareness of CSA practices and interventions is deficient owing to unmet training and information needs for approximately 82%of the CSA practices and interventions.This situation elucidates the dichotomy of CSA practices’narratives as tools for attaining food,nutrition security and economic performance to the detriment of critical issues such as increasing awareness and building farmers’capacity to engage with CSA practices while also managing socio-ecological trade-offs that emerge over time due to engagement with CSA.Critical(re)orientation is needed across the scale to drive CSA practices and interventions that confine cli-mate adaptation and food production practices within safe planetary boundaries without undermining social,economic,food and nutrition security needs.展开更多
Studies on mainstreaming climate-smart agriculture(CSA)practices can increase smallholder farmers’capacity and awareness to improve food security and establish sustainable livelihoods through resilient agricultural s...Studies on mainstreaming climate-smart agriculture(CSA)practices can increase smallholder farmers’capacity and awareness to improve food security and establish sustainable livelihoods through resilient agricultural systems,while achieving adaptation and mitigation benefits.Hence,valuable insights can be obtained from smallholder farmers in responding to present and forthcoming challenges of climate change impacts.However,there is little research work on trade-off and synergy assessments.Taking Geshy watershed in Southwest Ethiopia as a case study area,both quantitative and qualitative data analysis were undertaken in this study.The data were collected from 15 key informant interviews,6 focus group discussions,and 384 households to answer the following questions:(1)what are the top 5 preferred CSA practices for smallholder farmers in Geshy watershed when coping with the impacts of climate change?(2)What is the performance of the preferred CSA practices?And(3)which trade-offs and synergies are experienced upon the implementation of CSA practices?The study came up with the most preferred CSA practices such as the use of improved crop varieties,small-scale irrigation,improved animal husbandry,the use of efficient inorganic fertilizers,and crop rotation with legumes.The selected CSA practices showed that the productivity goal exhibit the best synergy,while the mitigation goal has trade-offs.The study also indicated that the use of improved crop varieties causes high synergies in all 3 goals of CSA practices;small-scale irrigation provides a medium synergy on productivity goal but high synergy for adaptation and mitigation goals;improved animal husbandry shows a high synergy with the adaptation goal,a relatively lower synergy with the productivity goal,and a trade-off with the mitigation goal;the use of efficient inorganic fertilizers shows maximum synergy for the productivity and adaptation goals;and crop rotation with legumes exhibits high synergy with the productivity and mitigation goals but a relatively lower synergy with the adaptation goal.These results can provide evidence to various stakeholder farmers in the value chain that the impacts of climate change can be addressed by the adoption of CSA practices.In general,CSA practices are considered indispensable.Smallholder farmers prefer CSA practices that help to increase crop productivity and household resilience to climate change impacts.The results generate a vital foundation for recommendations to smallholder farming decision-makers.It also sensitizes actions for innovative and sustainable methods that are able to upscale the preferred CSA practices in the agricultural system in Geshy watershed of Southwest Ethiopia and other regions.展开更多
This paper examined the prioritized climate-smart agricultural practices by smallholder farmers,the motivations of adopting climate-smart agricultural practices,the enablers to the successful adoption of climate-smart...This paper examined the prioritized climate-smart agricultural practices by smallholder farmers,the motivations of adopting climate-smart agricultural practices,the enablers to the successful adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices,and the barriers to the successful adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices in the transitional and savannah agroecological zones of Ghana.Specifically,we employed ethnographic research using participatory approaches,including two stakeholder workshops and household surveys with 1061 households in the transitional and savannah agroecological zones of Ghana.The weighted average index(WAI)and problem confrontation index(PCI)were used to rank smallholder farmers’perceived enablers to the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and the barriers affecting climate-smart agricultural practices,respectively.Results suggest that the majority of the respondents used a suite of climate-smart agricultural practices,including the timely harvesting of produce and storage,emergency seed banking,appropriate and timely weed and pest control,and early planting as practices to build climate resilience.The majority of smallholder farmers primarily employed climate-smart agricultural practices to improve household food security(96.2%),reduce pests and diseases(95.6%),and obtain higher yields and greater farm income(93.2%).Findings also show that secured land tenure system arrangement,understanding the effects of climate change,and access to sustainable agricultural technologies were ranked the first,second,and third most important enablers to the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices with the WAI values of 2.86,2.75,and 2.70,respectively.Key barriers to the successful adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices included incidences of pests and diseases(PCI=2530),inadequate access to agricultural credit(PCI=2502),high cost of improved crop varieties(PCI=2334),and limited government support with farm inputs(PCI=2296).Smallholder farmers need to be better supported through the provision of appropriate institutional and policy arrangements together with improved land management extension advice to overcome these barriers and facilitate the more effective implementation of climate-smart agricultural practices in Ghana.展开更多
Madhupur Sal forest is one of the major forests in Bangladesh which is also under intimidation of severe deforestation due to settlement of the ethnic people and encroachment for farming. However, deforestation is one...Madhupur Sal forest is one of the major forests in Bangladesh which is also under intimidation of severe deforestation due to settlement of the ethnic people and encroachment for farming. However, deforestation is one of the major factors responsible for climatic change events like recurrent natural calamities and degradation of natural resources. Thus, a pilot project was taken in the forest area by Bangladesh Agricultural University to minimize carbon emission through introduction of low emission agricultural practices (vermi-compost and botanical pesticide) in crop production and to increase women’s participation in social forestry program. It also introduced improved cooker in the study area for reducing amount of fire wood for cooking. Video mediated extension approach was used to teach the people of the forest community regarding the consequences of climate change on their livelihoods. Findings showed that, project beneficiaries are now impressively aware on consequences of climate change issues. Around 75% of them are now using own made vermi-compost and botanical pesticide in agricultural production mixed with social forestry, while 42% of them are using improved cooker which has significantly reduced amount of fire wood for cooking. This is ultimately contributing in minimizing the rate of deforestation. However, the project initiatives have created alternate income opportunities of the forest community people through safe and organic cultivation of vegetables and fruits in the leased land. On the other hand, this social forestry programme will directly contribute in reducing consequences of climate change in the long run.展开更多
Citrus is an important commercial crop in Uganda, especially the Eastern region. However, in spite of the increasing regional demand, citrus productivity is still low, attributed to pest and diseases, soil moisture st...Citrus is an important commercial crop in Uganda, especially the Eastern region. However, in spite of the increasing regional demand, citrus productivity is still low, attributed to pest and diseases, soil moisture stress, and low soil fertility, among others. Efforts to improve soil fertility are limited by inadequate supply of organic fertilizers due to competing demands. In addition, there is inadequate information on inorganic fertilizer requirements for citrus production in Uganda. The objective of this study was to develop optimum fertilizer recommendations for citrus production for Eastern Uganda. The study was conducted in Teso region, Eastern Uganda. Fertilizer (NPK, 17:17:17) was randomly applied to Hamlin, Valencia and Washington varieties with fertilizer and variety factorially arranged for each farm and citrus age range, replicated three times. Fertilizer rates were 0, 139, 278 and 556 kg NPK/ha for the 4 - 7-year old trees, and 0, 278, 556 and 1111 kg NPK/ha for the mature (8 years and above) trees. For a given variety, each fertilizer rate was applied onto three representative trees per farmer, six farmers per district. Results showed that yields and net profits were highest for variety Hamlin, and nearly the same for varieties Washington and Valencia. Fertilizer application increased fruit yield and profits for both the 4 to 7-year and 8 and above-year-old trees, with highest yield and profitability values observed at 556 kg NPK/ha. These results suggest applying 556 kg NPK/ha to citrus per year as an optimum fertilizer rate for citrus production in Teso region. The fertilizer should be applied in smaller splits of 800, 600, and 600 grams per tree, applied in April, June, and August.展开更多
Context:In the dynamic and constantly evolving world of agriculture,promoting innovation and ensuring sustainable growth are crucial.A planned division of tasks and responsibilities within agricultural systems,known a...Context:In the dynamic and constantly evolving world of agriculture,promoting innovation and ensuring sustainable growth are crucial.A planned division of tasks and responsibilities within agricultural systems,known as efficient role allocation,is necessary to make this vision a reality.Climate-smart agriculture(CSA)movement enjoys widespread support from the research and development community because it seeks to improve livelihoods in response to climate change.Objective:This study explores an innovative approach to optimizing role assignment within agricultural frameworks to effectively scale AI-driven innovations.By leveraging advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques,the research aims to streamline the allocation of tasks and responsibilities among various stakeholders,including farmers,agronomists,technicians,and AI systems.Methods:The methodology involves the development of a dynamic role assignment model that considers factors such as expertise,resource availability,and real-time environmental data.This model is tested in various agricultural scenarios to evaluate its impact on operational efficiency and innovation scalability.The findings demonstrate that optimized role assignment not only enhances the performance of AI applications but also fosters a collaborative ecosystem that is adaptable to changing agricultural demands.Results:&Discussion:This research finds a number of elements that affect how well duties are distributed within agricultural frameworks,including organizational frameworks,leadership,resource accessibility,and cooperative efforts through AI.In addition to advocating for its comprehensive integration into the sector's culture,this paper offers a collection of best practices and techniques for optimizing role allocation in agriculture.Additionally,the study gives a thorough overview,summary,and analysis of a few papers that are specifically concerned with scaling innovation in the field of agricultural research for development.Significance:Furthermore,the study highlights the potential of AI to transform traditional farming practices,reduce labor-intensive processes,and improve decision-making accuracy.The proposed approach serves as a blueprint for agricultural enterprises aiming to adopt AI technologies while ensuring optimal utilization of human and technological resources.By addressing the challenges of role ambiguity and resource allocation,this research contributes to the broader goal of achieving sustainable and resilient agricultural systems through technological innovation.展开更多
Climate change poses substantial challenges to agricultural productivity and sustainability,particularly in Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions.Local smallholder farmers’adaptation strategies to climate chan...Climate change poses substantial challenges to agricultural productivity and sustainability,particularly in Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions.Local smallholder farmers’adaptation strategies to climate change are crucial for mitigating these impacts.Therefore,this study investigated the socioeconomic factors influencing smallholder farmers’perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change in four countries(Morocco,Egypt,Italy,and Senegal)of Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions using a binary logistic regression(BLR)model.The results indicated that educational level,farming experience,agricultural income,farm size,participation in agricultural workshops,and training in Good Agricultural Practices(GAPs)significantly impacted smallholder farmers’perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change(such as smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops).Higher educational level was linked to the greater possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Italy and Egypt,while gaps in rural education limited the possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Morocco and Senegal.Farming experience and agricultural income also enhanced the possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops,with notable variations across countries due to systemic barriers such as limited infrastructure in Senegal.Larger farm size and participation in agricultural workshops further improved the possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops,particularly in Morocco and Egypt.The findings highlighted the importance of tailored interventions and policy measures to support smallholder farmers in effectively responding to the challenges of climate change under diverse agricultural contexts.By understanding the specific needs and circumstances of smallholder farmers in these countries,policymakers can develop more effective adaptation strategies to enhance agricultural resilience and sustainability under the context of climate change.展开更多
The present review critically examines the role of neglected and underutilized crops(NUCs)in enhancing the resilience of South Asian cropping systems and diets in the context of climate change and nutritional challeng...The present review critically examines the role of neglected and underutilized crops(NUCs)in enhancing the resilience of South Asian cropping systems and diets in the context of climate change and nutritional challenges.This analysis reveals that integrating NUCs,such as millets,sorghums,amaranth,and indigenous legumes,into existing cropping systems can significantly improve the climate resilience,dietary diversity,and ecological sustainability of the food systems.These crops exhibit superior tolerance to abiotic stress and offer higher nutritional density compared to staple cereals,such as rice and wheat.However,their adoption faces challenges,including limited research investment,fragmented value chains,etc.We further identify that complementary cropping strategies and climate-smart agriculture(CSA)practices can optimize resource use while boosting smallholder farmers’income.NUCs are pivotal for the transformation of exist cropping systems towards nutrition-sensitive and climate-resilient agricultural and food systems.Strategic integration of NUCs can simultaneously address food insecurity,biodiversity loss,and rural poverty.Yet,unlocking their potential requires coordinated efforts in genetic improvement,market development,and policy frameworks tailored to regional contexts.This synthesis provides a comprehensive roadmap for policy-makers,researchers,and farmers to leverage NUCs as“Future Smart Food”.By bridging agronomic,nutritional,and socioeconomic perspectives,this study highlights the transformative potential of NUCs in achieving Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)across South Asian countries.展开更多
Background:The adoption of climate-smart agricultural(CSA)practices is expected to improve farmers’adaptation to climate change and also increase yields while simultaneously curbing greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions.This ...Background:The adoption of climate-smart agricultural(CSA)practices is expected to improve farmers’adaptation to climate change and also increase yields while simultaneously curbing greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions.This paper explores the determinants of smallholder farmers’participation in GHG-emitting activities.It also estimates the impact of CSA activities on reducing GHG emissions.Methods:The findings are based on survey data obtained from 350 smallholder farmers in the East Gonja district of Northern Ghana.We adopted the generalized Poisson regression model in identifying factors influencing farmers’participation in the GHG emission practices and inverse-probability-weighted regression adjustment(IPWRA)to estimate the impact of CSA adoption on GHG emissions.Results:Most farming households engaged in at least one emission activity.The findings of the generalized Poisson model found that wealthier households,higher education,and households with access to extension services were less likely to participate in GHG emission activities.There was also evidence that CSA adoption significantly reduces GHG emissions.Conclusion:Advocacy in CSA adoption could be a necessary condition for environmental protection through the reduction of GHG emissions.展开更多
Climate change studies are diverse with no single study giving a comprehensive review of climate change impacts,adaptation strategies,and policy development in West Africa.The unavailability of an all-inclusive study ...Climate change studies are diverse with no single study giving a comprehensive review of climate change impacts,adaptation strategies,and policy development in West Africa.The unavailability of an all-inclusive study to serve as a guide for practitioners affects the effectiveness of climate change adaptation strategies proposed and adopted in the West African sub-region.The purpose of this study was to review the impacts of climate change risks on the crop,fishery,and livestock sectors,as well as the climate change adaptation strategies and climate-related policies aimed at helping to build resilient agricultural production systems in West Africa.The review process followed a series of rigorous stages until the final selection of 56 articles published from 2009 to 2023.Generally,the results highlighted the adverse effects of climate change risks on food security.We found a continuous decline in food crop production.Additionally,the livestock sector experienced morbidity and mortality,as well as reduction in meat and milk production.The fishery sector recorded loss of fingerlings,reduction in fish stocks,and destruction of mariculture and aquaculture.In West Africa,climate-smart agriculture technologies,physical protection of fishing,and inclusion of gender perspectives in programs appear to be the major adaptation strategies.The study therefore recommends the inclusion of ecosystem and biodiversity restoration,weather insurance,replacement of unsafe vessels,and strengthening gender equality in all climate change mitigation programs,as these will help to secure enough food for present and future generations.展开更多
Dust pollution from Chinese open-pit coal mines(OPCMs)threatens the coexistence of resource development and environmental protection.This research introduces a new approach to designing OPCMs based on meteorological i...Dust pollution from Chinese open-pit coal mines(OPCMs)threatens the coexistence of resource development and environmental protection.This research introduces a new approach to designing OPCMs based on meteorological indicators for dust removal and diffusion.It analyzes the production,distribution,and dust emission features of large-scale OPCMs in China.The factors affecting dust dispersion and atmospheric pollution characteristics were also examined.The findings reveal a surge in the number and output of OPCMs,intensifying the confict between resource development and environmental protection.Notably,over 80%of OPCMs are in arid and semi-arid regions,exacerbating the challenge.Microclimate effects,including circulation and inversion effects,further amplify dust pollution.Regional and seasonal dust pollution patterns were identified,with the southern region experiencing the highest pollution levels,followed by the northern and central regions.Seasonally,dust pollution exhibits the following pattern:winter>autumn>spring>summer.An alarming decline in atmospheric self-cleaning capacity over the past two decades underscores the pressing challenges ahead for dust control.The increase in air stagnation days/events highlights the urgency for effective dust prevention and control measures.This research suggests considering meteorological elements in OPCM design for dust control.Optimizing mining operations based on weather forecasts enables the utilization of natural conditions for effective dust prevention and control.The results provide insights for dust prevention and control in open-pit mines to foster green and climate-smart mining.展开更多
Carbon(C)is a key constitutive element in living organisms(plants,microbes,animals,and humans).Carbon is also a basic component of agriculture because it plays a dynamic role in crop growth,development,nutrient cyclin...Carbon(C)is a key constitutive element in living organisms(plants,microbes,animals,and humans).Carbon is also a basic component of agriculture because it plays a dynamic role in crop growth,development,nutrient cycling,soil fertility,and other agricultural features.The presence of C enhances soil physical,chemical,and biological properties.The C cycle supports all life on the Earth by transferring C between living organisms and the environment.The global climate is changing,and this change is attributable to the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from human activities.Owing to the global climate change,agriculture is expected to be majorly affected.Agricultural production is directly linked to the climate.The five main global C pools are the oceanic,geologic,pedologic,atmospheric,and biotic pools,with specific reservoirs and inter-pool fluxes.The soil organic matter has various organic C pools(active,slow,and passive pools),containing various C-based fractions and specific liability pools.Climate,geology,land use,and management techniques are some of the variables that affect organic C and its reservoirs.The dynamics of each of these variables must be understood for a thorough knowledge of how they impact the soil C pools and storage capacity under the changing climate conditions.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the various factors that affect soil C pools/fractions and their C sequestration capacity.展开更多
In a world where excessive use and degradation of water resources are threatening the sustainability of livelihoods dependent on water and agriculture, increased food production will have to be done in the face of a c...In a world where excessive use and degradation of water resources are threatening the sustainability of livelihoods dependent on water and agriculture, increased food production will have to be done in the face of a changing climate and climate variability. There is a need to make optimal use of the available water resource to maximize productivity. Climate-smart irrigation is aimed at increasing per unit production and income from irrigated cropping systems without having negative impacts on the environment or other water users and uses. This paper developed a water allocation model using Genetic Algorithm to equitably allocation available water to the various sectors in Kano River Irrigation Scheme yielding an optimal as well as equitable water release with a 96.44% demand met. An average relative supply of 0.94 was obtained indicating the there was even supply of water to all the sectors. The model is robust and relatively easy to apply and can be employed by farm managers to achieve equity and optimal use of the available water resource.展开更多
Climate change poses great risks to poverty alleviation, food security and livelihoods sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa, declining crop yields and livestock productivity, especially in ASALs that suffer from fragi...Climate change poses great risks to poverty alleviation, food security and livelihoods sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa, declining crop yields and livestock productivity, especially in ASALs that suffer from fragile ecosystems characterized by frequent droughts and low rainfall. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) objectives of improving productivity and incomes, adaptation, resilience to climate change and mitigation on GHGs emissions, are responses to these climate risks. CSA technologies, innovation and management practices (TIMPs) in general do exist, however they are concentrated in crop farming neglecting livestock production and especially in marginalized areas such as ASALs, which forms 85% of Kenyan land mass and is dominated by pastoral and nomadic livestock production. Most CSA practices are mainly at the production level and hardly extend to the entire value chain, and diffusion is slow due to several barriers. A mixed method approach was used to evaluate barriers to actors’ adoption of CSA in the pastoral Livestock red meat value chain starting from input suppliers, producers, to consumers (pasture to plate). This study used six broad perspectives to examine the barriers: 1) Knowledge and institutional;2) Market and financial;3) Policy and incentives;4) Networks and engagement platforms;5) Cultural and social;6) Physical infrastructure barriers. These barriers can be surmounted with concerted efforts from the government, development partners, pastoral communities, value chain actors and public private partnership among others. Efforts such as modernization of the pastoral red meat value chains, integration of MSMEs into the livestock systems, access to affordable financing, availability of context based, affordable CSA TIMPs, incentives, policies and institutional support, which currently remains inadequate. Institutional barriers like lack of capacity, coupled with knowledge and behavioral barriers hinder adoption. Financial institutions and cooperative societies can be enablers, however, their reluctance to invest in the sector is a barrier too.展开更多
Yala Wetland is a complex of Nzoia and Yala rivers that drain their waters into Lake Victoria, but face various pressure which is thought to originate from the impacts of climate change. The riparian communities are g...Yala Wetland is a complex of Nzoia and Yala rivers that drain their waters into Lake Victoria, but face various pressure which is thought to originate from the impacts of climate change. The riparian communities are generally poor and use the wetland resources for small-holder livelihood activities. This paper describes how community climate change adaptation assessment (C3A2) tools were applied to identify resilient community-level adaptation options and would inform local climate adaptation planning. Eight participatory C3A2 tools were applied for data collection in which two (adaptation attributes and story-telling) were administered at the meso or local government (County) level while all the eight tools (community protocol, risk mapping, techno-transect, resilience ranking, community calendars, story-telling, adaptation attributes and give back) were administered at the micro or community level. Qualitative research method was adopted and 80 respondents (20 at meso and 60 at micro) were purposively selected for the study. Data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), and plenary discussions. Data were analyzed at four levels: pre-analysis in situ, daily team triangulation, team conclusions, and cross-community reporting. The study found that communities experienced climate risks that tended to shift along with prolonged and irregular hydro-meteorological events, which affected their capacities for adaptation especially the resource-constrained individuals and vulnerable households. Drought (45%) and flood hazards (39%) were the most felt strongly. Drought was manifested mainly by prolonged dry-spell, increased atmospheric temperatures, and strong winds while floods were characterized by unpredictable and short but high-intensity rainfall with associated loss of lives and property damage. Women, children, and poor households were the most exposed to climatic hazards. Farm/agro-forestry was the most perceived adaptation strategy for drought, flood, and soil erosion while alternative livelihoods particularly ecotourism was the commonly perceived adaptation strategy for human-wildlife conflict (HWC). Three community-based adaptation action plans (CBAP) were prepared to guide future village-level planning and development. The CBAPs were used to identify three sample projects which were funded by the donor and implemented by the community. The C3A2 approach provides adequate participatory tools that can be applied in the lake and river basins, and potentially other ecosystems to guide the development of community-based adaptation plans and resilient community-based adaptation projects with wider local acceptance especially those geared towards designing programs for climate-smart livelihoods. However, the application of the methodology may be site-specific and the tools can be administered based on local scenarios and the availability of resources.展开更多
Land desertification,water scarcity,and food security challenges in arid zones are intensifying,driving the need for sustainable agricultural solutions like aquaponics.This study investigated innovative water and ener...Land desertification,water scarcity,and food security challenges in arid zones are intensifying,driving the need for sustainable agricultural solutions like aquaponics.This study investigated innovative water and energy-saving strategies using an integrated dynamic model for an on-demand industrial aquaponics system in Israel.The model evaluated the performance of a recirculating aquaculture system(RAS),hydroponics system(HPS),and desalination unit(DU)by adjusting physical and operational parameters to optimize water and nutrient use efficiency,energy consumption,and yield.Optimizing the system design resulted in an aquaponics system with approximately 420 m^(3)RAS,6.85 ha HPS and 40 m^(3)/d DU,achieving phosphorus use efficiency of 96%,a water use efficiency of 97%,freshwater input of 1.5 L/day/m^(2),and energy consumption of 0.56 kWh/day/m^(2).To mitigate the challenges of extreme arid climates,evaporative cooling combined with outdoor shading and mechanical cooling was found to be a feasible option to control temperature and humidity in the greenhouse.Dehumidification technologies further improved system performance by recovering 22%freshwater from seawater and increasing nitrogen use efficiency by 18%.Achieving daily energy self-sufficiency required 4500 m^(2)photovoltaic panels and 5000 m^(2)solar heating system.While the system model was initially devised with a specific focus on conditions in Israel,it has been designed with scalability,allowing it to be adapted and applied extensively across diverse peri-urban regions and arid zones globally.展开更多
Rice cultivation contributes up to 12%of global anthropogenic methane(CH4)emissions,making it a significant climate concern.With rice demand projected to double by 2050,achieving the required 2.4%annual genetic gain m...Rice cultivation contributes up to 12%of global anthropogenic methane(CH4)emissions,making it a significant climate concern.With rice demand projected to double by 2050,achieving the required 2.4%annual genetic gain must be balanced with emission reduction.This review synthesizes recent progress in three key areas:(1)mitigation strategies such as alternate wetting and drying and direct-seeded rice,which can reduce CH4 emissions by 30%-40%;(2)identification of physiological and molecular traits,such as short duration,high harvest index,improved nitrogen use efficiency,optimized root architecture,and stress tolerance with reduced greenhouse gas(GHG)footprints;and(3)the potential of genomics-assisted breeding and high-throughput phenotyping to accelerate the development of climate-resilient rice varieties with lower CH4 emissions.Specifically,we highlight how the synergistic integration of high-throughput phenotyping,genomic selection,and marker-assisted breeding can substantially improve the efficiency and precision of breeding programs targeting the development of climate-resilient rice varieties with reduced CH4 emissions.This is exemplified through successful case studies utilizing multi-omics approaches,including the development of Green Super Rice varieties(GSR 2 and GSR 8),which have demonstrated up to a 37%reduction in GHG emissions.Crucially,we propose a stratified trait profile for low-GHG rice development and provide guidelines and metrics for integrating these traits into mainstream breeding pipelines.We conclude by proposing a strategic framework integrating carbon-efficient breeding,climate-adapted agronomy,and policy support,which is essential for scaling low-GHG rice systems globally.展开更多
文摘There is a need for more focus in understanding the economic benefits of Climate-Smart Agriculture(CSA)interventions,particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,where extreme climate events are significantly affecting agriculture and rural livelihoods.This study used the Net Present Value(NPV),Internal Rate of Return(IRR),Benefit-Cost Ratio(BCR),and payback period to evaluate the economic viability of the adopted CSA interventions in the three villages(Doggoh,Jeffiri,and Wulling)of the dryland farming systems of northern Ghana,where CSA interventions were mostly practiced.Data were collected from 161 farm households by the questionnaire survey.The results showed that CSA interventions including livestock-crop integration,mixed cropping,crop rotation,nutrient integration,and tie ridging enhanced crop yield and the household income of smallholder farmers.The five CSA interventions selected by smallholders were in the following order of priority:livestock-crop integration(BCR=2.87),mixed cropping(BCR=2.54),crop rotation(BCR=2.24),nutrient integration(BCR=1.98),and tie ridging(BCR=1.42).Results further showed that livestock-crop integration was the most profitable CSA intervention even under a pessimistic assumption with a long payback period of 5.00 a.Moreover,this study indicated that the implementation of CSA interventions,on average,was relatively profitable and had a nominal financial risk for smallholder farmers.Understanding the economic viability of CSA interventions will help in decision-making process toward selecting the right CSA interventions for resilience development.
基金the Science and Technology Fellowship Trust, Bangladesh
文摘Agriculture extension and advisory services(AEAS)are integral to smart agricultural systems and play a pivotal role in supporting sustainable agricultural development.The study aimed to assess the role of AEAS in strengthening climate-smart coastal farming system to enhance coastal agricultural sustainability.A mixed-methods study was conducted in the southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh in 2023,which involved administering a structured questionnaire and conducing face-to-face interviews with 390 farmers.Perceived role index(PRI)was employed to assess the potential role of AEAS.To forecast the perceived role outcomes,the machine learning model was undertaken by utilizing suitable algorithms.Additionally,feature importance was calculated to underpin the significant factors of perceived role outcomes.The findings showed that coastal farming communities held a comprehensive understanding of the role of AEAS.Key roles included diffusion of agricultural innovations,acting as a bridge between farmers and research organizations,using demonstration techniques to educate farmers,training farmers on food storage,processing,and utilization,and promoting awareness and adoption of best practices.The machine learning model exposed a significant relationship between farmers’socio-economic characteristics and their perception behavior.The results identified that factors like innovativeness,awareness,training exposure,access to AEAS,and access to information significantly influenced how farmers perceived the efficacy of AEAS in promoting a smart coastal farming system.However,farmers confronted multiple constraints in receiving demand-driven services and maintaining coastal farm sustainability.These insights can guide concerned authorities and policy-makers in providing AEAS for the purpose of strengthening climate-smart coastal farming system,particularly with a special focus on capacity building programs and machine learning application.Moreover,the outcomes of this study can assist the authorities of similar coastal systems throughout the world to initiate potential strategies for enhancing region-specific agricultural sustainability.
基金PTQ receives funding from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund(Grant No.499077)and the Canada Research Chairs Program.
文摘This research paper assesses the reality of Climate-Smart Agriculture(CSA)practices’potential to promote the outcomes of sustainable food systems(SFS)within Ghana’s smallholding agriculture context.The study demon-strates that rural farmers generally perceive CSA’s contribution to‘food and nutrition security’and‘economic performance’as more important than CSA’s contribution to‘social equity’and‘environmental stewardship’.From a narrow perspective,the study demonstrates that farmers perceive CSA’s potential to‘prevent pest and disease outbreaks’and‘increase human capital information’as the most important contribution of CSA to SFS outcomes.In contrast,CSA’s potential to promote environmental stewardship is perceived as the least important among Ghana’s rural farmers.This enormity of displacement of smallholders’perceptions at large is motivated by de-mographic,socioeconomic and ecological factors.Moreso,the CSA for SFS outcomes narratives is driven by farmers’self-apprise,social networks and other local information dissemination agents.Furthermore,research findings suggest farmers’awareness of CSA practices and interventions is deficient owing to unmet training and information needs for approximately 82%of the CSA practices and interventions.This situation elucidates the dichotomy of CSA practices’narratives as tools for attaining food,nutrition security and economic performance to the detriment of critical issues such as increasing awareness and building farmers’capacity to engage with CSA practices while also managing socio-ecological trade-offs that emerge over time due to engagement with CSA.Critical(re)orientation is needed across the scale to drive CSA practices and interventions that confine cli-mate adaptation and food production practices within safe planetary boundaries without undermining social,economic,food and nutrition security needs.
文摘Studies on mainstreaming climate-smart agriculture(CSA)practices can increase smallholder farmers’capacity and awareness to improve food security and establish sustainable livelihoods through resilient agricultural systems,while achieving adaptation and mitigation benefits.Hence,valuable insights can be obtained from smallholder farmers in responding to present and forthcoming challenges of climate change impacts.However,there is little research work on trade-off and synergy assessments.Taking Geshy watershed in Southwest Ethiopia as a case study area,both quantitative and qualitative data analysis were undertaken in this study.The data were collected from 15 key informant interviews,6 focus group discussions,and 384 households to answer the following questions:(1)what are the top 5 preferred CSA practices for smallholder farmers in Geshy watershed when coping with the impacts of climate change?(2)What is the performance of the preferred CSA practices?And(3)which trade-offs and synergies are experienced upon the implementation of CSA practices?The study came up with the most preferred CSA practices such as the use of improved crop varieties,small-scale irrigation,improved animal husbandry,the use of efficient inorganic fertilizers,and crop rotation with legumes.The selected CSA practices showed that the productivity goal exhibit the best synergy,while the mitigation goal has trade-offs.The study also indicated that the use of improved crop varieties causes high synergies in all 3 goals of CSA practices;small-scale irrigation provides a medium synergy on productivity goal but high synergy for adaptation and mitigation goals;improved animal husbandry shows a high synergy with the adaptation goal,a relatively lower synergy with the productivity goal,and a trade-off with the mitigation goal;the use of efficient inorganic fertilizers shows maximum synergy for the productivity and adaptation goals;and crop rotation with legumes exhibits high synergy with the productivity and mitigation goals but a relatively lower synergy with the adaptation goal.These results can provide evidence to various stakeholder farmers in the value chain that the impacts of climate change can be addressed by the adoption of CSA practices.In general,CSA practices are considered indispensable.Smallholder farmers prefer CSA practices that help to increase crop productivity and household resilience to climate change impacts.The results generate a vital foundation for recommendations to smallholder farming decision-makers.It also sensitizes actions for innovative and sustainable methods that are able to upscale the preferred CSA practices in the agricultural system in Geshy watershed of Southwest Ethiopia and other regions.
基金the Future Leaders-African Independent Research(FLAIR)Fellowships funded by the Royal Society,London(FLR\R1\201640).
文摘This paper examined the prioritized climate-smart agricultural practices by smallholder farmers,the motivations of adopting climate-smart agricultural practices,the enablers to the successful adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices,and the barriers to the successful adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices in the transitional and savannah agroecological zones of Ghana.Specifically,we employed ethnographic research using participatory approaches,including two stakeholder workshops and household surveys with 1061 households in the transitional and savannah agroecological zones of Ghana.The weighted average index(WAI)and problem confrontation index(PCI)were used to rank smallholder farmers’perceived enablers to the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and the barriers affecting climate-smart agricultural practices,respectively.Results suggest that the majority of the respondents used a suite of climate-smart agricultural practices,including the timely harvesting of produce and storage,emergency seed banking,appropriate and timely weed and pest control,and early planting as practices to build climate resilience.The majority of smallholder farmers primarily employed climate-smart agricultural practices to improve household food security(96.2%),reduce pests and diseases(95.6%),and obtain higher yields and greater farm income(93.2%).Findings also show that secured land tenure system arrangement,understanding the effects of climate change,and access to sustainable agricultural technologies were ranked the first,second,and third most important enablers to the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices with the WAI values of 2.86,2.75,and 2.70,respectively.Key barriers to the successful adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices included incidences of pests and diseases(PCI=2530),inadequate access to agricultural credit(PCI=2502),high cost of improved crop varieties(PCI=2334),and limited government support with farm inputs(PCI=2296).Smallholder farmers need to be better supported through the provision of appropriate institutional and policy arrangements together with improved land management extension advice to overcome these barriers and facilitate the more effective implementation of climate-smart agricultural practices in Ghana.
文摘Madhupur Sal forest is one of the major forests in Bangladesh which is also under intimidation of severe deforestation due to settlement of the ethnic people and encroachment for farming. However, deforestation is one of the major factors responsible for climatic change events like recurrent natural calamities and degradation of natural resources. Thus, a pilot project was taken in the forest area by Bangladesh Agricultural University to minimize carbon emission through introduction of low emission agricultural practices (vermi-compost and botanical pesticide) in crop production and to increase women’s participation in social forestry program. It also introduced improved cooker in the study area for reducing amount of fire wood for cooking. Video mediated extension approach was used to teach the people of the forest community regarding the consequences of climate change on their livelihoods. Findings showed that, project beneficiaries are now impressively aware on consequences of climate change issues. Around 75% of them are now using own made vermi-compost and botanical pesticide in agricultural production mixed with social forestry, while 42% of them are using improved cooker which has significantly reduced amount of fire wood for cooking. This is ultimately contributing in minimizing the rate of deforestation. However, the project initiatives have created alternate income opportunities of the forest community people through safe and organic cultivation of vegetables and fruits in the leased land. On the other hand, this social forestry programme will directly contribute in reducing consequences of climate change in the long run.
文摘Citrus is an important commercial crop in Uganda, especially the Eastern region. However, in spite of the increasing regional demand, citrus productivity is still low, attributed to pest and diseases, soil moisture stress, and low soil fertility, among others. Efforts to improve soil fertility are limited by inadequate supply of organic fertilizers due to competing demands. In addition, there is inadequate information on inorganic fertilizer requirements for citrus production in Uganda. The objective of this study was to develop optimum fertilizer recommendations for citrus production for Eastern Uganda. The study was conducted in Teso region, Eastern Uganda. Fertilizer (NPK, 17:17:17) was randomly applied to Hamlin, Valencia and Washington varieties with fertilizer and variety factorially arranged for each farm and citrus age range, replicated three times. Fertilizer rates were 0, 139, 278 and 556 kg NPK/ha for the 4 - 7-year old trees, and 0, 278, 556 and 1111 kg NPK/ha for the mature (8 years and above) trees. For a given variety, each fertilizer rate was applied onto three representative trees per farmer, six farmers per district. Results showed that yields and net profits were highest for variety Hamlin, and nearly the same for varieties Washington and Valencia. Fertilizer application increased fruit yield and profits for both the 4 to 7-year and 8 and above-year-old trees, with highest yield and profitability values observed at 556 kg NPK/ha. These results suggest applying 556 kg NPK/ha to citrus per year as an optimum fertilizer rate for citrus production in Teso region. The fertilizer should be applied in smaller splits of 800, 600, and 600 grams per tree, applied in April, June, and August.
文摘Context:In the dynamic and constantly evolving world of agriculture,promoting innovation and ensuring sustainable growth are crucial.A planned division of tasks and responsibilities within agricultural systems,known as efficient role allocation,is necessary to make this vision a reality.Climate-smart agriculture(CSA)movement enjoys widespread support from the research and development community because it seeks to improve livelihoods in response to climate change.Objective:This study explores an innovative approach to optimizing role assignment within agricultural frameworks to effectively scale AI-driven innovations.By leveraging advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques,the research aims to streamline the allocation of tasks and responsibilities among various stakeholders,including farmers,agronomists,technicians,and AI systems.Methods:The methodology involves the development of a dynamic role assignment model that considers factors such as expertise,resource availability,and real-time environmental data.This model is tested in various agricultural scenarios to evaluate its impact on operational efficiency and innovation scalability.The findings demonstrate that optimized role assignment not only enhances the performance of AI applications but also fosters a collaborative ecosystem that is adaptable to changing agricultural demands.Results:&Discussion:This research finds a number of elements that affect how well duties are distributed within agricultural frameworks,including organizational frameworks,leadership,resource accessibility,and cooperative efforts through AI.In addition to advocating for its comprehensive integration into the sector's culture,this paper offers a collection of best practices and techniques for optimizing role allocation in agriculture.Additionally,the study gives a thorough overview,summary,and analysis of a few papers that are specifically concerned with scaling innovation in the field of agricultural research for development.Significance:Furthermore,the study highlights the potential of AI to transform traditional farming practices,reduce labor-intensive processes,and improve decision-making accuracy.The proposed approach serves as a blueprint for agricultural enterprises aiming to adopt AI technologies while ensuring optimal utilization of human and technological resources.By addressing the challenges of role ambiguity and resource allocation,this research contributes to the broader goal of achieving sustainable and resilient agricultural systems through technological innovation.
基金an integral component of the TRUSTFARM Project,supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programThe TRUSTFARM Project was carried out under the European Research Area Network Cofund on Food Systems and Climate(ERA-NET FOSC,862555)+1 种基金built upon and supported by the experience from the Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture,Food Security&Climate Change(FACCE-JPI)the European Research Area Network Cofund on Long-term Europe-Africa Partnership on Agricultural Research for Development(LEAP-Agri).
文摘Climate change poses substantial challenges to agricultural productivity and sustainability,particularly in Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions.Local smallholder farmers’adaptation strategies to climate change are crucial for mitigating these impacts.Therefore,this study investigated the socioeconomic factors influencing smallholder farmers’perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change in four countries(Morocco,Egypt,Italy,and Senegal)of Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions using a binary logistic regression(BLR)model.The results indicated that educational level,farming experience,agricultural income,farm size,participation in agricultural workshops,and training in Good Agricultural Practices(GAPs)significantly impacted smallholder farmers’perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change(such as smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops).Higher educational level was linked to the greater possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Italy and Egypt,while gaps in rural education limited the possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Morocco and Senegal.Farming experience and agricultural income also enhanced the possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops,with notable variations across countries due to systemic barriers such as limited infrastructure in Senegal.Larger farm size and participation in agricultural workshops further improved the possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops,particularly in Morocco and Egypt.The findings highlighted the importance of tailored interventions and policy measures to support smallholder farmers in effectively responding to the challenges of climate change under diverse agricultural contexts.By understanding the specific needs and circumstances of smallholder farmers in these countries,policymakers can develop more effective adaptation strategies to enhance agricultural resilience and sustainability under the context of climate change.
文摘The present review critically examines the role of neglected and underutilized crops(NUCs)in enhancing the resilience of South Asian cropping systems and diets in the context of climate change and nutritional challenges.This analysis reveals that integrating NUCs,such as millets,sorghums,amaranth,and indigenous legumes,into existing cropping systems can significantly improve the climate resilience,dietary diversity,and ecological sustainability of the food systems.These crops exhibit superior tolerance to abiotic stress and offer higher nutritional density compared to staple cereals,such as rice and wheat.However,their adoption faces challenges,including limited research investment,fragmented value chains,etc.We further identify that complementary cropping strategies and climate-smart agriculture(CSA)practices can optimize resource use while boosting smallholder farmers’income.NUCs are pivotal for the transformation of exist cropping systems towards nutrition-sensitive and climate-resilient agricultural and food systems.Strategic integration of NUCs can simultaneously address food insecurity,biodiversity loss,and rural poverty.Yet,unlocking their potential requires coordinated efforts in genetic improvement,market development,and policy frameworks tailored to regional contexts.This synthesis provides a comprehensive roadmap for policy-makers,researchers,and farmers to leverage NUCs as“Future Smart Food”.By bridging agronomic,nutritional,and socioeconomic perspectives,this study highlights the transformative potential of NUCs in achieving Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)across South Asian countries.
文摘Background:The adoption of climate-smart agricultural(CSA)practices is expected to improve farmers’adaptation to climate change and also increase yields while simultaneously curbing greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions.This paper explores the determinants of smallholder farmers’participation in GHG-emitting activities.It also estimates the impact of CSA activities on reducing GHG emissions.Methods:The findings are based on survey data obtained from 350 smallholder farmers in the East Gonja district of Northern Ghana.We adopted the generalized Poisson regression model in identifying factors influencing farmers’participation in the GHG emission practices and inverse-probability-weighted regression adjustment(IPWRA)to estimate the impact of CSA adoption on GHG emissions.Results:Most farming households engaged in at least one emission activity.The findings of the generalized Poisson model found that wealthier households,higher education,and households with access to extension services were less likely to participate in GHG emission activities.There was also evidence that CSA adoption significantly reduces GHG emissions.Conclusion:Advocacy in CSA adoption could be a necessary condition for environmental protection through the reduction of GHG emissions.
文摘Climate change studies are diverse with no single study giving a comprehensive review of climate change impacts,adaptation strategies,and policy development in West Africa.The unavailability of an all-inclusive study to serve as a guide for practitioners affects the effectiveness of climate change adaptation strategies proposed and adopted in the West African sub-region.The purpose of this study was to review the impacts of climate change risks on the crop,fishery,and livestock sectors,as well as the climate change adaptation strategies and climate-related policies aimed at helping to build resilient agricultural production systems in West Africa.The review process followed a series of rigorous stages until the final selection of 56 articles published from 2009 to 2023.Generally,the results highlighted the adverse effects of climate change risks on food security.We found a continuous decline in food crop production.Additionally,the livestock sector experienced morbidity and mortality,as well as reduction in meat and milk production.The fishery sector recorded loss of fingerlings,reduction in fish stocks,and destruction of mariculture and aquaculture.In West Africa,climate-smart agriculture technologies,physical protection of fishing,and inclusion of gender perspectives in programs appear to be the major adaptation strategies.The study therefore recommends the inclusion of ecosystem and biodiversity restoration,weather insurance,replacement of unsafe vessels,and strengthening gender equality in all climate change mitigation programs,as these will help to secure enough food for present and future generations.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant no.52374145)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2021ZDPY0227)。
文摘Dust pollution from Chinese open-pit coal mines(OPCMs)threatens the coexistence of resource development and environmental protection.This research introduces a new approach to designing OPCMs based on meteorological indicators for dust removal and diffusion.It analyzes the production,distribution,and dust emission features of large-scale OPCMs in China.The factors affecting dust dispersion and atmospheric pollution characteristics were also examined.The findings reveal a surge in the number and output of OPCMs,intensifying the confict between resource development and environmental protection.Notably,over 80%of OPCMs are in arid and semi-arid regions,exacerbating the challenge.Microclimate effects,including circulation and inversion effects,further amplify dust pollution.Regional and seasonal dust pollution patterns were identified,with the southern region experiencing the highest pollution levels,followed by the northern and central regions.Seasonally,dust pollution exhibits the following pattern:winter>autumn>spring>summer.An alarming decline in atmospheric self-cleaning capacity over the past two decades underscores the pressing challenges ahead for dust control.The increase in air stagnation days/events highlights the urgency for effective dust prevention and control measures.This research suggests considering meteorological elements in OPCM design for dust control.Optimizing mining operations based on weather forecasts enables the utilization of natural conditions for effective dust prevention and control.The results provide insights for dust prevention and control in open-pit mines to foster green and climate-smart mining.
文摘Carbon(C)is a key constitutive element in living organisms(plants,microbes,animals,and humans).Carbon is also a basic component of agriculture because it plays a dynamic role in crop growth,development,nutrient cycling,soil fertility,and other agricultural features.The presence of C enhances soil physical,chemical,and biological properties.The C cycle supports all life on the Earth by transferring C between living organisms and the environment.The global climate is changing,and this change is attributable to the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from human activities.Owing to the global climate change,agriculture is expected to be majorly affected.Agricultural production is directly linked to the climate.The five main global C pools are the oceanic,geologic,pedologic,atmospheric,and biotic pools,with specific reservoirs and inter-pool fluxes.The soil organic matter has various organic C pools(active,slow,and passive pools),containing various C-based fractions and specific liability pools.Climate,geology,land use,and management techniques are some of the variables that affect organic C and its reservoirs.The dynamics of each of these variables must be understood for a thorough knowledge of how they impact the soil C pools and storage capacity under the changing climate conditions.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the various factors that affect soil C pools/fractions and their C sequestration capacity.
文摘In a world where excessive use and degradation of water resources are threatening the sustainability of livelihoods dependent on water and agriculture, increased food production will have to be done in the face of a changing climate and climate variability. There is a need to make optimal use of the available water resource to maximize productivity. Climate-smart irrigation is aimed at increasing per unit production and income from irrigated cropping systems without having negative impacts on the environment or other water users and uses. This paper developed a water allocation model using Genetic Algorithm to equitably allocation available water to the various sectors in Kano River Irrigation Scheme yielding an optimal as well as equitable water release with a 96.44% demand met. An average relative supply of 0.94 was obtained indicating the there was even supply of water to all the sectors. The model is robust and relatively easy to apply and can be employed by farm managers to achieve equity and optimal use of the available water resource.
文摘Climate change poses great risks to poverty alleviation, food security and livelihoods sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa, declining crop yields and livestock productivity, especially in ASALs that suffer from fragile ecosystems characterized by frequent droughts and low rainfall. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) objectives of improving productivity and incomes, adaptation, resilience to climate change and mitigation on GHGs emissions, are responses to these climate risks. CSA technologies, innovation and management practices (TIMPs) in general do exist, however they are concentrated in crop farming neglecting livestock production and especially in marginalized areas such as ASALs, which forms 85% of Kenyan land mass and is dominated by pastoral and nomadic livestock production. Most CSA practices are mainly at the production level and hardly extend to the entire value chain, and diffusion is slow due to several barriers. A mixed method approach was used to evaluate barriers to actors’ adoption of CSA in the pastoral Livestock red meat value chain starting from input suppliers, producers, to consumers (pasture to plate). This study used six broad perspectives to examine the barriers: 1) Knowledge and institutional;2) Market and financial;3) Policy and incentives;4) Networks and engagement platforms;5) Cultural and social;6) Physical infrastructure barriers. These barriers can be surmounted with concerted efforts from the government, development partners, pastoral communities, value chain actors and public private partnership among others. Efforts such as modernization of the pastoral red meat value chains, integration of MSMEs into the livestock systems, access to affordable financing, availability of context based, affordable CSA TIMPs, incentives, policies and institutional support, which currently remains inadequate. Institutional barriers like lack of capacity, coupled with knowledge and behavioral barriers hinder adoption. Financial institutions and cooperative societies can be enablers, however, their reluctance to invest in the sector is a barrier too.
文摘Yala Wetland is a complex of Nzoia and Yala rivers that drain their waters into Lake Victoria, but face various pressure which is thought to originate from the impacts of climate change. The riparian communities are generally poor and use the wetland resources for small-holder livelihood activities. This paper describes how community climate change adaptation assessment (C3A2) tools were applied to identify resilient community-level adaptation options and would inform local climate adaptation planning. Eight participatory C3A2 tools were applied for data collection in which two (adaptation attributes and story-telling) were administered at the meso or local government (County) level while all the eight tools (community protocol, risk mapping, techno-transect, resilience ranking, community calendars, story-telling, adaptation attributes and give back) were administered at the micro or community level. Qualitative research method was adopted and 80 respondents (20 at meso and 60 at micro) were purposively selected for the study. Data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), and plenary discussions. Data were analyzed at four levels: pre-analysis in situ, daily team triangulation, team conclusions, and cross-community reporting. The study found that communities experienced climate risks that tended to shift along with prolonged and irregular hydro-meteorological events, which affected their capacities for adaptation especially the resource-constrained individuals and vulnerable households. Drought (45%) and flood hazards (39%) were the most felt strongly. Drought was manifested mainly by prolonged dry-spell, increased atmospheric temperatures, and strong winds while floods were characterized by unpredictable and short but high-intensity rainfall with associated loss of lives and property damage. Women, children, and poor households were the most exposed to climatic hazards. Farm/agro-forestry was the most perceived adaptation strategy for drought, flood, and soil erosion while alternative livelihoods particularly ecotourism was the commonly perceived adaptation strategy for human-wildlife conflict (HWC). Three community-based adaptation action plans (CBAP) were prepared to guide future village-level planning and development. The CBAPs were used to identify three sample projects which were funded by the donor and implemented by the community. The C3A2 approach provides adequate participatory tools that can be applied in the lake and river basins, and potentially other ecosystems to guide the development of community-based adaptation plans and resilient community-based adaptation projects with wider local acceptance especially those geared towards designing programs for climate-smart livelihoods. However, the application of the methodology may be site-specific and the tools can be administered based on local scenarios and the availability of resources.
基金the(i)research program SUGI/Food-Water-Energy-Nexus“CITYFOOD”,which is(partly)financed by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research(NWO)with project number 438-17-402,and(ii)BlueCycling project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 862555 within the 2019 Joint Call of the ERA-NET Cofund on Food Systems and Climate.
文摘Land desertification,water scarcity,and food security challenges in arid zones are intensifying,driving the need for sustainable agricultural solutions like aquaponics.This study investigated innovative water and energy-saving strategies using an integrated dynamic model for an on-demand industrial aquaponics system in Israel.The model evaluated the performance of a recirculating aquaculture system(RAS),hydroponics system(HPS),and desalination unit(DU)by adjusting physical and operational parameters to optimize water and nutrient use efficiency,energy consumption,and yield.Optimizing the system design resulted in an aquaponics system with approximately 420 m^(3)RAS,6.85 ha HPS and 40 m^(3)/d DU,achieving phosphorus use efficiency of 96%,a water use efficiency of 97%,freshwater input of 1.5 L/day/m^(2),and energy consumption of 0.56 kWh/day/m^(2).To mitigate the challenges of extreme arid climates,evaporative cooling combined with outdoor shading and mechanical cooling was found to be a feasible option to control temperature and humidity in the greenhouse.Dehumidification technologies further improved system performance by recovering 22%freshwater from seawater and increasing nitrogen use efficiency by 18%.Achieving daily energy self-sufficiency required 4500 m^(2)photovoltaic panels and 5000 m^(2)solar heating system.While the system model was initially devised with a specific focus on conditions in Israel,it has been designed with scalability,allowing it to be adapted and applied extensively across diverse peri-urban regions and arid zones globally.
基金supported by the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research,Science Programme-Breeding for Tomorrow,India(Grant No.SP01/B4T/AoW02).
文摘Rice cultivation contributes up to 12%of global anthropogenic methane(CH4)emissions,making it a significant climate concern.With rice demand projected to double by 2050,achieving the required 2.4%annual genetic gain must be balanced with emission reduction.This review synthesizes recent progress in three key areas:(1)mitigation strategies such as alternate wetting and drying and direct-seeded rice,which can reduce CH4 emissions by 30%-40%;(2)identification of physiological and molecular traits,such as short duration,high harvest index,improved nitrogen use efficiency,optimized root architecture,and stress tolerance with reduced greenhouse gas(GHG)footprints;and(3)the potential of genomics-assisted breeding and high-throughput phenotyping to accelerate the development of climate-resilient rice varieties with lower CH4 emissions.Specifically,we highlight how the synergistic integration of high-throughput phenotyping,genomic selection,and marker-assisted breeding can substantially improve the efficiency and precision of breeding programs targeting the development of climate-resilient rice varieties with reduced CH4 emissions.This is exemplified through successful case studies utilizing multi-omics approaches,including the development of Green Super Rice varieties(GSR 2 and GSR 8),which have demonstrated up to a 37%reduction in GHG emissions.Crucially,we propose a stratified trait profile for low-GHG rice development and provide guidelines and metrics for integrating these traits into mainstream breeding pipelines.We conclude by proposing a strategic framework integrating carbon-efficient breeding,climate-adapted agronomy,and policy support,which is essential for scaling low-GHG rice systems globally.
