By: Catherine Mungai and Maren Radeny (CCAFS)
Mainstreaming climate-smart agriculture to support the transformation of Kenya's agriculture sector into an innovative, commercially-oriented, competitive and modern sector.
On 31 October 2018, the Kenya Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries & Irrigation (MoALF&I) launched the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Implementation Framework 2018-2027 at Kilimo Grounds, Nairobi.
The framework sets guidelines for implementing climate-smart agriculture (CSA) approaches, strategies, practices and technologies in Kenya. The purpose is to promote climate-resilient and low-carbon growth sustainable agriculture that ensures food security and contributes to national development goals.
The framework was produced by MoALF&I in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry with support from the Department for International Development (DFID), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through the Integrating Agriculture in National Adaptation Plans project (NAP-Ag), the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). Read More
Recent studies on agriculture and climate change in Africa point to a growing risk of failed seasons amongst farmers occasioned by a warmer climate. However, the situation is not all gloom and doom, as there are opportunities for innovation through adoption of appropriate climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices and policies that can help smallholder farmers sustain and improve their livelihoods. CSA integrates the three dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental) and entails a suite of technologies and practices that can increase productivity and incomes, enhance adaptation and build resilience to climate change, and where possible reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions.