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Traditional agroforestry systems across South Asia have historically supported millions of smallholding farmers. Since, 2007 agroforestry has received attention in global climate discussions for its carbon sink potential. Agroforestry plays a defining role in offsetting greenhouse gases, providing sustainable livelihoods, localizing Sustainable Development Goals and achieving biodiversity targets. The review explores evidence of agroforestry systems for human well-being along with its climate adaptation and mitigation potential for South Asia. In particular, we explore key enabling and constraining conditions for mainstreaming agroforestry systems to use them to fulfill global climate mitigation targets. Nationally determined contributions submitted by South Asian countries to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change acknowledge agroforestry systems. In 2016, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation’s Resolution on Agroforestry brought consensus on developing national agroforestry policies by all regional countries and became a strong enabling condition to ensure effectiveness of using agroforestry for climate targets. Lack of uniform methodologies for creation of databases to monitor tree and soil carbon stocks was found to be a key limitation for the purpose. Water scarcity, lack of interactive governance, rights of farmers and ownership issues along with insufficient financial support to rural farmers for agroforestry were other constraining conditions that should be appropriately addressed by the regional countries to develop their preparedness for achieving national climate ambitions. Our review indicates the need to shift from planning to the implementation phase following strong examples shared from India and Nepal, including carbon neutrality scenarios, incentives and sustainable local livelihood to enhance preparedness.

El Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) con la Federación Nacional del Café (FNC) y el Centro de Investigación del Café (Cenicafé), se han unido para desarrollar y evaluar un servicio agroclimático orientado a la entrega de planes de adaptación locales para los productores de café que los ayuden a construir futuros agrícolas más resilientes. Este objetivo se enmarca dentro del proyecto Servicios climáticos para un desarrollo resiliente en Colombia (CSRD, siglas en inglés), cuya meta es objetivo desarrollar servicios de información climática confiables y personalizados que permitan un acceso fácil a información agroclimática oportuna y precisa para la adaptación climática. La parte preliminar de este esfuerzo requirió un inventario de las áreas de cultivo de café existentes en la región de estudio seleccionada. Luego de un primer paso para modelar cafeterías basado en la presencia de cafetales, se desarrolló un enfoque para proyectar la aptitud del café a corto plazo, identificar fincas resilientes a través del tiempo (utilizando imágenes satelitales) y finalmente determinar prácticas para la adaptación (a través de encuestas de campo), que luego se utilizan para desarrollar planes de adaptación locales que mejoran la resiliencia del café bajo riesgo climático.

On April 27, 2023, the launch of the PlaSA Colombia platform took place at the Los Andes University, Bogota Colombia, with the support of the CGIAR initiative on National Policies and Strategies (NPS), under the leadership of the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT (International Center for Tropical Agriculture) in Colombia. This launch allowed a second meeting in which the allied entities of the platform were convened and had the opportunity to create the community of practice “PlaSA Colombia COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE IN FOOD SYSTEMS”, a community that brings together academy, research, and private sector with the intention to contribute, influence and actively impact on food systems in Colombia.

The recent CCAFS and the LSIL scenarios process focuses on contextual drivers of change for agriculture and food security – climate change and socio-economic changes (e.g. in markets, governance, broad economic developments, infrastructure).

Under the Paris Agreement, countries should update their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) every five years, with progressive ambition in each new submission. Kenya plans to review and revise its NDC in June 2020. The State Department for Livestock has undertaken a stock-taking exercise with support from UNIQUE forestry and land use, CCAFS and GRA. This report summarizes the main findings and recommendations for the livestock sub-sector contribution to enhanced climate change ambition. The livestock sub-sector is well aligned with Kenya‘s comprehensive policy framework: The livestock sub-sector is critical to achieving Kenya’s development objectives, including the Big Four Agenda and the Agriculture Sector Growth and Transformation Strategy (ASGTS, 2019-2029). The prioritization exercise that informed the ASGTS highlighted dairy, beef, sheep/goat, poultry and camel as being among Kenya’s 13 value chains with high potential for agricultural transformation and are central to achieving the objectives of the three ASGTS anchors. The Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy and Implementation Framework (KCSAIF) sets out clear actions that are in line with livestock sub-sector priorities. With the exception of the dairy industry where some progress has been made, implementation of the KCSAIF in different live-stock industries (e.g., beef, sheep, goats, poultry) is in its early stages. The livestock sub-sector is central to Kenya’s climate change ambitions: Livestock is the largest source of GHG emissions in the agricultural sector, accounting for over 50% of GHG emissions in the Second National Communication, mainly due to enteric fermentation. Trends in livestock GHG emissions are also key drivers of the business as usual (BAU) scenario in Kenya’s first NDC. The projections underlying the BAU scenario in the first NDC assumed 1% annual average growth in enteric fermentation emissions from 2010 to 2030. Official livestock population data combined with IPCC 2006 Tier 1 emission factors show that from 2000 to ...

Improved climate-resilient strains of indigenous sheep and goats were introduced in the Nyando basin of western Kenya in 2013. This study evaluated the performance of the breeds five years after their first introduction, and their contribution to household revenues. Red Maasai and Red Maasai x Dorper sheep and Galla goats introduced in Nyando adapted to the environment and retained performance levels exhibited in their original environments. They have been widely adopted by the farmers and are used for upgrading local breeds through crossbreeding, yielding offspring that are 50% heavier than local breeds at one year of age. Costs for producing the small ruminants tend to increase with land size owned, mainly due to higher costs for managing the health of more livestock. The costs of producing goats are significantly higher than for sheep. Revenues accrued from goat milk contribute to 10% of the revenue from goats. The introduced breeds provided a significant productivity lift in the local livestock population, resulting in higher returns to the smallholder farmers. For long-term sustainability of the productivity gains, a community-based selective mating program using reference sire flocks with an overall goal of good growth, adaptability, and milk production should be adopted.

AbstractIn this study, the CERES-Maize model was calibrated and evaluated using data from 60 farmers’ fields across Sudan (SS) and Northern Guinea (NGS) Savannas of Nigeria in 2016 and 2017 rainy seasons. The trials consisted of 10 maize varieties sown at three different sowing densities (2.6, 5.3, and 6.6 plants m−2) across farmers’ field with contrasting agronomic and nutrient management histories. Model predictions in both years and locations were close to observed data for both calibration and evaluation exercises as evidenced by low normalized root mean square error (RMSE) (≤15%), high modified d-index (> 0.6), and high model efficiency (>0.45) values for the phenology, growth, and yield data across all varieties and agro-ecologies. In both years and locations and for both calibration and evaluation exercises, very good agreements were found between observed and model-simulated grain yields, number of days to physiological maturity, above-ground biomass, and harvest index. Two separate scenario analyses were conducted using the long-term (26 years) weather records for Bunkure (representing the SS) and Zaria (representing the NGS). The early and extra-early varieties were used in the SS while the intermediate and late varieties were used in the NGS. The result of the scenario analyses showed that early and extra-early varieties grown in the SS responds to increased sowing density up to 8.8 plants m−2 when the recommended rate of N fertilizers (90 kg N ha−1) was applied. In the NGS, yield responses were observed up to a density of 6.6 plants m−2 with the application of 120 kg N ha−1 for the intermediate and late varieties. The highest mean monetary returns to land (US$1336.1 ha−1) were simulated for scenarios with 8.8 plants m−2 and 90 kg N ha−1, while the highest return to labor (US$957.7 ha−1) was simulated for scenarios with 6.6 plants m−2 and 90 Kg N ha−1 in the SS. In the NGS, monetary return per hectare was highest with a planting density of 6.6 plants m−2 with the application of 120 kg N, while the return to labor was highest for sowing density of 5.3 plants m−2 at the same N fertilizer application rates. The results of the long-term simulations predicted increases in yield and economic returns to land and labor by increasing sowing densities in the maize belts of Nigeria without applying N fertilizers above the recommended rates.

The new climate change mitigation scheme for developing countries known as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) has been proposed as a way of reducing carbon emissions in the forest sector, whilst also protecting and improving the livelihoods and wellbeing of communities. This paper argues that it is important to resolve tenure ambiguity and ensure that communities participate in the REDD+ process by engaging them in project development and implementation. Drawing on data collected in six villages under two REDD+ projects targeted in Cameroon, this paper addresses four questions: (1) What are the tenure conditions at the two study sites? (2) How have the project proponents perceived the tenure and other challenges and how do they plan to address those challenges? (3) What have the proponents done to engage communities in the process of establishing REDD+? (4) Are communities informed about and satisfied with the process of establishing REDD+? The paper shows that while the proponents have worked to resolve tenure issues and engage communities, there is still frustration among project participants because of a lack of progress toward implementing compensation and benefit sharing system. The paper concludes that it is crucial to safeguard the rights, access and participation of local communities, and benefits to them, throughout the design and implementation of REDD+ projects.

Comme la demande mondiale de produits d'élevage (tels que la viande, le lait et les œufs) devrait doubler d'ici 2050, les augmentations nécessaires de la production future doivent être conciliées avec les impacts environnementaux négatifs causés par l'élevage. Cet article décrit le concept LivestockPlus et démontre comment l'ensemencement de fourrages améliorés peut conduire à l'intensification durable des systèmes mixtes cultures-forages-élevage-arbres dans les tropiques en produisant de multiples avantages sociaux, économiques et environnementaux. L'intensification durable améliore non seulement la productivité des systèmes à base de fourrage tropical, mais réduit également l'empreinte écologique de la production animale et génère une diversité de services écosystémiques (SE) tels que l'amélioration de la qualité des sols et la réduction de l'érosion, de la sédimentation et des émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES). L'intégration de fourrages améliorés à base d'herbe et de légumineuses dans des systèmes de production mixtes (cultures-élevage, arbres-élevage, cultures-arbres-élevage) peut restaurer les terres dégradées et améliorer la résilience du système à la sécheresse et à l'engorgement associé au changement climatique. Lorsqu'ils sont correctement gérés, les fourrages tropicaux accumulent de grandes quantités de carbone dans le sol, fixent l'azote atmosphérique (légumineuses), inhibent la nitrification dans le sol et réduisent les émissions d'oxyde nitreux (graminées) et réduisent les émissions de GES par unité de produit d'élevage. Le concept LivestockPlus est défini comme l'intensification durable des systèmes à base de fourrage, qui repose sur 3 processus d'intensification interdépendants : l'intensification génétique - le développement et l'utilisation de cultivars supérieurs d'herbe et de légumineuses pour augmenter la productivité du bétail ; l'intensification écologique - le développement et l'application de meilleures pratiques de gestion des ressources agricoles et naturelles ; et l'intensification socio-économique - l'amélioration des institutions et des politiques locales et nationales, qui permettent d'affiner les technologies et de soutenir leur utilisation durable. L'augmentation de la productivité animale nécessitera des efforts coordonnés pour élaborer des politiques de soutien du gouvernement, des organisations non gouvernementales et du secteur privé qui favorisent les investissements et une rémunération équitable sur le marché pour les produits et les SE fournis. Des efforts efficaces de recherche pour le développement qui promeuvent les avantages agricoles et environnementaux des systèmes à base de fourrage peuvent contribuer à la mise en œuvre de LivestockPlus dans divers contextes géographiques, politiques et socio-économiques.Mots clés : éco-efficacité, avantages environnementaux, élevage et environnement, agriculture mixte, pâturages, petits exploitants.DOI :10.17138/TGFT (3)59-82 Dado que se espera que la demanda mundial de productos ganaderos (como carne, leche y huevos) se duplique para 2050, los aumentos necesarios para la producción futura deben conciliarse con los impactos ambientales negativos que causa el ganado. Este documento describe el concepto de LivestockPlus y demuestra cómo la siembra de forrajes mejorados puede conducir a la intensificación sostenible de los sistemas mixtos de cultivos, forraje, ganado y árboles en los trópicos al producir múltiples beneficios sociales, económicos y ambientales. La intensificación sostenible no solo mejora la productividad de los sistemas basados en forraje tropical, sino que también reduce la huella ecológica de la producción ganadera y genera una diversidad de servicios ecosistémicos (ES), como la mejora de la calidad del suelo y la reducción de la erosión, la sedimentación y las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI). La integración de forrajes mejorados de pastos y leguminosas en sistemas de producción mixtos (cultivo-ganado, árbol-ganado, cultivo-árbol-ganado) puede restaurar las tierras degradadas y mejorar la resistencia del sistema a la sequía y el anegamiento asociados con el cambio climático. Cuando los forrajes tropicales se gestionan adecuadamente, acumulan grandes cantidades de carbono en el suelo, fijan el nitrógeno atmosférico (legumbres), inhiben la nitrificación en el suelo y reducen las emisiones de óxido nitroso (gramíneas), y reducen las emisiones de GEI por unidad de producto ganadero. El concepto LivestockPlus se define como la intensificación sostenible de los sistemas basados en forrajes, que se basa en 3 procesos de intensificación interrelacionados: intensificación genética: el desarrollo y uso de cultivares superiores de gramíneas y leguminosas para aumentar la productividad del ganado; intensificación ecológica: el desarrollo y la aplicación de prácticas mejoradas de gestión de granjas y recursos naturales; e intensificación socioeconómica: la mejora de las instituciones y políticas locales y nacionales, que permiten el perfeccionamiento de las tecnologías y apoyan su uso duradero. El aumento de la productividad ganadera requerirá esfuerzos coordinados para desarrollar políticas de apoyo gubernamentales, de organizaciones no gubernamentales y del sector privado que fomenten las inversiones y una compensación justa del mercado tanto para los productos como para los ES proporcionados. Los esfuerzos efectivos de investigación para el desarrollo que promueven los beneficios agrícolas y ambientales de los sistemas basados en forraje pueden contribuir a la implementación de LivestockPlus en una variedad de contextos geográficos, políticos y socioeconómicos. Palabras clave: Ecoeficiencia, beneficios ambientales, ganado y medio ambiente, agricultura mixta, pastos, pequeños agricultores. DOI:10.17138/TGFT (3)59-82 As global demand for livestock products (such as meat, milk and eggs) is expected to double by 2050, necessary increases to future production must be reconciled with negative environmental impacts that livestock cause. This paper describes the LivestockPlus concept and demonstrates how the sowing of improved forages can lead to the sustainable intensification of mixed crop-forage-livestock-tree systems in the tropics by producing multiple social, economic and environmental benefits. Sustainable intensification not only improves the productivity of tropical forage-based systems but also reduces the ecological footprint of livestock production and generates a diversity of ecosystem services (ES) such as improved soil quality and reduced erosion, sedimentation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Integrating improved grass and legume forages into mixed production systems (crop-livestock, tree-livestock, crop-tree-livestock) can restore degraded lands and enhance system resilience to drought and waterlogging associated with climate change. When properly managed tropical forages accumulate large amounts of carbon in soil, fix atmospheric nitrogen (legumes), inhibit nitrification in soil and reduce nitrous oxide emissions (grasses), and reduce GHG emissions per unit livestock product.The LivestockPlus concept is defined as the sustainable intensification of forage-based systems, which is based on 3 interrelated intensification processes: genetic intensification - the development and use of superior grass and legume cultivars for increased livestock productivity; ecological intensification - the development and application of improved farm and natural resource management practices; and socio-economic intensification - the improvement of local and national institutions and policies, which enable refinements of technologies and support their enduring use. Increases in livestock productivity will require coordinated efforts to develop supportive government, non-government organization and private sector policies that foster investments and fair market compensation for both the products and ES provided. Effective research-for-development efforts that promote agricultural and environmental benefits of forage-based systems can contribute towards implemention of LivestockPlus across a variety of geographic, political and socio-economic contexts.Keywords: Eco-efficiency, environmental benefits, livestock and environment, mixed farming, pastures, smallholders.DOI: 10.17138/TGFT(3)59-82 نظرًا لأنه من المتوقع أن يتضاعف الطلب العالمي على المنتجات الحيوانية (مثل اللحوم والحليب والبيض) بحلول عام 2050، يجب التوفيق بين الزيادات اللازمة للإنتاج المستقبلي والآثار البيئية السلبية التي تسببها الثروة الحيوانية. تصف هذه الورقة مفهوم LivestockPlus وتوضح كيف يمكن أن يؤدي زرع الأعلاف المحسنة إلى التكثيف المستدام لأنظمة زراعة المحاصيل المختلطة في المناطق الاستوائية من خلال إنتاج فوائد اجتماعية واقتصادية وبيئية متعددة. لا يؤدي التكثيف المستدام إلى تحسين إنتاجية النظم القائمة على الأعلاف الاستوائية فحسب، بل يقلل أيضًا من البصمة البيئية للإنتاج الحيواني ويولد مجموعة متنوعة من خدمات النظم الإيكولوجية مثل تحسين جودة التربة وتقليل التعرية والترسيب وانبعاثات غازات الدفيئة. يمكن أن يؤدي دمج الأعلاف العشبية والبقولية المحسنة في أنظمة الإنتاج المختلطة (المحاصيل والماشية، والأشجار والماشية، والمحاصيل والماشية) إلى استعادة الأراضي المتدهورة وتعزيز مرونة النظام في مواجهة الجفاف والتشبع بالمياه المرتبطين بتغير المناخ. عندما تتراكم الأعلاف الاستوائية المدارة بشكل صحيح كميات كبيرة من الكربون في التربة، وتصلح النيتروجين في الغلاف الجوي (البقوليات)، وتمنع النترجة في التربة وتقلل من انبعاثات أكسيد النيتروز (الأعشاب)، وتقلل من انبعاثات غازات الدفيئة لكل وحدة من المنتجات الحيوانية. يتم تعريف مفهوم LivestockPlus على أنه التكثيف المستدام للأنظمة القائمة على الأعلاف، والتي تستند إلى 3 عمليات تكثيف مترابطة: التكثيف الجيني - تطوير واستخدام أصناف متفوقة من العشب والبقول لزيادة إنتاجية الثروة الحيوانية ؛ التكثيف البيئي - تطوير وتطبيق ممارسات محسنة لإدارة المزارع والموارد الطبيعية ؛ والتكثيف الاجتماعي والاقتصادي - تحسين المؤسسات والسياسات المحلية والوطنية، والتي تمكن من تحسين التقنيات ودعم استخدامها الدائم. ستتطلب الزيادات في إنتاجية الثروة الحيوانية جهودًا منسقة لتطوير سياسات داعمة للحكومة والمنظمات غير الحكومية والقطاع الخاص تعزز الاستثمارات وتعويضات السوق العادلة لكل من المنتجات والخدمات البيئية والاجتماعية المقدمة. يمكن أن تساهم جهود البحث من أجل التنمية الفعالة التي تعزز الفوائد الزراعية والبيئية للأنظمة القائمة على الأعلاف في تنفيذ LivestockPlus عبر مجموعة متنوعة من السياقات الجغرافية والسياسية والاجتماعية والاقتصادية. الكلمات الرئيسية: الكفاءة البيئية، الفوائد البيئية، الثروة الحيوانية والبيئة، الزراعة المختلطة، المراعي، أصحاب الحيازات الصغيرة. DOI: 10.17138/TGFT (3)59-82