Technologies for adaptation to climate change Some observations from Practical Action’s work with communities in sub-Saharan Africa

Context: a technology and policy gap Ecosystems – soil, water, air, plants and animals – underpin all our lives Rural people and food systems depend directly on ecosystem health Biodiversity underpins all food production, and ecosystem functions such as clean water, healthy soil, gene pool conservation Diversity reduces risk from uncertainly and increases resilience to threats Yet biodiversity conservation is scarcely considered as a climate change or agricultural issue

Ecosystems – soil, water, air, plants and animals – underpin all our lives

Rural people and food systems depend directly on ecosystem health

Biodiversity underpins all food production, and ecosystem functions such as clean water, healthy soil, gene pool conservation

Diversity reduces risk from uncertainly and increases resilience to threats

Yet biodiversity conservation is scarcely considered as a climate change or agricultural issue

The role of technology in community based adaptation Technologies – tools, skills, knowledge Adaptation to CC involves responding to local challenges and must be rooted in local knowledge, culture and values Participatory development identifies technologies appropriate to the local context and people’s assets Technologies are not necessarily transferable across countries and continents – there is no ‘one size fits all’ for adaptation

Technologies – tools, skills, knowledge

Adaptation to CC involves responding to local challenges and must be rooted in local knowledge, culture and values

Participatory development identifies technologies appropriate to the local context and people’s assets

Technologies are not necessarily transferable across countries and continents – there is no ‘one size fits all’ for adaptation

Technologies for semi-arid areas Strengthening livelihoods to adapt to increasing drought requires: Better access to water resources and improved water management Improved access to seeds of drought-adapted crops Improved livestock productivity through disease control

Strengthening livelihoods to adapt to increasing drought requires:

Better access to water resources and improved water management

Improved access to seeds of drought-adapted crops

Improved livestock productivity through disease control

Rainwater harvesting in Zimbabwe In western Zimbabwe, rainfall is only 200-300mm per year falling on maybe 10 days Most of this water will run over the parched ground into rivers By constructing ridges along the contours, water run off is slowed down and it soaks into the soil. Constructing underground tanks between the contours traps the water for longer

In western Zimbabwe, rainfall is only 200-300mm per year falling on maybe 10 days

Most of this water will run over the parched ground into rivers

By constructing ridges along the contours, water run off is slowed down and it soaks into the soil.

Constructing underground tanks between the contours traps the water for longer

Contour ridges to trap rainfall The work is done communally, people work on each other‘s land

The work is done communally, people work on each other‘s land

Seed saving and exchange As droughts have become more frequent and longer, maize crops have declined, it is vital to increase availability of locally adapted seeds of maize and more drought resistant crops like millet and sorghum This can be achieved through: Community-led sharing of seeds through annual shows Conservation and increased availability of local seed varieties though community seed banks

As droughts have become more frequent and longer, maize crops have declined, it is vital to increase availability of locally adapted seeds of maize and more drought resistant crops like millet and sorghum

This can be achieved through:

Community-led sharing of seeds through annual shows

Conservation and increased availability of local seed varieties though community seed banks

Seed show in Tharaka district of Kenya Farmers display their seeds, hoping for a prize They share knowledge of the crops, and exchange seeds with each other

Farmers display their seeds, hoping for a prize

They share knowledge of the crops, and exchange seeds with each other

Community seed bank The community-based organisation obtained funding to design and build their own seed bank

Tsetse fly control In low rainfall areas, livestock-keeping is an important source of food and income In much of semi-arid Africa, tryposomiasis, a disease borne by the tsetse fly, is endemic Most control systems have been government run, and episodic, linked to the availability of funds for costly chemical control programmes Alternative, community-managed low cost systems can be effective and sustainable

In low rainfall areas, livestock-keeping is an important source of food and income

In much of semi-arid Africa, tryposomiasis, a disease borne by the tsetse fly, is endemic

Most control systems have been government run, and episodic, linked to the availability of funds for costly chemical control programmes

Alternative, community-managed low cost systems can be effective and sustainable

Control of tsetse fly through trapping Tsetse fly traps are made of low cost locally available cloth and net, with a cheap chemical, acetone and cow urine used to attract the flies. The woman on the left is a trap monitor, who monitors and repairs the trap on a regular basis

Technology contradictions Major areas where technology needs to be developed and shared: Water conservation and management, across all countries Biodiversity conservation Low-cost local solutions Currently, most resources go to large-scale, high cost technologies that will not work for 70% of poor people and their agricultural systems

Major areas where technology needs to be developed and shared:

Water conservation and management, across all countries

Biodiversity conservation

Low-cost local solutions

Currently, most resources go to large-scale, high cost technologies that will not work for 70% of poor people and their agricultural systems

Conclusions Many of the technologies most relevant for adaptation are tried and tested The need is for wider promotion of these options, rather than spending on high cost, high technology research For successful rural agriculture in the face of climate change, the challenge is to channel funds to the grass roots level on a large scale… … and into relevant, appropriate, sustainable technologies

Many of the technologies most relevant for adaptation are tried and tested

The need is for wider promotion of these options, rather than spending on high cost, high technology research

For successful rural agriculture in the face of climate change, the challenge is to channel funds to the grass roots level on a large scale…

… and into relevant, appropriate, sustainable technologies