Crop production is vulnerable to climate variability, and climate change associated with increases in temperature, increases in CO2, and changing patterns of rainfall may lead to a considerable decline in crop production.

1. A Proposal for the
implementation of a
Climate Smart Agriculture
(CSA) System in Trinidad
and Tobago

2. IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY GLOBALLY
Crop production is vulnerable to climate variability,
and climate change associated with increases in
temperature, increases in CO2, and changing
patterns of rainfall may lead to a considerable
decline in crop production. Also, extreme weather
events such as droughts, extreme heat waves, and
heavy rainfall leading to floods have increased in
past decades. Enhancing crop production to meet
rising demands owing to the increasing population,
against the background of the threats of climate
change, is a challenging task.
ADAPTION MECHANISMS TO PROTECT AGAINST
CLIMATE CHANGE
 Climate-ready crops or thermal stress-tolerant
varieties, adjusting planting dates, improving water
conservation and management practices,
 Using efficient irrigation and fertilizer management,
diversifying crops, and improving pest management
could help reduce the impacts of climate change.
 Reliable local weather information and early
warning systems for farmers will be useful in
minimizing risks of climatic threats.
Source: Elsvier:- Current Developments to Biotechnology
and Bioengineering, 2017

3. Summary of projected changes in crop yields, due to climate change over the 21st century. The figure includes
projections for different emission scenarios, for tropical and temperate regions, and for adaptation and no-adaptation
cases combined. Relatively few studies have considered impacts on cropping systems for scenarios where global mean
temperatures increase by 4°C or more.
For five timeframes in the near term and long term, data (n=1090) are plotted in the 20-year period on the horizontal axis
that includes the midpoint of each future projection period. Changes in crop yields are relative to late-20th-century levels.
Data for each timeframe sum to 100%. © IPCC, 2014, 5th assessment (Future Learn)

4. CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON CROP PRODUCTION
 Increased atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide
 Temperature alterations
 Changes in precipitation regimes
 Pests

5. CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE (CSA)
As a result of Climate change, new and innovative techniques have
been introduced in the farming communities in several countries
globally.
 The CSA method of farming will provide farmers and stakeholders
with the requisite technical knowledge and training that would result
in sustain food security.
 It ensures economic viability for all stakeholders.

6. KEY FACTS ABOUT A CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE (CSA) SYSTEM
 Climate-smart agriculture is not a new agricultural system, It is an innovative approach for charting development
pathways that can make the agriculture sectors more productive and sustainable and better able to contribute to
climate change adaptation and mitigation.
 Agricultural production systems and food systems must undergo significant transformations to meet the interlinked
challenges of achieving sustainability, increasing food security and responding to climate change.
 Increasing efficiency in the use of natural resources and other agricultural inputs is a central element for making
agriculture climate-smart.
 Building resilience to the risks associated with climate change is essential for preparing agricultural communities to
cope with the uncertainty created by changing climatic conditions.
 Climate-smart agriculture contributes to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and follows the principles of sustainable food and agriculture.
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations

7. THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY IN TRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO
Trinidad and Tobago, as with most countries
globally is not insulated from the abnormal weather
patterns associated with climate change and this
has adversely affected the local farming
community. As a result farmers continue to suffer
immense losses to their crop production.
At present most farmers continue to institute
traditional methods for farming, so with the
proposed system of ‘Climate Smart Agriculture’
technique ,it would to some degree alleviate the
heavy losses incurred from the bad weather and in
the main adopt new trends to ensure sustainability
of long term food security for the country.
THE INTRODUCTION OF A CLIMATE SMART SYSTEM IN
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO WILL ACHIEVE THE
FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:
 sustainably increasing agricultural productivity
and incomes;
 adapting and building resilience to climate
change;
 reducing and/or removing greenhouse gas
emissions, where possible.

8. WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR A SMART
AGRICULTURE SYSTEM IN TRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO…
Improvements in the physical infrastructure
(e.g. roads, irrigation schemes, facilities for bulking,
processing and storage, and information and
communication systems) needed to facilitate access to
markets, and investments in rural areas.
Seed laws, policies and registration processes
related to the release, multiplication, distribution, quality
control and sale of seeds are important for climate-smart
crop production.
 These policies and regulations which govern locally
are vitally important so as to encourage an enabling
environment so as to ensure that farmers have
timely access to reasonably priced quality seeds
and planting materials of the most suitable crop
varieties.

9. WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR A SMART
AGRICULTURE SYSTEM (CSA) SYSTEM IN
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO…
Financial incentives to enhance farmers'
capacities or increase their access to soft loans to
support initial investments in sustainable practices and
technologies. To be effective, tenure rights to land need
to recognized and granted legitimacy.
 Financial strategies can enable farmers especially
smallholders with limited purchasing power, and
streamline them into existing institutions.
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
For farmers in particular, gaining and sharing
knowledge about changing climatic conditions and the
sustained viability of adapted crop production practices
are important when formulating strategies to cope with
the limiting factors affecting their crop system.
 To Understand the allocation of the resources that
they have at their disposal and those they can
mobilize. This will assist them in making informed
investments in climate change adaptation and/or
mitigation.
 Understanding the processes when making
decisions about adopting new practices and
technologies.

10. WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR A SMART
AGRICULTURE SYSTEM IN TRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO…
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
The development of capacities of the private
sector in manufacturing, providing services and the
marketing of agricultural machinery can also support
the adoption of climate-smart crop production
practices.
 The lack of availability of locally manufactured
agricultural machinery and spare parts, and the
absence of local repair and maintenance
services are important obstacles to sustainable
mechanization and contribute to inefficiencies in
crop production.
TECHNOLOGIES FOR DECISION MAKING
 Develop simple robust scientific tools that can guide
the decision-making of farmers on a seasonal and
long-term basis is essential for planning strategies to
address climate change.
 Risk management- the technologies relate to
weather forecasting and early detection systems.
The improved timing and reliability of seasonal
forecasts and hydrological monitoring enables
farmers to make better use of climate information,
take pre-emptive actions and minimize the impact of
extreme events.
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations

11. BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED FROM A CSA SYSTEM IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Greater access to technological innovations and a sound understanding of agricultural
ecosystems will allow farmers to work 'smarter not harder' and work in tandem with
biogeochemical processes inherent in diverse and complex ecosystems.
 Various options available for farmers depending on their needs
 The solutions identified will always be cost-effective and profitable for farmers and responsive to markets.
 Farmers would now be able to manage foreseen business risks of changing their production practices
(e.g. costs, investments and future value of the investments); consider the financial returns related to
adapting to changes in local climate; evaluate the implications of local climate on local prices and
markets; and anticipate the consequences climate change may have on crop prices in international
markets.
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations

12. SOME COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE
IMPLEMENTED
SUCESSFULCLIMATE SMART
AGRICULTURE (CSA) SYSTEMS
INCLUDE:
BRAZIL
BURKINA FASO
ETHIOPIA
INDIA
CHINA
SOUTH AFRICA

13. CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE IN ACTION
https://youtu.be/q7JnJ0oBa94

14. CONCLUSIONS
 Climate-smart crop production and food systems can only be successful if they increase
the synergies and reduce trade-offs among the different stakeholders and their different
objectives regarding sustainable food production, ecosystem conservation and livelihoods.
 This type of crop production requires that all stakeholders, including farmers, development
cooperation professionals and policy makers, strengthen their ability to make decisions on
matters that have typically been outside their area of expertise.
 A system-wide capacity development approach is recommended for bringing about a
gradual transition towards climate-smart crop production.

15. REFERENCES
 Food and Agriculture Organization – United Nations
 IPCC, 2014, 5th assessment (Future Learn)
 Global for Climate Smart Agriculture (You Tube Video)
 Elsvier:- Current Developments to Biotechnology
and Bioengineering, 2017

16. THE END
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