Beating Famine Conference Side Event

1. Beating Famine in Southern Africa
Conference
Scaling up Conservation Agriculture in
Southern Africa Side event
Mbuna Room
1:30 – 15:00, 14 April 2015

2. Objectives of the session
1. Identify interventions and actions needed to
facilitate faster and more sustainable up-scaling
of CA.
2. Discuss and agree on how to link current CA
initiatives with other continental activities (eg
Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance).
3. Explore opportunities to make CA more efficient
and effective by integrating it with some of the
technologies and interventions showcased here
(eg FMNR)..

4. Process steps
1. Welcome and objectives of the session
2. Recap of CA parallel session 3.1 and some
sessions showcasing related technologies
and interventions
3. Discussions guided by task questions
4. Wayforward and contribution to resolution

5. Highlights, insights
Working definition of CA generally agreed
CA is characterized by three principles which are
linked to each other, namely:
• Continuous minimum mechanical soil disturbance.
• Permanent organic soil cover.
• Diversified crop rotations in the case of annual
crops or plant associations in case of perennial
crops.
Some debate on the feasibility of the three princinples
implemented together

6. Some insights
• Benefits (biophysical and socio-economic) are known and
documentented – CA is climate smate and can contribute
significantly to beating famine
• Integration of CA with Faidherbia albida demostrated to
improve crop performance and resiliance to drought
• CA is a knowledge intensive technology – learning by doing is
required.
• Adoption of CA is low due to several challenges including high
labour demands for weeding .
• Farmers have abondoned CA if it is not “supported“ and
monitored.
• Appropriate extension and subsidy policy inreased adoption
of CA. To get feedback from participants on the workshop
process and contents

7. Discussion task 1
Reflect on the presentations from rappoutors and your
own experiences
What still needs clarification for a concerted promotion of
wide adoption of CA in Southern Africa by ALL to
contribute more to beating famine?

8. Discussion task 2
Reflect on the presentations from rappoutors and your
own experiences
What interventions and actions are needed to facilitate
faster and more sustainable up-scaling of CA?
Discuss with your neighbour share in plenary

9. Discussion task 4
Reflect on the presentations from rappoutors and your
own experiences
What opportunities are there to link current CA initiatives
with other continental activities (eg Climate Smart
Agriculture Alliance).
Discuss with your neighbour and share in plenary

10. Discussion task 5
Reflect on the presentations from rappoutors and your
own experiences
1. What technologies and interventions showcased here
can CA integrate with?
2. How can CA integrate with these technologies and
interventions showcased here?
Discuss with your neighbour and share in plenary