Southern Africa has an estimated 300 million people to feed. Industrialization is still in its infancy. This leaves agriculture as the main stay for an estimated 70% of the region’s population. In spite of this, smallholder agriculture is still largely a fragile, low productivity, low production and low return venture for most smallholder farming households in the region. According to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), 26 to 41.2 million Southern Africa’s experienced food and nutrition insecurity between 2015 and 2019. Droughts, land degradation and the widespread use of inappropriate production practices and technologies by farmers are among underlying factors for sub-optimal productivity and production that results in food and nutrition insecurity for many. This is a verdict on the failure of the conventional production approach in meeting farmer expectations. There is an urgent need to change the way farming is being done in the region in order to make agriculture a viable livelihood and food and nutrition security undertaking. Conservation Agriculture (CA), a Climate Smart Agriculture approach that came to Southern Africa in the early 1990s in response to persistent droughts is a much more resilient option that assures higher productivity and returns to farmers. CA has been shown to bring positive benefits to farmers who adhere to it. Smallholder farmers whose productivity was below 1 MT/Ha have been able to raise their yields four fold through adoption of CA. Increased CA adoption can contribute to the realization of the Malabo declaration and the attainment of the 25 million farmer target by 2025 set by the Lusaka 1st CA Congress of 2014. Strengthening partnerships and harnessing national and regional development frameworks, policies and strategies, coupled with enhanced field level farmer support services has potential to increase CA farmer uptake in the region.
With support from the FAO and the African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT), the CA Regional Working Group (CARWG) will organize a regional dialogue event for key CA stakeholders from September 25-27, 2019 in Lusaka, Zambia. The event is expected to strengthen CA partnerships and will feature high level participation by key players in the region.
The meeting aims to strengthen CA partnerships and develop a roadmap that will result in increased CA traction through alignment to Regional and National development frameworks.
Action plan for enhanced regional Partnerships so as to increase uptake of Conservation Agriculture among smallholder farmers in Southern Africa
The workshop will be held in Lusaka, Zambia from 25th – 27th September 2019 (Arrival 24th September; Departure 28th September 2019). The venue of the workshop will be communicated in due course.
Government Representatives, African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT), Conservation Farming Unit (CFU), FAO, Conservation Agriculture Platforms (CARWG, NCATFs), Regional Economic Commissions (SADC, ECOWAS, NEPAD, COMESA), FARNPAN, Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), Research Organizations (CIMMYT, IITA, ICRISAT, CCARDESA), Academia, Private Sector and the Media.
FAO will pay for the cost of accommodation and air travel for sponsored participants from the respective countries as well as Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) in line with FAO standard regulations and procedures. Nominated/invited participants should send scan copies of their passports and mobile numbers to Joy Wekesa, (Joy.Wekesa@fao.org) and Rutendo Tinarwo (Rutendo.Tinarwo@fao.org). Participants should collect their DSA from FAO country offices where they are located.
Participants from countries that require a visa for entry into Zambia need to ensure that they obtain these before travelling. FAO country offices are always available to support participants as necessary. Also ensure that you have a yellow fever vaccination if you come from a country that is classified as prone to the diseases by the WHO.