Climate-smart Agriculture Guideline.

The CSA guidelines development is a step towards achieving global and national goals of sustainable agriculture production in a changing climate. The main objectives of the Guideline are (i) to guide the identification of suitable technologies and practices for successful implementation of CSA to enhance agricultural production; (ii) to guide in the identification of approaches and crucial requirements for successful CSA implementation; (iii) to facilitate planning for implementation and up-scaling of CSA; (iv) to inform policymakers to formulate policies, regulations, programs, and related incentives for CSA implementation and up-scaling; (v) to guide development actors, extension services, research institutions, and private sector to promote CSA practices and technologies; (vi) to create awareness, building knowledge and capacity on CSA as an approach for climate change mainstreaming and environmental management in the agriculture sector; and (vii) monitoring of CSA implementation. This Guideline is based on an inclusive multi-level approach (i) gender-responsive approach; (ii) community-based approach; (iii) farmer-centered research, learning, and training approach.
Different strategies are employed to adapt to the changing climate and, although they vary from place to place, generally they include early land preparation, early planting, dry planting, planting of drought tolerant crops, planting of early maturing crops, mulching, irrigation, tree planting, and the use of indigenous knowledge. Other strategies include replanting, intercropping, crop rotation, minimum tillage, use of water harvesting pits, digging irrigation trenches, and terracing. Livestock farmers also adapt by growing grasses and perennial fodders, using farm by-products, and doing additional activities such as crop farming. In addition to farmers’ initiatives, extension agents build the capacity of farmers to adapt to climate change impacts by promoting the use of improved seeds, and adoption of improved agricultural practices that conserve soils and water, ridging, and agroforestry. In livestock production, extension agents promote the use of improved livestock breeds, improved livestock management, artificial insemination, milk value addition, improved fodder, and supplemental feeding of concentrates. Furthermore, they have been training farmers through Farmer Field Schools (FFS), demonstrations, studies, visits, and exhibitions.
The following climate-smart strategies are also proposed (i) pasture management; (ii) manure management; (iii) fishing, aquaculture, and mariculture; (iv) bee-keeping. Additional practices that need to be implemented to reduce the impact of climate change in agriculture are (i) enhancement of climate information services; (ii)improved cooking stoves for the efficient conversion of energy from biomass to heat; (iii) improved post-harvest to reduce food losses and improve food safety.