My Name is Tibebu Assefa. People call me Tibe. It is shortened from of my name. I am an Ethiopian.I am working on climate change expert in a private consulting company called Echnoserve, which is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Storified by tib2008 ·
Fri, Jul 22 2016 12:39:34
#globalonline #climatechange #foodsecurity
INTRODUCTION
Ethiopia designed climate resilience green economy strategy (CRGE) in 2011. The strategy outlined 41 adaptations and 60 mitigations options to climate change for seven sectors. Agriculture is one of the sectors which the CRGE focuses. The sector is highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change and it shares 76% GHG emission.
The threats posed by climate change to the agriculture sector include the following: Greater total or more intense rainfall across Ethiopia will increase soil erosion and crop damage. Ethiopia is particularly vulnerable to accelerated soil erosion because of existing pressures and degradation on our land area, 79% of which has a slope of greater than 16%, with 25% having a slope of greater than 30%. There will also be changes in production system viability; cropland area and cropping patterns; pest and disease frequency and distribution brought by changes in seasonality; timing and distribution of rainfall; higher evapotranspiration; drought and flood damage. Livestock yields will be impacted directly through temperature effects on annual growth, milk and wool production and reproduction; and indirectly by changes in the quantity and quality of pasture, forage, grass and disease and parasites.
The ministry of finance and economic cooperation (MFEC) announced to submit a proposal for a project called fast-track project which would fund CRGE proposals. The ministry of agriculture and natural resource (MOANR) in collaboration with Echnoserve consulting company submitted a proposal to the MFEC to implement climate -smart agricultural practices in 26 pilot woredas under a project named agricultural fast track project (AFTP).
After the proposal approved, the project implemented for 21 months. The project sites were covering all 10 regions of Ethiopia. The smallest unit structure of the government that based at grass root level called kebele. A kebele has about 5,000 population. Kebeles (like 8-40) form woreda (village).The project is implemented in one of selected micro-watershed in the woreda. A micro-watershed was cover around 700-1000 ha and 150-250 households. The selected micro watershed may lie down in a kebele or more than one kebele . The project was implemented under the supervision of woreda level agriculture office and development agents (DAs) in the kebeles.
The expected outcomes of the project are to improve food and income security of farmers and pastoral households, climate resilience and ensured environment sustainability. AFTP consists of three interrelated components of climate-smart practices; these are crop production, livestock production, and natural resource.
OVERVIEW
The sector is a source of livelihood for 85% population. Climate change is impacting crop and livestock production. The impacts are very high especially on subsistence farmers whose production depends on rain calendar. In the drought year where rainfall is low, the production of crop and livestock reduce. When the rain calendar is not on time, it will reduce crops productivity or total loss. More than half million cattle die due to lack of field grass when April rain is late. When these livelihood sources are affected, people look at natural resources for survival, typically to forest as income. Farmers sell wood and wood product like charcoal to nearby towns. These increase the deforestation rate and exacerbate the degradation of natural resources, like soil. Moreover, it increases flooding and decreases water availability in water sources like pond.
APPROACH
The project was planned to pilot the CRGE initiatives in 26 micro-watersheds. The micro-watershed was cover around 700-1000 ha and 150-250 households. These watersheds are located in a various geographical area of the country. The areas were varied because it was supposed to pilot a diverse agro-ecological zone of the country.
The climate-smart practices (CSA) were practiced in crop, livestock and natural resource production. In crop, the objective is to increase the productivity of crops through CSA practices that also contribute to GHG emission reduction. The practices include such as undertaking soil fertility management activities, apply improved crop and coffee management practices, and conduct efficient irrigation water and crop practices. In livestock, the objective is to increase the productivity of livestock through CSA practices that also contribute to GHG emission reductions. The practices include such as pasture and forage demonstration sites established, provide veterinary services, improved and adapted breeds, and increase animal value chain efficiency through fattening and milk production, facilitating access to credit for farmers and promoting market linkages. In natural resource, the activities were broadly categorized as biological and physical measures. The biological measures include afforestation and reforestation. The physical measures like stone bund terracing.
The project was planned to benefit a total of 56,188 households of which 39,198 are male headed and 16,990 are female-headed within 26 selected pilot project woredas. In actual implementation, the project has benefited a total of 51,751 households of which 33,643 were male headed and 17,582 were female headed.
The practices were implemented through high participation and mobilization of the watersheds communities.
DISCIPLINES
Environmental Education
Ethiopia has policies and strategies that safeguard environment and climate change. With regards to environmental policy, these are the Environmental policy in 1997 and proclamation in 2013. With regards to climate change, there are a number of documents. These are 1994 UNFCCC ratification, 2007 national appropriate adaptation plan (NAPA), 2010 Ethiopia programs of adaptation to climate change (EPACC),nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMA), 2011 CRGE, 2013 energy proclamation and 2014 draft climate resilient strategy for water and agriculture. These strategies and policies are the backbones to support the country to carry out environment education.
The project mainly focuses on climate change measures of adaptation and mitigation. Federal, regional and village (woreda) level experts were given training about policies and strategies that combat climate change impacts on the livelihood of small-scale farmers. Farmers were also trained about the causes and impacts of climate change. For instance, farmer identifies the major climate hazards, the change in natural resources and the way forwards. The project is focused piloting CRGE in the agricultural sector. The CRGE strategy has the vision to build a green economy that is resilient to climate change and have net zero CO2 e emission until 2025.
Environmental Psychology
Environmental psychology brings about people behavioral change. It helps people to bring behavior that significantly contribute to environmental conservation. Experience sharing was organized for farmers and experts to visit areas where there are successful experiences in the conservation of natural resources. This made the visitors better understanding about the environment and incorporate nature. For instance, farmers were able to observe the impacts adaptation options such as pond construction and natural resource activities such as terracing and tree planting for better resilience to climate change. Through sharing these experiences, the participants developed a sense of conservation towards climate change, biodiversity, and other wicked problems.
Environmental Sociology
Social structure is defined as the expectation of social groups that enable or constrain to act in a certain way .The environmental sociology believes that an individual behavior is the sum of not only information provided through environmental education but the social structure. Identifying those structure will help to engage a meaningful intervention. Therefore, giving information and knowledge to an individual may not bring behavior change; thus, according to the concept of structure in the environmental sociology, it is needed to consider a social structure that has an impact on individual behavior change in a certain way. With the view of addressing social structure, social, religious and community leaders were trained about climate change so that these groups are a high influence on the life style of their followers.
OUTCOMES
Agriculture fast track project (AFTP) has four major outcomes including-
Outcome 1: Improved farmer resilience to climate change in piloted woredas. The community in target areas potentially exposed to related hazards and AFTP has been worked in order to maintain and build resilience capacity of the community to an acceptable level. Expanding of rainwater and underground water harvesting practices like the construction of community pond, Hand dug wells with rope and washer and geomembrane ponds. There was also flood catchment rehabilitation and cutoff drain construction to minimize a risk of flood damage and also drought tolerant and early maturing crop varieties were distributed to selected beneficiaries.
Outcome 2- According to oral discussion with the communities on the pilot watersheds, crop, and fodder productivity has increased because of soil and water conservation practices and also through the implementation of improved soil fertility and improved crop management practices on the farm lands.
Outcome 3- According to site observation and preliminary interview with the communities in the piloted watersheds degraded lands are rehabilitating.
Outcome 4- In those targeted watersheds the selected beneficiaries household have been started to improve food and income security. Simultaneously, since they are implementing climate-smart livestock and crop productivity technologies with the integration of soil and water conservation activities for reclaiming degraded area.
QUESTIONS:
1. What are the wicked problems for Ethiopia agriculture?
2. What is the name and vision of Ethiopia strategy for climate change?
3. Is mitigation or adaptation to climate change a priority for Ethiopia?
