Climate change impacts are more devastating in low-income countries due to their low adaptive capacity. Africa has recorded an increase in temperature, and drought frequency and intensity that are projected to increase over the Southern, Eastern and Northern Africa. Water and agricultural sectors are the worst affected, threatening the realisation of SDG 1 and 2, on ending poverty and hunger, respectively.
Speaker
Victor Ongoma, International Water Research Institute, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco
There will be time for questions and discussion.
About the topic
African agriculture records a huge yield gap, calling for exploration of climate resilient and sustainable agricultural practices that can close the gap in the effort to boost food security. Traditional agri-food systems provide an alternative to agricultural models based on maximising productivity.
In addition to field trials on optimisation of water and fertilisation to close yield gaps for leading cereals in Morocco, this study shares some best farming practices in the Argan tree agro-forest-pastoral system of Ait Souab - Ait Mansour area in Morocco, one of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programmee designated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The study employed a multidisciplinary approach to identify the possible social and environmental shocks impacting agri-food heritage systems, linking together landscape structure, climatology, socioeconomic factors and biodiversity assessment. The findings affirm that the Argan tree agro-forest-pastoral system proved its high resilience to a harsh environment under water scarcity, risk of erosion and soil degradation through centuries. The livelihood of local communities is directly or indirectly linked to argan trees.
The system also provides other food and by-products to respond to the community’s needs: more than fifty plants are cultivated, often on dry-stone terraces, in addition to livestock breeding. In addition, the role of local cooperatives for argan oil production is crucial for women as they can earn a fair pay. The traditional water conservation strategy is an example of adaptation and resilience to environmental harsh conditions and can serve as an example of a sustainable technology to be replicated in other dry agri-food systems.
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Zoom: https://slu-se.zoom.us/j/61212974482
Passcode: 112233
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