Groups push for door-to-door climate change drives in Africa

A report released on Monday this week by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development said use of various forms of sustainable agriculture, including organic farming will help soil maintain yields even in the face of climate change.

“Organic farming is good for the environment and often fits the circumstances of smallholder farmers who make up the majority of food producers in the developing world. Such farmers in many cases can’t afford fertiliser or pesticides and are used to functioning without them. Organic produce sells for higher prices,” said the report.

Research shows that when organic farming is combined with reduced tillage techniques, farming can become almost climate-neutral. It said farms that engage in certified organic production in East Africa are more profitable than those engaged in conventional production.

Rose Mwebaza of the Environmental Security Programme at the ISS in Nairobi said awareness should go hand in hand with integrating gender into the climate change mitigation and adaptation policies.

“Compared to men, women tend to have more limited access to resources that would enhance their capacity to adapt to climate change including land, credit, agricultural inputs, decision-making bodies, and technology and training services,” she said.