Nurturing agricultural productivity and resilience in drylands of sub-saharan Africa

Abstract

Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have made substantial progress toward reducing the proportion of its population that suffers from food insecurity. Between 1990 and 2015, the prevalence of hunger in the region declined by 31 %. In countries such as Ethiopia and Mozambique, food availability increased by 41 and 31 %, respectively. However, much of Eastern and Southern Africa has been affected by recurrent drought conditions that have undermined any improvement in food security and nutrition. Dryland systems in SSA have been affected by changing climates that have been aggravated by the low institutional capacity to respond to climatic shocks, a decline in soil fertility, poor surface and ground water management, poor agronomic practices, and weak policy interventions. In this chapter, proven technologies and practices from Eastern and Southern Africa-with the potential to improve agricultural productivity, minimise drought effects and enhance the resilience of systems-are discussed. These include i) diversification and intensification of cropping systems, ii) drought resistant and improved crop varieties, and livestock management interventions, iii) improved agronomic practices that enhance water use efficiency and productivity of farms and systems, iv) the capacity to tolerate short-term shocks and develop resilient farming systems, v) integration and adoption of various water saving strategies to curb the effects of intermittent drought, and vi) favorable policies that would encourage investment and create market opportunities for dryland farmers.