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The value of climate-resilient seeds for smallholder adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Oscar J. Cacho

    (University of New England)

  • Jonathan Moss

    (University of New England)

  • Philip K. Thornton

    (CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI))

  • Mario Herrero

    (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO))

  • Ben Henderson

    (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)
    Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development)

  • Benjamin L. Bodirsky

    (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK))

  • Florian Humpenöder

    (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK))

  • Alexander Popp

    (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK))

  • Leslie Lipper

    (Independent Science and Partnership Council, CGIAR)

Abstract

Climate change is threatening food security in many tropical countries, where a large proportion of food is produced by vulnerable smallholder farmers. Interventions are available to offset many of the negative impacts of climate change on agriculture, and they can be tailored to local conditions often through relative modest investments. However, little quantitative information is available to guide investment or policy choices at a time when countries and development agencies are under pressure to implement policies that can help achieve Sustainable Development Goals while coping with climate change. Among smallholder adaptation options, developing seeds resilient to current and future climate shocks expected locally is one of the most important actions available now. In this paper, we used national and local data to estimate the costs of climate change to smallholder farmers in Malawi and Tanzania. We found that the benefits from adopting resilient seeds ranged between 984 million and 2.1 billion USD during 2020–2050. Our analysis demonstrates the benefits of establishing and maintaining a flexible national seed sector with participation by communities in the breeding, delivery, and adoption cycle.

Suggested Citation

  • Oscar J. Cacho & Jonathan Moss & Philip K. Thornton & Mario Herrero & Ben Henderson & Benjamin L. Bodirsky & Florian Humpenöder & Alexander Popp & Leslie Lipper, 2020. "The value of climate-resilient seeds for smallholder adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 1213-1229, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:162:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s10584-020-02817-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-020-02817-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Stephen Whitfield & Sarah Chapman & Marcelin Tonye Mahop & Chetan Deva & Kennedy Masamba & Andekelile Mwamahonje, 2021. "Exploring assumptions in crop breeding for climate resilience: opportunities and principles for integrating climate model projections," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 164(3), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Gao, Jianfeng & Mills, Bradford F., 2021. "Influence of weather shocks and coping strategies on food consumption: Evidence from rural Niger," African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, African Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 16(3), September.
    3. Pricilla Marimo & Gloria Otieno & Esther Njuguna-Mungai & Ronnie Vernooy & Michael Halewood & Carlo Fadda & John Wasswa Mulumba & Desterio Ondieki Nyamongo & Margaret Mollel, 2021. "The Role of Gender and Institutional Dynamics in Adapting Seed Systems to Climate Change: Case Studies from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-26, August.
    4. Sunita Rani Das & Farjana Eyasmin & Bikash Chandra Ghosh, 2023. "Economic assessment of rice farmers’ climate change adaptation options and their sustainability: a case of Pabna district, Bangladesh," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(4), pages 1-19, April.
    5. Rahwa Kidane & Thomas Wanner & Melissa Nursey-Bray & Md. Masud-All-Kamal & Gerald Atampugre, 2022. "The Role of Climatic and Non-Climatic Factors in Smallholder Farmers’ Adaptation Responses: Insights from Rural Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-20, May.
    6. Gloria Otieno & Robert John O Ogola & Tobias Recha & Jemal Nurhisen Mohammed & Carlo Fadda, 2022. "Climate Change and Seed System Interventions Impact on Food Security and Incomes in East Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-22, May.

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