Bonn, Germany

4th June, 2013

Options for Adaptation and Mitigation in Malawi: Some Evidence

Austin Tibu

MoAFS-Malawi

Malawi and Agriculture

• Agriculture sector contributes 40

% of the national GDP;

• employs 90 % of the 13 mil

Malawi population;

• The sector is transforming in

order to achieve food security

while responding to the effects

of climate change;

• The agriculture sector remains

rain-fed; vulnerable to dry

spells, changes in the onset of

rains, uneven rainfall distribution

Synergistic Adaptation and Mitigation Focus Areas

Adaptation Strategies and Food Security: FAO/EC CSA Preliminary Findings

• Favorable rainfall outcomes affect positively the

decision to adopt short-term practices, e.g. use of

inorganic fertilizers;

• Unfavorable rainfall outcome encourages farmers to

adopt maize-legume intercropping, CA, SWC and

organic manures;

• Land tenure security increases the likelihood for

farmers to adopt long-term strategies;

• Access to extension services, social capital and

collective action also affect positively the adoption

decision.

Emerging Evidence: Mitigation

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

$/t

CO

2e

t CO2e abated/year

1. agronomy_dry

2. Integrated nutrient

management _dry

3. Tillage/residue

mgmt_dry

4. Integrated nutrient

management_moist

5. Tillage/residue

mgmt_moist

6. agronomy_moist

7. agroforestry_dry

8. agroforestry_moist

9. water mgmt_dry

10. water mgmt_moist

Source: FAO, 2013

Lessons Learned So Far

The need for adaptation and potential for mitigation in agricultural development have implications for successful planning to support food security and poverty reduction;

Barriers to adoption of promising agricultural practices requires better understanding of farmer decision-making, risk management and smart incentives;

Uptake/up-scaling of practices also requires enabling action-supportive policies, institutions and investment - for which greater integration and coordination will be essential;

Extended transition time to realize some productivity and adaptation benefits of CSA. Means low/negative returns during transition

Need for financing during early phase of transition necessary

Thank you!