Assessing the profitability and feasibility of climate-smart agriculture investment in Southern Malawi

Ignaciuk, A., Maggio, G., Sitko, N.J.

Assessing the profitability and feasibility of climate-smart agriculture investment in Southern Malawi

Understanding the costs and benefits in a volatile and changing climate

Year of publication 2021

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 24 p.

Author Ignaciuk, A., Maggio, G., Sitko, N.J.

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (series)

ISBN 978-92-5-134623-5

Series title FAO Agricultural Development Economics Working Paper

Series number No. 21-07

Edition 1

Full item page

To cite or share https://doi.org/10.4060/cb5381en

Synopsis (short abstract) This working paper analyses the financial cost and benefit of adopting two different bundles of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices, which are tailored for the diverse conditions that prevail in southern Malawi. The results show the integration of CSA practices, including soil conservation, agroforestry, and livestock diversification, into conventional maize-legume and maize monocrop systems is profitable for farmers. Moreover, the profitability of these systems increases under extreme weather conditions that occur with increasing frequency in the region. However, the upfront costs and cost variability associated with the adoption of these CSA scenarios is high relative to conventional practices. In addition, while the Net Present Value is positive for the CSA scenarios, the monetary returns are small and are spread over a long investment period. These factors act as significant barriers to adopting CSA practices. Supporting farmers through climate financing or other mechanisms to make long-term private investment in CSA, based on the public benefits these investments generate for the environment, is critical for achieving widespread adoption.

Cite this content as:

Ignaciuk, A., Maggio, G. & Sitko, N. 2021. Assessing the profitability and feasibility of climate-smart agriculture investment in Southern Malawi. Understanding the costs and benefits in a volatile and changing climate. FAO Agricultural Development Economics Working Paper 21-07. Rome, FAO.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cb5381en

Read on Google Books and buy online

Language English

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

Booklet

Climate-Smart Agriculture in action: from concepts to investments
Dedicated training for task managers of the Islamic Development Bank
2019

Also available in:

No results found.

In October 2019, the IsDB and FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa partnered to deliver the first Regional Workshop on Climate-Smart Agriculture in the NENA region. The IsDB now aims to ensure that all their offices are aware of CSA and are able to make investments that meaningfully take CSA and its principles into account. In so doing, they aim to enhance the capacity of the agricultural systems to support food security, incorporating the need for adaptation and the potential for mitigation into sustainable agriculture development strategies. FAO is proud to bring the four-day training on CSA to the IsDB’s Staff: Climate-Smart Agriculture in action: from concepts to investments, to support the development of climate-smart agricultural investment projects in the IsDB’s focus countries, especially through its Climate Change and Agricultural policies. This training booklet contains core information from the training, including but not limited to: learning objectives, learning materials, and key CSA Sourcebook Chapters. The training booklet also provides useful links to additional learning resources, as well as key FAO publications for future reference.
Book (stand-alone)

Climate-smart agriculture training manual
A reference manual for agricultural extension agents
2018

Also available in:

No results found.

This manual is designed for a four-day training course on climate-smart agriculture that would take the learner from the basics of climate science to the impacts of climate change and the linkages among climate, agriculture and food security. It contains four modules, each addressing a particular aspect and consisting of several sessions that are held either in plenary, as one group, or in smaller work groups. The content and structure of this manual has been developed and tested through fieldwork involving extension agents and agricultural producers in Zambia, Malawi and Viet Nam.
Book (stand-alone)

Planning, implementing and evaluating Climate-Smart Agriculture in Smallholder Farming Systems 2016

Also available in:

No results found.

The pilot projects of the Mitigation of Climate Change in Agriculture (MICCA) Programme of FAO in Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania have integrated climate-smart agriculture (CSA) into development programmes. The objective of the pilot projects was to show that smallholder farmers can improve their livelihoods and increase their productivity and contribute to climate change mitigation at the same time. The approach was to develop portfolios of climate-smart agricultural practices based o n participatory consultations and expert assessments, implement the selected practices using a variety of extension methods and evaluate their effects on yield, food security and their potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on farms and throughout the landscape. Farmers who participated in the MICCA pilot projects reported that the main benefits of CSA were higher yields, greater farm income and increased food availability. This is an indication that smallholder farmers can be an eff ective part of the response to climate change and make a meaningful contribution to reducing GHG emissions. Bringing sound, up-to-date evidence into decision-making processes can help shape policies, plans and programmes that support CSA.