Presentation by Daniel Chiwandamira from DPC & Associates, at the Regional planning meeting on ‘Scaling-Up Climate-Smart Agricultural Solutions for Cereals and Livestock Farmers in Southern Africa – Building partnership for successful implementation’,13–15 September 2016, Johannesburg, South Africa

1. KEYTECHNICAL ISSUES WITH FOUR
CSA SOLUTIONS
[[SUMMARY FROM DAY ONE]]

2. Outline
2
1. Introduction
2. Stress Tolerant Germplasms
3. ICT-Enabled Climate Information Services
4. Diversified Livelihood Options Through
Livestock
5. Innovative Weather-Based Insurance
6. Conclusion

3. STRESS TOLERANT
GERMPLASMS
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4. Stress Tolerant Germplasms
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INTRODUCTION
• Stress Tolerant Germplasms refers to genetically improved
varieties that have been developed to withstand different
kinds of stress:
◦ Heat
◦ Moisture
◦ Disease
• These varieties enable farmers to continue to produce
foodcrops (maize) even in climatically stressed situations.

5. Stress Tolerant Germplasms
5
EXPERIENCES
• Several varieties have been successfully developed in
the region.
• SADC Seed Centre should have a catalogue of the
varieties developed by MS.
• Aflatoxin resistance is a risk that has been flagged.

6. Stress Tolerant Germplasms
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KEY CONSIDERATIONS
1. This touches on management of the environment
(conservation agriculture).
2. Need to create awareness/knowledge.
3. Management of pests (across borders).
4. Socio-cultural issues (knowledge and capacity to
adapt).

7. Stress Tolerant Germplasms
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KEY CONSIDERATIONS (CONT..)
1. Replacement of varieties.
2. Market opportunities.
3. Unintended consequences.
4. Policy and regulatory environment (can take 6 years
to introduce new variety).
5. Stakeholder interests.
• Question: Is there a market? Do farmers want the
germplasms?
<< logos>>

8. ICT-ENABLED CLIMATE
INFORMATION SERVICES
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9. ICT-Enabled Climate Information
Services
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INTRODUCTION
1. ICT enabled climate information services are
designed to provide real time information which
farmers can use to make decisions.
<<logos>>

10. ICT-Enabled Climate Information
Services
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EXPERIENCES:
1. Mobile penetration in SADC is circa 96%.
2. Mobile penetration rural SADC is around 80%.
3. Succesfull collaboration between mobile
telephony operator and extension services.
4. Infrastructure challenges persist especially in
rural areas.

11. ICT-Enabled Climate Information
Services
11
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
1. Important to understand farmers needs
2. Partnerships
• Trust
• Reliability
• Networks

12. ICT-Enabled Climate Information
Services
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KEY CONSIDERATIONS (CONT..)
1. Quality data (weather).
2. Business case/model.
3. Consider the Universal Service and Access fund.
4. Building indigenous knowledge systems.

13. DIVERSIFIED LIVELIHOOD
OPTIONS THROUGH LIVESTOCK
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14. Diversified Livelihood Options
Through Livestock
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INTRODUCTION
1. The objective of diversification is to reduce farmers’
reliance on a single commodity and to help them to
spread the risk to a second commodity which can be
another crop or livestock.

15. Diversified Livelihood Options
Through Livestock
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EXPERIENCES
1. ILRI has implemented successful programmes with
both a diversification and an intensification focus in
the region.

16. Diversified Livelihood Options
Through Livestock
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KEY CONSIDERATIONS
1. Build knowledge and awareness.
2. Markets.
3. Policies.
4. Trade barriers.
5. Rebuild image of livestock.
6. Promote indigenous breeds.
7. Change perceptions.

17. Diversified Livelihood Options
Through Livestock
17
KEY CONSIDERATIONS (CONT..)
1. Relevant research.
2. Land size (Peri-urban areas).
3. Programme approach (not small interventions).
4. Infrastructure (rural) backbone.
5. Value placed on livestock.
6. Agro forestry.

18. INNOVATIVE WEATHER
BASED INSURANCE
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<< logos>>

19. Innovative Weather Based
Insurance
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INTRODUCTION
1. Weather based insurance is designed to protect
farmers against shocks emanating from adverse
weather patterns and conditions in any one season.

20. Innovative Weather Based
Insurance
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EXPERIENCES
1. Rollout experience in East Africa
2. High acquisition cost of weather data
3. Needs to be a regional as opposed to a single country
initiative
4. Up to 6% loss (farmer); between 6 and 30% loss
(insurer) and above 30% - cover for catastrophic loss
by government

21. Innovative Weather Based
Insurance
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KEY CONSIDERATIONS
1. Low Awareness – education and understanding of the product
2. Partnerships
• Education
• Distribution
3. Managing costs
4. Who carries the risk?
5. Regional approach
6. Policy/regulatory environment

22. Innovative Weather Based
Insurance
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KEY CONSIDERATIONS (CONT..)
1. Bundling of product – loans – linked to agricultural
practice/behaviours
2. Spreading the risk
3. Consider the different categories (e.g frost, rain etc)
4. Use as a risk management tool
5. Pilots
6. Weather data

23. Innovative Weather Based
Insurance
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KEY CONSIDERATIONS (CONT..)
1. Needs to be broadened beyond inputs to outputs.
2. High transaction costs.
3. Unintended consequences - insurance can encourage
maladaptation
4. Explore risk sharing lending systems.

24. THANK YOU
>>END<<
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