Water scarcity is already set to be one of the main issues of the 21st century, because of competing needs between civil, industrial, and agricultural use. Agriculture is currently the largest user of water, but its share is bound to decrease as societies develop and clearly it needs to become more water efficient. Improving water use efficiency (WUE) at the plant level is important but translating this at the farm/landscape level presents considerable challenges.

At the end of the module participants will be able to: to identify and demonstrate the Challenges of Climate Change to Soils and Fertility Management; to explain and demonstrate the concepts of Landscape Approach for Achieving Climate Smart Agriculture through Nutrient Management; to demonstrate and apply the Concepts and Principles of Soil Health and Soil Fertility Management for Crop Production, and to demonstrate the Approaches in Nutrient and Water Management for Sustainable Crop Production.

Climate impacts in Sub-Saharan Africa are severe and will increase. Agriculture is a cornerstone of the economies of most countries and yet is dominated by climate-vulnerable rainfed systems. Meeting the food demands of the growing African population will require significant adjustments in food production systems and unfortunately, current adaptation efforts across the continent are insufficient to meet the climate challenge.

Oral presentation on “Sociotechnical innovations for leveraging systems transformation, water management and food security under climate change: concepts and illustrations in the dry areas” – delivered on September 12th. This communication occurred during the 6th General Assembly of the IOFS in Tunis, Tunisia, as part of the Regional Conference on Resilient Agriculture in IOFS Member States, focusing on Climate Adaptation and Food Security (28 August 2023 / 04-12-13 September 2023).

Integrated landscape approaches (ILA) aim to reconcile multiple, often competing, interests across agriculture, nature conservation, and other land uses. Recognized ILA design principles provide guidance for implementation, yet application remains challenging, and a strong performance evidence-base is yet to be formed. Through a critical literature review and focus group discussions with practitioners, we identified considerable diversity of ILA in actors, temporal, and spatial scales, inter alia.

The masterclass on Climate-Smart Agriculture and Agribusiness Impact was delivered at Africa Food System Forum in Dar Es Salaam covering a diverse range of topics aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the challenges posed by climate change in the agricultural sector. Divided into three sections, the masterclass delved into Agribusiness Sustainability through Climate Smart Approaches, Harvesting Success by Crafting Business Impact Pathways, and Attracting Investment through Impact-Driven Approaches.

Barley is a very important crop particularly in marginal dry areas, where it often serves
as the most viable option for farmers. Additionally, barley carries great significance in the Western
world, serving not only as a fundamental crop for animal feed and malting but also as a nutritious
food source. The broad adaptability of barley and its ability to withstand various biotic and abiotic
stresses often make this species the sole cereal that can be cultivated in arid regions. The collection

Oral presentation on Agroforestry Practices for Sustainable Intensification, Food Security, and Climate Adaptation in Dry Areas: Challenges, Applications, and Examples – delivered on August 28th. This communication occurred during the 6th General Assembly of the IOFS in Tunis, Tunisia, as part of the Regional Conference on Resilient Agriculture in IOFS Member States, focusing on Climate Adaptation and Food Security (28 August 2023 / 04-12-13 September 2023).

While many have extolled the potential impacts of digital advisory services for smallholder agriculture, the evidence for sustained uptake of such tools remains limited. This paper utilizes a survey of tool developers and researchers, as well as a systematic meta-analysis of prior studies, to assess the extent and challenges of scaling decision support tools for site-specific soil nutrient management (SSNM-DST) across smallholder farming systems, where “scaling” is defined as a significant increase in tool usage beyond pilot levels.

"Shamba Shape Up" is a popular television show in East Africa that focuses on agricultural education and improvement. The show features a team of experts who visit different farms, providing practical demonstrations and advice to farmers on various aspects of agriculture, such as livestock rearing, crop cultivation, farm management techniques, and sustainable practices. It aims to educate and empower farmers with valuable information and skills to enhance productivity, increase yields, and improve their livelihoods.