Transformation of Belle Mare into a Climate-Smart Agriculture village for climate resilience, food security, and poverty alleviation of its farmers”

Climate Change is a global challenge, but its impact are affecting developing countries the most. Smallholder agricultural and food producers are being particularly affected, directly as well as indirectly. It is therefore essential to increase their resilience, and ability to adapt, to the changing climate.

The overall aim of this farmer-participative project, funded by the Eurpoean Union under its GCCA+ Flagship Initiative "Supporting CSA for smallholders in the Republic of Mauritius, is to provide support to smallholders in the region of Belle Mare in order to help them transform their present dya conventional agriculture into CSA, namely one that provides them with a sustainable livelihood, contributes to national food security, is productive and climate resilient, while being environment-friendly, and producing lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

At the ceremony, field equipment and vehicle will be handed over to planters of the Belle Mare region.

Climate Smart Agriculture - Mauritius

CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE NATIONAL POLICY DIALOGUE

The Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) Mauritius Node hosted by the University of Mauritius convened a Multi-Stakeholder Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) National Policy Dialogue in Reduit campus, Mauritius on the 6th October 3016. Stakeholders from government, universities, research institutes, farmer groups and other civil society organizations attended the meeting, and shared perspectives and experiences on CSA.

Prof S Facknath Dean, Faculty of Agriculture did the Welcome, the Vice Chancellor gave the oepning remarks gave the opening remarks, outlined the relationship between UoM and  FANRPAN. She explained the role of the newly created Knowledge Transfer office. She highlighted the significance of the policy dialogue in coming up recommendations for adaptation in Mauritius, especially at a time where Mauritius is moving towards a more sustainable agriculture through biofarming practices. Finally, she made a strong case that researchers should make their research results know to the common people and to assist with introducing evidence based policy measures that would furtehr the economic development of Mauritius. The node coordinator, Mr Shane Hurdowar and the chairperson  of the FANRPAN Node Mauritius, Dr Asha Dookun Saumtally adressed the audience.

Mr Njongenhle Nyoni, a FANRPAN representative from the CSA Team, made a presentation on the FANRPAN Vision, Mission and the objectives of the dialogue, and further explained the importance of reviewing the findings of the Scoping Study in light of the latest developments in CSA.

Mr Shane Hurdowar at COP21, Paris, 05-09 Dec 2015

Monsieur Shane HARDOWAR est Professeur à la Faculte D' Agriculture de l’Université de Maurice et faisait partie des représentants de la société civile Mauricienne lors de la COP21. Il partage ci-dessus son experience a Paris pour le COP21 a travers d'un interview de L'Ambassade de France et un article. Bonne Lecture.

Qu’avez-vous fait lors de votre séjour à Paris pour la COP 21 ?
J’ai participé à la COP 21 à Paris du 05 au 09 décembre 2015. En parallèle de la conférence internationale de L’ONU, il y avait les Espaces Générations Climat à Paris Le Bourget, et l’exposition « Solutions COP21 » au Grand Palais et au Stade de France.

J’étais dans Les Espaces Générations Climat, un lieu ou se déroulaient les débats et autres évènements de la société civile. Ces espaces permettent aux acteurs (chercheurs, jeunes, ONG, populations autochtones, les institutions..) de présenter des projets, solutions, travaux et initiatives contre le dérèglement climatique.

J’y ai présenté mon projet politique dans le domaine de l’agriculture intelligente face aux changements climatiques.

J’ai également assisté aux évènements parallèles tels que les conférences sur : le rôle du climat sur la finance, stratégies de financement vert, les solutions innovantes pour réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES) dans les métropoles, le rôle du nucléaire pour lutter contre le réchauffement climatique, etc.

Qu’est-ce qui vous a le plus marqué ?

Les gens venant des quatre coins du monde, les différentes plateformes présentes, les discussions de haut niveau, les innovations et le nombre de documents ayant attrait au changement climatique.

En tant que représentant de la société civile, quelle est votre appréciation de la COP 21 ?

J’ai beaucoup apprécié et appris, notamment sur la nécessité qu’a chaque pays de comptabiliser ses émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES) et de publier ses résultats auprès des Nations-Unies. Je note qu’il y a eu une succession de bonnes intentions et un focus sur les états du Sud y compris l’île Maurice.

Nous avons pu échanger nos idées et nos bonnes pratiques pendant les débats et les expositions. J’ai particulièrement apprécié les petites manifestations pour rappeler aux décideurs l’importance des décisions qu’ils doivent prendre.

Source:  Ambassade de France, 16 Dec 2015

FANRPAN Regional CSA Policy Dialogue

 

FANRAPN Climate Smart Agriculture Projects

Within its Natural Resources and Environment thematic thrust, FANRPAN implements a number of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) projects supported by Africa Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), CORAF/WECARD, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD). The FANRPAN CSA programme currently covers the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

What is CSA?

CSA is agriculture that sustainably increases productivity, resilience (adaptation), reduces/removes greenhouse gases (mitigation), and enhances achievement of national food security and development goals. CSA promotes agricultural best practices, particularly integrated crop management, conservation agriculture, intercropping, improved seeds and fertilizer management practices, as well as supporting increased investment in agricultural research. CSA encourages the use of all available and applicable climate change solutions in a pragmatic and impact-focused manner.

FANRPAN Regional CSAPolicy Dialogue

The FANRPAN Regional CSA Policy Dialogue was held from the 26-28^th August 2015 in Lusaka, Zambia at the Intercontinental Hotel before the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, France scheduled  for December 2015. The theme was ‘Creating an Enabling Environment for Scaling up CSA: The Road to Paris’.

The objectives of the workshop were to share the synthesis result of CSA policy scoping study results from 15 countries, to share evidence, and dialogue on issues of domestic climate financing, and adaptation options like the Weather Based Index Insurance, to solicit policy recommendations for advocating for CSA policies at regional Level , to identify opportunities for scaling up CSA at national level, to chart a way forward on how best to develop synergies among different stakeholders and sectors, with the aim of scaling up and out CSA best practices and technologies under the NEPAD led Alliance for CSA in Africa and to concretise a unified position on African Agriculture ahead of CoP 21.

 

Mr Shane Hardowar from the Department of Agricultural Production and Systems, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius was the panelist for the session: Strengthening the Capacity for Climate Smart Agriculture Research and Training. The following questions were on the agenda:

• What is your understanding of capacity development and why is it so important for climate change?
• Where are the major capacity gaps? And why is it like that?
• Has the curriculum changed to respond to the current climate change environment? What did it take or what will it take to ensure that we produce graduates that can be utilised to mainstream CSA into the current climate change situation? Read more below