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.

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