Global CA-CoP CONSERVATION
AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
for sustainable production intensification
and land management
Dear Subscribers,
A side
meeting was held on 7 November 2016 at COP 22 (Marrakech) on Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Food Security with
Conservation Agriculture in Africa and the Mediterranean Region.
The details of the meeting are attached.
The meeting was organized by RCM (Reseau innovation Agro-systems
Mediterranean - A regional network of farmers and researchers in the
Mediterranean region/basin) in collaboration with several international and national organizations including FERT, ACT, ECAF, APADTunisia and AMAC.
The following conclusions and recommendations were made at the meeting:
Conclusions:
The participants are unanimous on the following assessments:
- The Conservation Agriculture (CA) is an agro-system management approach, that is agronomically sustainable, economically viable and that is provider of ecosystem services.
- Conservation Agriculture plays a vital role in mitigation and adaptation to Climate Change.
- CA promotes biodiversity and biological resources and preserves the natural processes by reducing soil erosion, improving soil fertility and organic matter, and conserving water.
- CA allows improved revenues and profits for farmers, through lower expenses on energy consumption, stabilization of yields, improving the crop calendar flexibility and also allows reducing greenhouse gases emission.
Recommendations:• Conservation Agriculture should facilitate the implementation of the Declaration of Malabo (African Union-NEPAD) and the AAA initiative currently presented to COP22.
• Integrate CA in agricultural development programs as a tool against the effects of climate change, improving food security and the fight against poverty.
• Invite countries to develop their national action plan for the adoption of CA.
• Operationalize this plan through:
- The mobilization of human and material resources of the Ministry of Agriculture and its external services for its implementation;
- Planning of different implementation phases;
- The development of a farm advisory and extension program dedicated to the CA;
- Strengthening measures of government incentives oriented to Conventional Agriculture, with differentiated actions compared to Conventional Agriculture;
- Strengthening research, development and training capacities in the field of CA.
Some 70-80 people
attended. The audience was very receptive and comprised a mixed group - farmers, researchers,
students, institutional leaders and policy people, international
organizations.
Amir
Kassam
Moderator
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
URL: www.fao.org/ag/ca