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 in French and English 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, APAD-Tunisia and
AMAC.
The following conclusions and recommendations were made at the meeting:
Conclusions:
The participants are unanimous on the following conclusions:
- Conservation Agriculture (CA) is an agro-ecosystem management approach that is agronomically sustainable, economically viable and is a provider of ecosystem services.
- CA can play a vital role in Climate Change adaptability and mitigation.
- CA promotes biodiversity and biological resources and protects natural processes by reducing soil erosion, improving soil fertility, increasing soil organic matter, enhancing biological activity and conserving water.
- CA allows improved revenues and profit for farmers, through lower expenses on production inputs, energy consumption, stabilization of yields, and improving the crop calendar flexibility. It also allows the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions.
Recommendations:
The participants offer the following recommendations:
• Conservation Agriculture (CA) should facilitate the implementation of the Declaration of Malabo (African Union-NEPAD) and the AAA initiative currently presented to COP22.
• CA should be integrated in agricultural development programs as a tool against the effects of climate change, improving food security and the fight against poverty and land degradation.
• Countries should develop their national action plans for the adoption of CA.
• The above recommendations should be operationalized through:
- The mobilization of human, knowledge and material resources by the Ministries of Agriculture and their extension services;
- Planning of different implementation phases of this plans;
- The development of a farm advisory and extension program dedicated to the CA;
- Strengthening measures of government incentives oriented towards the adoption and spread of Conservation Agriculture;
- Strengthening research, development and training capacities in the field of CA
Amir
Kassam
Moderator
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
URL: www.fao.org/ag/ca
