I am doing an assessment about climate smart agriculture in South Western Ugandan farmers. I am wondering what would be the key indicators that I should look for in this case. The purpose for this study is to improve food security, mitigate climate change while conserving biodiversity. My major interest would be on soil and water conservation during this study
Please have a look at this useful researchgate link.
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_the_major_indicators_for_successful_climate-smart_agriculture_programs_for_farmers_and_extension_agents
Climate smart agriculture basically involves application of whatever resource needed by the soil at a particular time in the right quantity, it reduces or avoids indiscriminate application of fertilizer which in turn releases Nitrous oxide gas and such fertilizers can be washed into water ways. these processes will go along way in mitigating climate change.
based on the key indicators, it is best to emplore the best agricultural practices. it is best to understand the relationship between soil and water ant its interplay. whatever residues on the soil percolates into the soil and alter the composition of ground water likewise erosion from topsoil which washes into aquifers.
key indicators can be:
1. land usage
2. anthropogenic activities
3. management practices
4. law and policies
5. monitoring and evalustion
if these indicators are assessed, soil and water will be adequately conserved and maintained
Please see :
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/24947/Climate0smart0agriculture0indicators.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
https://ccafs.cgiar.org/climate-smart-agriculture-prioritization-framework#.WNCZIJHFWfA
http://edepot.wur.nl/396584
http://agricultureandfoodsecurity.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/2048-7010-1-12
http://www.asean.org/storage/images/2015/October/ASEAN-Regional-Guidelines-on-Promoting-CSA-Practices/ASEAN%20Regional%20Guidelines%20on%20Promoting%20CSA%20Practices-endorsed%2037th%20AMAF.pdf
Have a look on FAO source book.
http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3325e/i3325e18.pdf
The climate smart agriculture indicators can be vied from the point of;
1. Mitigation climate change; with this point of discussions indicators should address environmental disaster (such as drought) for 20 to 30 years with respect to drought or lack of rainfall, too much rain, erratic distributions, frost, flood, pests, disease etc. on the other side it will good also to consider climate change on crop dynamics, coping mechanisms, adaptation strategies and the system dynamics should be considered.
2.Conserving biodiversity; in this direction land owned dynamics currently and 20 years back, land cover for crop, browsing and conservation should be there. Here area a located for different crops, main crop grown, varieties used, quantity produced in each variety type and crop type considering will be interesting. On the other side it will be also good to consider quantity of pesticides and fertilizer used. As this variable directly or indirectly for mitigation.
3. Water and soil conservation; this line indicators should consider conservation structure used; when it started; what is the land cover, the importance of the structures applied, tillage applied, water harvesting methods and mechanisms, problems arise and its copping mechanism undertake and adaptation strategies etc.
These are few points that can lead to develop smart agriculture to climate variability issue
you can also see this :
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_the_major_indicators_for_successful_climate-smart_agriculture_programs_for_farmers_and_extension_agents
http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/gacsa/AF/SC/GACSA_IAG_-_Metrics_Note.pdf
kind regards
CSA has 3 main pillars: sustainably increasing food security by increasing agricultural productivity and incomes; building resilience and adapting to climate change; and developing opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.(FAO, 2010, 2013; GACSA, 2016).
See FAO document attached
To assess climate smart agriculture, !. the major soil physical indicators and related process you should look at: Soil Texture, Bulk density, Aggregation, Pore size distribution and continuity, Available water capacity, Non-limiting water range, Infiltration rate, Effective rooting depth, Soil temperature
2. The major soil chemical, nutritional and biological indicators and related processes are: pH, Base saturation, Cation Exchange Capacity, Total and plant available nutrients, Soil organic matter, Earthworm population and other soil macrofauna and activity, Soil Biomass Carbon. Total Soil Organic Carbon.
3. Exposure of sub-soil, change in soil colour, ephemeral gullies, ponding, run-off, Plant response, Weed species, and decomposition are only a few examples of potential locally determined indicators. Visual evidence can be a clear indication that soil quality is threatened or changing.
Many thanks Douglas and other all those who shared with me your inputs
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