Climate-smart agriculture for food security in Africa

This briefing from the Joto Afrika series, produced in partnership with the Climate and Development Knowledge Network, examines climate-smart agricultural innovations in Africa, using Kenya as a primary case study. It highlights specific technical adaptations—such as greenhouse farming, rock catchment water harvesting, and the use of drought-resistant crops and fodders—to enhance food security and resilience against climate variability.

• Climate change and variability pose severe risks to African agricultural production, with potential yield decreases of up to 50% by 2020 and net crop revenue drops of as much as 90% by 2100, disproportionately affecting small-scale farmers.
• Integrated greenhouse agriculture and drip irrigation can significantly increase productivity and water efficiency in East Africa. Greenhouse environments can increase fruit and vegetable yields by up to four times compared to rain-fed fields, while drip irrigation reduces water usage to one-third of that required for field crops.
• Rainwater harvesting from rock outcrops is a highly efficient method for water security in arid and semi-arid regions. For example, a rock catchment with an area of 10,000m2 and 500 mm of annual rainfall can yield 5,000m3 of water, enough to supply 130 families for over six months during dry periods.
• Improved cassava varieties developed by the Kenya Agriculture Research Institute (KARI) provide a reliable alternative to maize during droughts. These varieties can yield over 20 tonnes per acre—double the yield of other varieties—and the roots can remain in the soil for up to 24 months for year-round harvesting.
• Plastic Tubular Digester (PTD) biogas technology offers a low-cost, climate-friendly energy alternative for rural farmers. A 2009 KARI study found that PTDs reduce household energy costs, labour, and deforestation, while the resulting waste slurry increases crop productivity. Installation costs for 'two cow' units are approximately Ksh 6,500 (US$65), which is about 10% of the cost of conventional biogas units.
• To maintain livestock during droughts, farmers in Kenya are utilizing alternative fodders such as acacia pods, Mukau fruits and leaves, and Kithunzu tubers. Kithunzu tubers are particularly valuable as they are highly nourishing and hold significant water, contributing to the 60 litres of water cows require daily.
• The transition to climate-smart agriculture is hindered by high initial costs, a lack of technical expertise, and a traditional technology transfer model that is too rigid. The document recommends moving toward more inclusive, participatory action research and the design of 'bankable projects' to attract microfinance and community development bank funding.

APA

Kituyi, E., Munyoki, P., & Wanjii, J. (2011). Climate-smart agriculture for food security in Africa. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/JotoAfrikaCDKN_30012012WEB1.pdf

Chicago

Kituyi, Evans, Paul Munyoki, and John Wanjii. Climate-smart agriculture for food security in Africa. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2011. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/JotoAfrikaCDKN_30012012WEB1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kituyi |first1=Evans |last2=Munyoki |first2=Paul |last3=Wanjii |first3=John |title=Climate-smart agriculture for food security in Africa |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=November 2011 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/JotoAfrikaCDKN_30012012WEB1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kituyi2011climatesmart, author = {Kituyi, Evans and Munyoki, Paul and Wanjii, John}, title = {{Climate-smart agriculture for food security in Africa}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2011}, month = nov, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/JotoAfrikaCDKN_30012012WEB1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }