Online learning: Climate smart agriculture

A lack of coping strategies for adapting to a changing climate, depleted soils, unreliable access to water, and outmoded agricultural practices are leading to reduced agricultural productivity, income generation, and food security for smallholder farmers worldwide.

This course begins with a participatory mapping of cropping systems, soil and water resources, and climate change related challenges. Adaptation techniques are prioritized to best fit the local context and include:

• conservation agriculture
• low input agriculture
• contour barriers to water movement
• agroforestry
• water use conservation and management
• crop residue management and mulching
• improved crop varieties: early maturing and drought resistant crops
• mixed cropping and crop rotations incorporating legumes

Course participants then conduct capacity building workshops on these new climate smart agricultural practices that are appropriate for the community. The course concludes with the development of a community management plan that combines traditional knowledge and improved agricultural techniques for building resilience.

Course participant solutions to climate challenges include integrating indigenous knowledge into project design, and participatory mapping of cropping systems and soil and water resources. Techniques for improving soil and managing water include mulching, contour leveling, zai infiltration pits, planting grass strips and hedgerows across the contour, intercropping, agroforestry, crop diversification and the use of early maturing and drought resistant crop varieties. The course includes downloadable manuals and field guides for each technique.

Event fee

Target audience

Course participants are of all different ages, genders and professions—and have included Northern and Southern staff from INGOs, field staff from in-country NGOs, donors, executive directors, students, scientists, consultants and people who would like to transition into development work. Northern participants who don't have community access are partnered with Southern participants that do have community access.

How to register