Agricultural Meteorology Programme (AGM)

International Workshop on Adaptation to

Climate Change in West African Agriculture

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
27-30 April 2009

Workshop Overview

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the State Agency for Meteorology of Spain (AEMET) and other organizations are organizing this workshop and the background, specific objectives and expected outcomes are listed below. This workshop aims to bring together experts from the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARSs), key decision-makers, practitioners, and the National Focal Points of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) presenting state-of-the-art papers, real world applications and innovative techniques for coping with climate change and offering recommendations for planning and implementing an effective Climate Change Adaptation Framework for West Africa.

Background

Of the total present population in Sub Saharan Africa, more than 43% live in West Africa. In the major agroecosystems of West, most economies and peoples depend on semi-subsistence agriculture. Rainfall in the semi-arid and sub-humid regions of West Africa is highly variable and undependable and influences the agricultural productivity. Farming practices have developed as a response to such climatic risks, since the area covered by irrigation is fairly limited. Hence any changes in the current climate will further enhance the risk to agricultural productivity and the survival of the large populations in West Africa.

According to the Fourth Assessment Report of the WMO/UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (lPCC) released in 2007, some current observations can already be made for changes in the African climate. In West Africa, annual rainfall has decreased 20 to 40% from the period 1931-1960 to 1968-1990. The future projections of climate change indicate that Africa is very likely to warm during this century.  The IPCC report also detailed many future impacts of climate change on agriculture. In West Africa, the area suitable for agriculture, the length of the growing season and yield potential, particularly along the margins of semi-arid and arid areas, are expected to decrease. In some African countries, yields from rainfed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50% by 2020. Specifically, it is estimated that, by 2100, parts of the Sahara are likely to emerge as the most vulnerable, with likely agricultural losses of between 2 and 7% of GDP.

The IPCC report suggested several adaptation strategies to deal with projected climatic changes which include, changing varieties; more efficient water use; altering the timing or location of cropping activities; improving the effectiveness of pest, disease and weed management practices and making better use of seasonal climate forecasts to reduce production risks. If these adaptations are widely adopted, they could have substantial potential to offset negative impacts from climate change and take advantage of positive impacts. A comprehensive and integrated approach to planning and implementing the climate change adaptation strategies across the wide range of agroecosystems in different countries in West Africa could help both the planners and the local communities to deal effectively with the projected impacts.

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Specific Workshop Objectives

• To provide a central forum to develop an improved understanding and assessment of the climate change impacts on agriculture and the associated vulnerability in West Africa;
• To discuss and develop informed decisions on practical adaptation strategies for the agricultural sector in different agroecosystems of West Africa;
• To discuss and suggest the appropriate ways to promote adaptation planning and implementation and it's integration into the sustainable development planning in different countries in West Africa; and
• To develop an appropriate mechanism for continuous information exchange on climate change impacts and adaptation amongst the different countries in West Africa.

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Expected Workshop Outcomes

Senior experts in the field of climate change, agrometeorology, as well as members of the UNCCD Group of Experts will be invited to prepare state-of-the-art discussion papers to address the above objectives. The programme for the meeting will be designed to engage all the participants in discussions on each of these discussion papers and develop appropriate recommendations for all organizations involved in sustainable agricultural development in West Africa.

The workshop should result in enhanced capacity to: identify/understand impacts, vulnerability and adaptation; select and implement adaptation actions; enhance cooperation among West African countries to better manage climate change risks; and enhance integration of adaptation with sustainable agricultural development in West Africa.

Proceedings of the Meeting will be published by WMO and UNDP and will be widely distributed to promote the Climate Change Adaptation Framework for West African Agriculture.

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Workshop Co-Sponsors 

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