Report on climate change
workshop held on 26th
November 2013, at the Spier
Wine Farm in Stellenbosch
South Africa
Executive Summary
The Spier Wine Farm was the venue for the fourth annual Africa Fairtrade Convention, which
took place from 25th to 29th of November, 2013.
On Tuesday 26th November a workshop on climate change was conducted and this was
attended by producer representatives from different countries with eagerness to learn tactics
of adapting to the changing climate. The facilitator, Steve Law of Environmental Monitoring
Group, oversaw the workshop. Producers opened up to discussions on how they are tackling
climate change and what more can be done. Jason Ndegwa of Chinga Tea Factory from Kenya
shared the impact of climate change on their tea production over the years and the measures
they had taken to ensure they adapted to the changes and farmed sustainably.
Introduction
The effects of climate change are being acutely felt by farmers and workers all over Africa. To
find possible ways of adapting and mitigating to this phenomenon, Fairtrade Africa organised a
workshop where over 20 Fairtrade certified organisations had their representatives gather to
share experiences. The workshop took place on the second day of the Africa Fairtrade
Convention, on 26th of November 2013.
Environmental Monitoring Group – predictions
Giving an introduction of the glaring predicament that has now become a global problem being
discussed in talks and conferences worldwide, Steve Law, the Director of EMG (Environmental
Monitoring Group) emphasized the worsening situation as a result of climate change. “It is
unfortunate that no concrete decisions are ever made from the yearly climate change talks like
the recent COP19 in Warsaw” says Steve Law. “The talks always end up calling for similar
conventions the following year.”
Mr. Law further gave projections of the expected decline in the mean seasonal rainfall between
the years 2036-2065. The participants got to debate on whether climate change is as a result of
human activities or nature. And while defending their turf each representative got to share
their mitigation strategies. (Steve Law’s presentation, appendix 1)
Climate change Eastern Africa region
From the Eastern Africa region Fairtrade Africa producer representatives from Kenya and
Tanzania shared their predicaments. The producer representatives from Kiegoi Tea Factory
located at the foothills of Mt Kenya explained how climate change has not only lowered their
yields but affected the farmers too. Highland malaria
has engulfed the residents of Maua town where the
factory is located. They have also experienced
frequent occurrences of frost bite that has caused
immense losses in leaf amounting to millions of
Kenya shillings. All these have led to reduction of
their produce by more than 20% compared to the
previous season.
To mitigate the climatic changes they have planted
indigenous eco-friendly trees and are using energy
saving jikos (stoves). They do water harvesting and
preservation and have introduced drought tolerant
tea varieties.
Producers from Tanzania have also not escaped the climate change menace. The coffee
producers from Kagera Co-operative Union (KCU) are receiving unreliable rainfall and their
coffee has been attacked by pests and the water sources have dried up. This has resulted in
lower production, reduced income and poorer standards of living. “To adapt to climate change,
we hold regular meetings with our smallholder farmers to create awareness about climate
change” said Joram Katorojo, a lead farmer at KCU present at the workshop. ‘We also train
them on good agricultural practices that are environmentally friendly. He added.’
Lebi Hudson, the CEO of Rungwe Smallholder Tea Growers Association located in Tukuyu
Tanzania shared how their tea has been attacked by termites and thrips as a result of climate
change. He further explained how they have suffered hailstorms and have had gradual
reduction in output from 21.6kg per acre in 2011 to 19.7kg per acre in 2013. To adapt to
climate change they have worked in collaboration with Tea Research Institute of Tanzania on
drip irrigation which is on trial basis. They are implementing environmental conservation plans
like using energy saving jikos, soil conservation and water conservation programmes, they are
also multiplying plots for improved clones.”
To diversify their income, Rungwe have come up with a piggery project where they loaned their
farmers a pig each which is paid back with 3 female piglets to be given to other farmers.
They have also taken up avocado farming. “Fairtrade has played a big part in helping us tackle
climate change” adds Lebi. “Through Fairtrade and Vi-Agroforestry climate change project
(AdapTEA), they have helped us in establishing farmer field schools,” he concludes.
The rains which were expected November of every year by farmers from Igominyi Tea Growers
Association in Tanzania are now starting in January greatly interfering with the farmers’
production calendar. To adapt to climate change they have embarked on afforestation and they
apply sustainable agricultural land management practices. The farmers of Igominyi have
chosen to diversify to fruit farming to be more sustainable, they are now constructing fish
ponds and are planning to embark on fish farming in the near future.
Climate change Southern Africa region
The Southern Africa representatives from Malawi also recounted the prolonged dry spells and
drought that they have been experiencing over the recent years, a sharp contrast from the
steady constant rainfall they used to have. In return they have low sugarcane production and
the farmers no longer have sustainable income from the crop hence are food insecure. By the
end of 2012 they experienced reduction in output by up to 50%. In an attempt to reduce the
effects of climate change they have done water harvesting and planted canes that are resistant
to drought.
Kasinthula Cane Growers Association located in the south of Malawi has suffered both
extremes of drought and floods. The rainfall patterns have not been consistent. They have had
years of heavy rainfall and this has resulted in floods which have damaged their crops. The dry
years when they do not receive enough rain, they suffer reduced income due to lower
production.
To adapt to the changing climatic patterns, they do extensive irrigation all year long. They have
diversified to maize, beans, Irish potatoes and vegetables. Kasinthula Cane Growers have
benefited on a training on climate change adaptation and mitigation which was funded by EU
and has been rolled out by Concern Universal.
Concern Universal in Malawi plans to sensitize and conduct training to farmer associations.
They are also implementing a sugarcane outgrowers capacity building project in Malawi to
support Farmer Associations.
Climate change Western Africa region
The calendar for production is no longer useful for farmers in Burkina Faso. Sommande Issaka a
mango producer from Association TON in Burkina Faso explained how they can no longer
predict when to expect their harvest. Crop pests have attacked their produce leading to a
decrease in production by 5% from the last season. “Things are better with Fairtrade, they have
trained us on climate change adaptation and have advised us on the use of improved seeds,”
said Sommande.
Bomarts Farms Limited, a mango and pineapple producer from Ghana also shared the woes of
their Western Africa counterpart, Burkina Faso. They have had very irregular rainfall, very dry
and hot weather and soil erosion. Irregularity in the rainfall pattern has compromised their
export fruit quality. The time for fruiting, harvesting and ripening has also been affected. The
drop in the flowering and resultant fruit has reduced mango production and quality. To adapt
to the climatic conditions, Bomarts Farms has planted cinderella and teak trees which have
gone a long way in conserving the environment and helped create biodiversity too. To diversify
their income, Bomarts Farms engages in value addition by drying their mangoes and pineapples
through hot air drying to prolong shelf life.
Conclusion
Diversification to other products has enabled Fairtrade Africa producer organisations maintain
a sustainable livelihood.
Appendices
i.
ii.
Presentation by Environmental Monitoring Group_ Steve Law
Presentation by Chinga Tea Factory, Kenya
Appendix 1: Presentation by environmental monitoring group
Appendix 2: Presentation from Chinga Tea Factory
More details of the presentation can be found here