Technologies for Adapting to
Climate Change:
Water Resources and Agriculture
Anthony Nyong, University of Jos
NIGERIA
UNFCCC Seminar on the Development and Transfer of
Environmentally Sound Technologies for Adaptation to Climate Change
14 – 16 June 2005, Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago
Outline of Presentation
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Introduction
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Brief presentation on Vulnerability and Adaptation with regards to Africa
Why Africa?
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Vulnerability of Africa’s agriculture and water resources to Climate
Change.
Technologies for adapting to climate change in agric and water
resources
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The two are inter-related as water is a major factor in agriculture
Adoption of such technologies in West African Sahel
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Most LDCs are in Africa
Most vulnerable region
Limited capacity to adapt to climate change
Dependence on Agriculture and natural systems
Who uses and who does not?
Why?
The lessons learned
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Transfer of technology for adaptation is not one way. There is a synergy as
people also adapt to the technology.
Introduction and Background
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Vulnerability to Climate Change
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Why are we so concerned about climate change?
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The IPCC TAR identifies Africa as the most vulnerable
region because of its dependence on the ecosystem,
rain-fed agriculture and low adaptive capacity.
What are we vulnerable to?
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Designing any adaptation strategy requires that we
first of all know what it is we are vulnerable to.
Vulnerability is not only a climate affair but an
interaction with non-climate factors that produce
vulnerability
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Exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity
Adaptation should address these concerns.
UNFCCC and Adaptation
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Article 4.5 of refers to promoting, facilitating and financing transfer of
“environmentally sound technologies and know-how” to enable
developing countries to implement provisions of the Convention.
These technologies include adaptation technologies as well as the
technologies for reducing GHG emissions.

Adaptation activities are considered in three stages:
 Stage I Adaptation: “Planning, which includes studies of possible
impacts of climate change, to identify particularly vulnerable
countries or regions and policy options for adaptation and
appropriate capacity building”;
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Stage II Adaptation: “Measures, including further capacity
building, which may be taken to prepare for adaptation . . . .”

Stage III Adaptation: “Measures to facilitate adequate adaptation,
including insurance, and other adaptation measures . . .”
Reasons for Vulnerability (West
African Sahel)
S/No
Perceived Risk
Percentage
1
Insufficient food for people
58.2
2
Shortage of water for domestic use
50.9
3
Shortage of water for animals
50.3
4
Shortage of crops for cultivation
48.4
5
Animal diseases
42.5
6
Insufficient pasture for animals
36.6
7
Limited land for cultivation
34.6
8
Crop failure
26.8
9
Conflicts/insecurity
22.2
10
Human diseases
20.9
11
Low prices for animals
13.7
12
Lack of employment
12.4
Adaptation to Climate Change:
Agriculture
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Two Spheres of Adaptation: Farm level and Systemic Level.
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Farm Level:
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Adjustments in planting and harvesting dates
Planting of new crop varieties and species
Changes in farming practices – tillage, use of topography
Application of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides
Use of irrigation – timing and dose
Use of farm equipment – tractors, harvesters, etc
Improved food storage systems
Herd management – splitting, switching, diversification
Migration
Systemic Level:
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Transportation
Finance
National farm policies
International agricultural policies and agreements
Food Aid
Adaptation to Climate Change: Water
Resources
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In Africa, the impacts of changes in climate on water resources are
minor compared to the problems being faced already with the
present climate variability.
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Coping for present day climate variability’ already takes us a long
way down the road towards adapting for climate change.
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Essence of adapting in the water sector is to be able to live in
equilibrium with projected water scarcities.
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Scarcity is influenced by factors at global level (climate change),
regional level (land-use change), river basin level (water resource
management) and household level (access to water).
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Adaptation strategies in the water include
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Water exploitation methods
Water storage methods +rain harvesting
Water management and planning
Technologies for Adapting
Adaptation
Technologies
Number of
Households
%
Average no of years
practiced
Mixed cropping
33
53
25
Early planting
24
39
15
Wetland farming
43
69
19
Early maturing/ drought
resistant crops
18
29
8
Increased spacing of crops
22
35
10
Change in crop type
9
15
15
Increase in farm size
19
31
17
Agro-pastoralism
8
13
19
Weather forecasts/outlook
23
69
12
Farm implements
41
66
19
Water exploitation methods
21
34
12
Water storage methods
18
29
17
Food storage methods
8
13
11
Herd Management
22
35
18
Reasons for Adoption/Non-Adoption
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Access
Non-yield variables for crop technologies
Understanding of technology
Adaptive capacity
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Individual/community
Institutional
Uncertainties and risk aversion
Rainwater Harvesting
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Broadly defined as the method of concentrating, diverting,
collecting, storing, and utilizing and managing runoff for
productive use.
One of the approaches to integrated land and water
management, which could contribute to recovery of
agricultural production in dry area as well as provide water for
sustainable development.
Runoff is collected mainly from roof-tops, ground catchments
as well as ephemeral streams (flood water harvesting), and
road/footpath drainage.
Different structures are used for storage - tanks, reservoirs,
dams, water pans, etc.
Types of rain water harvesting
systems
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In-situ water conservation
Run-off harvesting
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Storage rain water harvesting system
Direct run-off harvesting system
Largely based on traditional systems that
could be improved upon
Benefits of RWH System
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Reduces erosion and water pollution
Reduces damaging effects of floods
Improves agricultural production
Reduces conflict
Improves water availability
Improved Crop Varieties
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Several varieties of maize, groundnut, cowpeas and
sorghum were identified.
Traditional (local) varieties still formed the bulk of
the crops grown.
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The late maturing, low-seed yielding local variety of
cowpea most preferred because of ability to yield abundant
fodder in addition to seed.
Serious insect pest problems have limited adoption of
improved high seed-producing cowpea.
Non-yield factors such as market value, acceptability and
cooking quality affect the adoption of improved maize
varieties
Lessons to be learned
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Local knowledge
Cultural norms vs Engineering feats
Participation and partnership
Disparity between what beneficiaries want and what is
provided for them
Mal-adaptation
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Migration and conflicts
Agricultural intensification and attendant
problems on the Fadama farms.
Dependence on food aid.
Dams
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Salinization
Lake Chad?
Conclusion
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A major underutilized resource in adaptation resides in the
knowledge and initiative of the local peoples themselves. If
multilateral initiatives are to actually produce results on the
ground, they must be palatable and appropriate to the
peoples’ cultures, which have embodied adaptations to the
rigors of climate variability and change.
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There is a near absence of appropriate indigenous research,
design, and development (RD&D) capabilities. Implying that
the African countries have to depend on imported (high-cost)
technology and its supplier for troubleshooting and upgrading
needs.
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One lesson of the past has been that development efforts
have relied too much on prescriptions applied without
sufficient understanding and sensitivity to the local
communities.