Increasing productivity and building resilience in agriculture systems: a critical investment for better livelihoods and food security in dry areas

摘要

Climate change has a serious impact on agriculture in dry areas for a variety of reasons.These include: reduced precipitation; more frequent droughts; increases in temperature; changes in climatic zones – from favourable to less favourable to agriculture; shorter growing seasons; and a threat from diseases and insect pests largely due to temperature increases that are emerging in areas where they were not previously a problem.Through these factors,climate change has a negative effect on all components of food security – including production and availability,accessibility,stability,and food supply.The strategies to be followed to cope with climate change in dry areas depend on the targeted production agro-ecosystem in these areas.Production systems in dry areas can be classified in two major agro-ecologies: 1)high potential,or more favourable areas; and 2)low potential areas or marginal lands.The strategies for coping with climate change in these two agro-ecologies differ significantly.For high potential areas,research clearly shows agriculture productivity can be increased through the sustainable intensification and diversification of food production systems.Strategies for enhancing food productivity under climate change include: adopting improved crop varieties that are adapted to biotic and abiotic stresses,and improved management of water and land resources with appropriate inputs.For low potential areas or marginal lands,the best strategy is to enhance the resilience of agricultural production systems to climate change.Pursuing production system intensification in these areas can cause serious and irreversible damage to these low potential agroecosystems,resulting in desertification.Here,an effective solution for countries is to develop integrated crop/rangeland/livestock production systems.In these low rainfall areas,small ruminants(mainly sheep and goats),provide an important source of livelihoods for the rural poor – as a stable source of nutrition and as income for farmers who can produce meat,and milk or wool products.Several examples from ICARDA's research program are presented that demonstrate how countries can successfully follow these strategies to improve food security in their high potential agro-ecologies of dry areas.