Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) integrates productivity, resilience, and emissions reduction into a single approach. Learn the three pillars of CSA and how to implement practical strategies on farms from 0.5 to 50 hectares across different agro-ecological zones.

Carbon credit programmes offer new revenue streams for farmers who adopt sustainable practices. This guide explains verification standards (Verra, Gold Standard), aggregation models for smallholders, and current carbon prices for different practices.

As rainfall becomes more erratic, drought-tolerant varieties are essential for food security. Compare performance data for drought-resistant maize, sorghum, millet, and cowpea varieties developed by CIMMYT and ICRISAT for African conditions.

Capturing and storing rainwater can extend the growing season by weeks. Explore rooftop harvesting, contour bunds, zai pits, half-moon structures, and underground cistern designs proven effective across the Sahel and Southern Africa.

Conservation agriculture combines minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and crop rotation to build resilience. Review the evidence from 15 years of trials across Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi showing yield improvements of 20-30%.

Integrating trees into farming systems provides shade, windbreaks, nitrogen fixation, and diversified income. Learn about Faidherbia albida, Gliricidia, and moringa-based agroforestry models generating both carbon credits and cash income.

Flooding destroys crops and erodes topsoil in river valley farming zones. Practical approaches to raised bed cultivation, drainage channels, flood-tolerant rice varieties, and early warning systems using community-based river monitoring.

Healthy soils are the largest terrestrial carbon sink. Cover cropping, composting, biochar application, and rotational grazing can increase soil organic carbon by 0.4% annually. Understand the science and the revenue potential.