Climate Smart Maize in Sub Saharan Africa: An Integrated Evaluation Using Agro Technologies and Climate Projections

This paper evaluates the effects of the climate smart agriculture (CSA) practice through scenario-based modelling, in 3 climate change vulnerable SSA (sub) regions (Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia). Effects of two Agri techno pathways, including Low Tech (LT) and High Tech (HT) on the intensity of greenhouse gases emissions, water productivity and maize yield were contrasted and identified under two climate scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP 8.5). To aid in cross-scenario and cross-country comparison, a climate smartness index (CSI) was created, which included productivity, resource use efficiencies, mitigation and resource use efficiencies. Findings show that HT futures have significant CSI value improvements, with the majority of these improvements being in the areas of yield increase, water-use efficiency, and unit grain emissions. Irrigation and uptake of better maize varieties also mitigate the yield shock and this shows the importance of interventions through technology in ensuring that agricultural systems are developed in a manner that is climate-resilient.