The agricultural economy employs 65–70 percent of Africa’s labor force.(World Bank, 2013) The agriculture sector is not only among the most vulnerable sectors to the impacts of climate change, it is also directly responsible for 14 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

Therefore, there's a need to transition to better agricultural practices in order to maximize the region's potential, decrease hunger and for better environmental management. One of the steps that can be taken to tackle current food security and climate change challenges in Africa is Climate Smart Agriculture.

Climate-smart agriculture is a pathway towards development and food security built on three pillars: increasing productivity and incomes, enhancing the resilience of livelihoods and ecosystems and reducing and removing greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere. (FAO) 

 Examples of climate smart practices include Integrated Pest Management, Sustainable mechanization, Improved water use and management.

Climate Smart Agriculture can be achieved in countries through working at the landscape level with an ecosystems approach. This involves combining forestry, fisheries, crops and livestock systems as a positive response to the impacts of climate change and contributing to its mitigation. 

Additionally, a multi-sectoral approach and consistent policies are needed at all levels regarding agriculture, food security, and climate change. 

To make the transition to climate-smart agriculture, farmers, fishers, and forest-dependent people need institutional and financial support. Effective climate-resilient practices already exist and could be scaled-up with serious investments in building the knowledge base and developing technology. Furthermore, investing in climate-smart agriculture requires integrating public and private finance opportunities, as well as climate finance into sustainable development initiatives.

References

1.Unlocking Africa's Agricultural Potential.

Africa Region Sustainable Development, World Bank 2013 

2.FAO Climate Smart Agriculture

Managing Ecosystems for

Sustainable Livelihoods.

www.fao.org/change/climatesmart