Abstract
This study assesses the impact of a participatory development program called Seeds For Needs, carried out in Ethiopia to support smallholders in addressing climate change and its consequences through the introduction, selection, use, and management of suitable crop varieties. More specifically, it analyzes the program’s role of boosting durum wheat varietal diversification and agrobiodiversity to support higher crop productivity and strengthen smallholder food security. The study is based on a survey of 1008 households across three major wheat-growing regional states: Amhara, Oromia, and Tigray. A doubly robust estimator was employed to properly estimate the impact of Seeds For Needs interventions. The results show that program activities have significantly enhanced wheat crop productivity and smallholders’ food security by increasing wheat varietal diversification. This paper provides further empirical evidence for the effective role that varietal diversity can play in improving food security in marginal environments, and also provides clear indications for development agencies regarding the importance of improving smallholders’ access to crop genetic resources.
Highlights
While agricultural production is systematically subject to uncertainty due to variability in temperature and precipitation [1], climate change is expected to amplify these adverse impacts [2]
The survey revealed that 44% of the sampled households reported receiving training for the evaluation of new wheat varieties, but only 24% of households reported participating in crowdsourcing activities
In the face of climate change, the on-farm varietal diversification of crops has been recognized as an effective and environmentally friendly option to improve the capacity of smallholder farmers to respond to shocks and reduce the uncertainty inherent in agricultural production systems linked to climate change
Summary
While agricultural production is systematically subject to uncertainty due to variability in temperature and precipitation [1], climate change is expected to amplify these adverse impacts [2]. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Argues that climate change will cause a reduction in agricultural production, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, unless proper adaptation strategies are in place [3,4]. Rain-fed subsistence farmers, with limited capacity to invest in coping and mitigation strategies [5], will be among the most deeply affected [6,7,8]. It is crucial to support these farmers in reducing their vulnerability to shocks, strengthening their livelihoods and sustainably ensuring their food security.
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