Assessing climate impact on small landholding farmers

Small-scale landholding farmers play a crucial role in global food production, contributing to one third of the world's total food output. However, despite their significant contribution, these farmers receive less than 2% of climate finance, leaving them vulnerable to the increasing impacts of climate change. Jyotsna Puri, from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), highlighted the challenges faced by small landholding farmers in a recent interview with CNBC Africa's Ridhima Shukla. Puri underscored the urgent need for increased support for these farmers as the effects of climate change manifest in heightened aridity and land degradation across Africa. The continent, particularly, lags behind South Asia and East Asia in irrigation infrastructure, with only 6% of cultivated land currently irrigated compared to 46% and 56% in South and East Asia, respectively. This disparity underscores the existing opportunity for development, yet also highlights the vulnerability faced by African farmers due to climate change and weather uncertainties. In Kenya alone, 20% of land is experiencing increased degradation due to farming practices necessitated by volatile weather patterns. Such practices not only degrade the land further but also escalate the vulnerability of small landholding farmers to the adverse impacts of climate change. The consequences of these challenges are substantial, with an estimated 46% of total land in Africa affected, impacting at least 485 million people and resulting in annual costs of $9.3 billion. Moreover, 75% to 80% of the continent's cultivated land is degraded, leading to significant nutrient loss per hectare annually. Despite the pivotal role small-scale farmers play in global food security, they remain significantly underserved in terms of climate finance. Puri highlighted a study conducted by IFAD and CPI, which revealed that a dismal 1.7% of climate finance flows are directed towards small-scale agricultural producers. This disparity is alarming considering these farmers produce one third of the global food supply, emphasizing the critical need for a redistribution of climate funds to support their resilience and sustainability. Finding a solution to this disparity requires a multifaceted approach. Puri suggested repurposing Official Development Assistance (ODA) to prioritize low-emissions, climate-resilient development assistance. Additionally, she emphasized the importance of developed countries contributing to adaptation and mitigation finance, as the funding gap for developing countries is projected to be $140 to $300 billion annually by 2030. While the private sector can potentially address the mitigation finance gap, adaptation funding necessitates international cooperation and investment. Looking ahead to COP26, Puri emphasized the importance of focusing on funding the adaptation gap and ensuring a commitment to supporting small-scale farmers. The success of COP26, she noted, will depend largely on the extent to which the global community can address the adaptation funding gap and provide crucial support to vulnerable farmers. Ultimately, for small landholding farmers to thrive in the face of climate change, a concerted effort is needed to prioritize climate finance, enhance adaptation strategies, and ensure their resilience in an increasingly volatile environmental landscape.