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Climate Change 2016
October 27-29, 2016
Volume 7, Issue 9(Suppl) J Earth Sci Clim Change
ISSN: 2157-7617 JESCC, an open access journal
conferenceseries .com
October 24-26, 2016 Valencia, Spain
World Conference onClimate Change
Farmer climate change adaptation in the West African Sudan Savannah: Reality check and feasible
approaches
Daniel Callo-Concha
University of Bonn, Germany
Farming is the economic engine of West Africa. Regularly hampered by harsh ecological and institutional conditions, the
situation has been worsened by climate change. The West African Science Service on Climate Change and Adapted Land
Use (WASCAL) enhances scientific knowledge, available data and local capabilities to confront climate change. To these ends,
local farmer adaptation appears key by their supposed livelihoods compatibility. This presentation details the perspective of
the West African Sudan Savannah farmer, i.e., drivers of their climate change perception, coping measures they carry out, and
the suitability of these measures. Furthermore, building upon this knowledge-baseline, the presentation details the outcomes
of specific (disciplinary and interdisciplinary) research, gauging the contribution of these studies to the general resilience and
adaptability of households. Finally, the operational means and supporting policy decisions to encourage them are explored.
Findings highlight the complex character of adaptation, their lack of correlation to climate hazards and extreme events, and
that their selection should underline several key factors. These include their short-term economic benefit, appropriateness
regarding the local socio-ecological conditions and ongoing traditional practices; and operationally, the engagement with local
agricultural extension institutions.
Biography
Daniel Callo-Concha is a senior scientist at the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Germany. He is an agronomist with 15 years of
experience in the interface of agriculture/natural resource management in Latin America and Africa. His latest research focuses on farmers’ climate change
adaptation in West Africa, contribution of traditional agro forestry systems to food and nutrition security, agricultural socioecological system resilience and
adaptability and complex systems analysis.
Daniel Callo-Concha, J Earth Sci Clim Change 2016, 7:9(Suppl)