A situational analysis of agricultural development, food, and livelihood security in Seychelles: Where to from here?
Résumé
There is a significant political will to increase agricultural productivity under climate change while reducing its environmental impact.Increasing resilient productivity and reducing emissions from agriculture are central components of 42 African countries' Nationally Determined Contributions [1].Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), an approach to agricultural development that addresses the intertwined challenges of food security and climate change, is one of several solutions promoted by development practitioners [2].CSA targets three objectives: (i) to sustainably increase agricultural productivity; (ii) build resilience food systems to climate change; and (iii), where possible, reduce greenhouse (GHG) emissions from agriculture [3].For a technology to be CSA is based on its impact on these outcomes [3].The climate-smart agriculture (CSA) concept reflects an ambition to achieve food security and broader development goals under a changing climate and to increase food production.In Seychelles, the agricultural sector is hampered by the prevalence of small farm sizes and climate-induced vulnerabilities such as saltwater intrusion on farmlands, soil erosion, crop pests and disease, rainfall variability, and a farming system dependent on irrigation [4].As a granitic island, huge rocks on farmlands are typical of the agricultural landscape, reducing the farm area usable for cultivation [4].These difficulties occur in an environment where about 50% of the land area is protected [5], and the expansion of agricultural land will result in deforestation.Seychelles has witnessed a shift from an economy historically supported by agriculture to tourism and fisheries as the main pillars of the economy since the opening of the international airport [6].The industry's current state could be linked to almost 90% of imported food being consumed locally [7].The COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis exacerbated the food crisis in Seychelles with the disruption in the supply of food items and also rapidly rising food prices.These challenges have reinforced the need to boost local food production. CSA technologies and practices in SeychellesThe FAO documented several CSA technologies and practices farmers implement in Seychelles, including shade houses, intercropping, agroforestry, drip irrigation systems, erosion control measures, and planting drought-tolerant crops [6].For example, growing Chrysopogon zizanioides (vetiver grass) in farmlands' upper or outer areas and drains and Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) at the edges of farmlands are specific erosion control measures among farmers in Seychelles.These CSA practices present opportunities for addressing climate change challenges and economic growth and development of the agriculture sector.According to the FAO report, several CSA practices have been adopted in isolation or combination,
Citer ce document
Accès au document
Texte intégral en lecture en ligne, réservé aux abonnés SPHAERO et aux membres de l'institution. Se connecter
Voir l'article sur le site de la revueAuteur(s)
Statistiques
Consultations : 1
Téléchargements : 0