The ambitious climate finance targets on the agenda at COP29 in Baku need to empower small-scale farmers to help feed the world, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has said.
According to IFAD, while small-scale farmers, particularly in developing nations, produce about 35% of the world’s food, and up to 70% in Africa, they receive less than one percent of all climate finance.
IFAD has estimated the finance gap for small-scale farmers’ adaptation at about $75 billion per year in developing countries – something that needs to be addressed in order to foster more sustainable agriculture support.
‘Adapt to a new reality’
“As climate change profoundly disrupts food systems, the only way to safeguard global food security is to prioritise helping small-scale farmers to adapt to the new reality,” commented Alvaro Lario, IFAD president. “The first step is for leaders at COP29 to set an ambitious goal for adaptation finance that allows food production to continue even as the planet warms.”
Small-scale farmers currently receive minimal support for climate adaptation, the group noted, with climate finance for small-scale agri-food systems reaching an average of only $5.53 billion in 2019/20—just 0.8% of global climate finance.
‘Adapt or starve’
“Small-scale farmers often live in poverty and have little choice. They must adapt or will starve,” said Lario. “Adaptation is a matter of global food security, but also geopolitical stability. Rising food prices, hunger and poverty led to forced migrations and conflicts.”
Climate change is already contributing to food scarcity – in 2023, around 735 million people faced hunger, partly due to the increasing frequency of droughts, floods, and other extreme weather. If climate impacts continue, an additional 132 million people could fall into extreme poverty.
According to IFAD, practical solutions for supporting small-scale farmers include climate-smart irrigation, drought-resistant crops, agroforestry, soil management, and early warning systems. These solutions help farmers navigate challenging weather conditions, optimise planting schedules, and tackle pests and diseases. Read more here. [Photo: UN Climate Change]
