Climate Change and Agricultural Development

This paper discusses the influence of climate change on smallholder agriculture, with a special focus on West and Central Africa (WCA). The likely impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers are assessed and farmers’ strategies for adapting to these impacts are examined, drawing on examples from the WCA region. Key research and capacity strengthening priorities are identified, that will help to minimize adverse impacts and identify new opportunities. The paper is aimed at all stakeholders in agricultural research for development, because climate change will be one of the central challenges facing agriculture in Africa. References are made to publications that deal with specific topics in more detail and a glossary of terms is provided at the end of the paper.