Smallholder farmers in west Africa’s Sahel face a harsh and worsening climate. Rainfall is erratic, temperatures are rising, soils are degrading, and droughts have become more frequent.
In Mali and Niger millions of rural households rely on rain-fed farming. These stresses pose a threat to food security and livelihoods.
As agricultural economists we conduct research on how climate-smart interventions affect farmers’ crop revenue and income. Our latest research focused on five staple crops widely grown across the Sahel – cowpea, groundnut, maize, millet and sorghum. We examined which technologies delivered the greatest benefits and what enabled or limited their adoption.
