Climate-smart Zambian agribusinesses get ready for investors

"The main objective of the Accelerator program is to scale research innovations and catalyze private finance into agribusinesses to increase their impact,” said Winnie Kasoma-Pele, Accelerator Program Coordinator, as we kicked off the second cohort of the Zambia SME Agribusiness Accelerator with seven agribusinesses grouped into three ‘bundles’ focused on water, fish and seeds. ?

No single innovation or solution can thrive in isolation; it requires integration into a robust and sustainable ecosystem.?That’s why, through programs like the Agribusiness Accelerator - and through our strong multi-sector partnerships - we're scaling inclusive and sustainable climate-smart innovations developed by CGIAR .?

In our first newsletter of the year, explore:?

• GHACOF 69 brings climate services experts together?

• In Kenya, a ‘Scaling Week’ strategy session on AICCRA's framework?

• Tailoring innovative agricultural tools to address climate challenges in Zambia?

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Second cohort of Zambia SME Accelerator announced?

After receiving more than 150 applications, three winning bundles (comprised of seven agribusinesses) have been chosen to participate in the second cohort of the successful AICCRA Zambia Agribusiness SME Accelerator.?

• Bundle 1: Agriculture water management and mechanisation - The bundle, led by Prebemu Enterprises in conjunction with FeedNAT Agro and Lupiya, will target climate resilience in smallholder farming communities across Zambia’s Central Province, specifically in Chibombo and Mumbwa districts.?
• Bundle 2: Integrated aquaculture-agriculture systems - In addition to unveiling a cutting-edge hatchery, bundle lead Toda Raba with BM Smart and Harvest Farm, is commencing greenhouse production of tilapia and catfish fingerlings with an annual projected output of approximately 2-3 million fingerlings to meet growing local demand.??

• Bundle 3: Addressing drought through climate-smart seed varieties - The project, led by FeedNAT Agro in conjunction with Ubu-Ubuntu Finance and Mulimi Farmers Scheme, aims to enhance smallholder farmer resilience to climate change by scaling up climate-smart seeds of soybeans and groundnuts, coupled with capacity-building extension services and access to finance and insurance products?

During the coming months, AICCRA partners will provide technical assistance, commercial and business advisory services, scientific inputs, networking opportunities, and monitoring & evaluation support.

GHACOF 69 | Climate services for closing the early warning gap?

With the primary objective of issuing the seasonal forecast for the March to May 2025 season, the 69th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF69) was convened in January by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre ( ICPAC ) in collaboration with national meteorological and hydrological services across the region and other partners, including AICCRA. We have been collaborating closely with ICPAC to strengthen and advance climate information services for early action through the GHACOF platform.?

In the announcement of the latest forecast, Dr. Abdi Fidar, the Officer in Charge at ICPAC, noted that:

“Platforms like GHACOFs are essential for building a shared understanding of risks and fostering collaboration to mitigate their impacts.”?

AICCRA's team also contributed to supporting regional gender experts’ participation in the discussion ahead of the official GHACOF69 statement, and engaging in planning discussions focused on upgrading the seasonal forecasting capacity (in terms of tools and models) to improve results for subsequent GHACOF platforms.??

Can a Crop Decision Tree build climate resilience in Zambia??

Innovative tools like Crop Decision Trees (CDTs) and the Zambia National Crop Monitor hold transformative potential to address urgent agricultural challenges. Against the backdrop of a declared national crisis in Zambia, AICCRA organized a three-day stakeholder workshop in Lusaka to explore the implementation of these tools to help small-scale farmers adapt.?

“We welcome the investments that AICCRA is making to transform our agricultural systems. The Crop Decision Tree and the Zambia National Crop Monitor are critical tools in addressing climate-related challenges and ensuring food security. These efforts align with our vision for a resilient agricultural sector.” - Mr.?James Kalengo, Director of Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) at the Ministry of Agriculture, Zambia?

Multi-level framework focuses on responsible and sustainable scaling?

In response to growing demand, the drive to rapidly scale agricultural climate solutions presents potential risks with regard to social, economic, and environmental consequences, highlighting the need for a comprehensive scaling framework.??

In Kenya, we held a ‘Scaling Week’ with our country team and partners to take stock of how scaling is already happening, diagnose potential bottlenecks and strategize pathways for continued impact.?

Across the AICCRA project, our approach focuses on responsible, inclusive, and sustainable scaling. It encourages people-centered approaches to scale technically excellent, context-specific bundles of climate solutions.

Three conditions were identified by the AICCRA scaling week:

• Technical Excellence: Solutions must be scientifically sound, effective, accessible and affordable for end-users, like farmers.?

• Effective Demand: Innovations must address specific needs of end-users, align with investor interests and leverage local influencers.?

• Sustained Use: We must foster long-term independent and sustained use of climate-smart solutions, by multiple users.?

Following the Scaling Week with our Kenya team, AICCRA plans hands-on learning sessions in the other five countries where we primarily work to explore current practices and facilitate discussions for a truly sustainable approach.?

What we're reading this month

• Drivers and impacts of mobile phone-mediated scaling of agricultural technologies: a meta-analysis | New research from AICCRA and others explores how mobile phone-mediated scaling of agricultural technologies (MPSATs) is drawing attention as a game-changer for an effective approach for agricultural development and sustainability. Read here

Authors: Mori W. Gouroubera, Soulé Akinhola Adechian, Alcade C. Segnon, Ismail Moumouni-Moussa, Robert B. Zougmoré

• Welfare effects and gender dimensions of adoption of climate smart agriculture practices: Evidence from Kenyan small-scale farmers | Using data from 1,809 smallholder farmers from diverse agroecological zones across 22 counties in Kenya, this study explores how factors including access to agricultural information, input subsidies, and gender impact the likelihood of adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices.?Read here

Authors: Boscow Okumu, Maren Radeny, Laura Cramer?

From our partners: Scaling CSA technologies in Africa?

Through the AICCRA project, the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and partners are prioritizing and implementing “best-bet” initiatives aimed at enhancing the capacity of farmers in vulnerable areas to utilize CSA technologies.?

Read these stories and more on our news page or follow us on social media (@CGIARAfrica) for ongoing updates. ?

Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) is a project that helps deliver a climate-smart African future driven by science and innovation in agriculture. It is led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and supported by a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank.?