Africa

The UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is urgently calling for increased investments to support small-scale farmers in combating land degradation and desertification. These efforts are critical to safeguarding global food security, climate stability, and ecosystems, as the sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) takes place this week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. IFAD President Alvaro Lario, who is attending COP16 in Riyadh, is advocating for small-scale farmers and producers who are grappling with the devastating effects of drought and desertification—challenges that threaten the livelihoods of approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide. The drought in East Africa, which has been the worst in over 40 years, and the worsening conditions in North Africa underscore the urgency of addressing these issues. In the Sahel region, which forms a barrier to the Sahara Desert, desertification has advanced up to 200 kilometers southward over the past 30 years. This year, Zimbabwe has experienced its worst drought in living memory, leading President Emmerson Mnangagwa to declare a nationwide state of disaster. Many small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe rely on rainfed agriculture, and the ongoing drought—driven by El Niño—has led to widespread crop failure. An estimated 40% of farmers have lost their entire harvest, and poor infrastructure, including broken irrigation systems, is further hampering efforts to grow crops. The situation is expected to leave 6 million people in Zimbabwe food insecure during the 2024-2025 lean season (January to March). In response, IFAD has been supporting initiatives such as the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalization Programme (SIRP), which is helping thousands of farmers maintain crop production despite limited rainfall. This project, benefiting over 27,000 rural households, aims to restore irrigation systems and improve climate resilience and food security across Zimbabwe. At COP16, IFAD will emphasize the urgent need for greater investment in small-scale farmers, who produce 40% of the world’s food, and 60% of Africa’s food. “The world’s 500 million small farms are the backbone of global food systems,” said IFAD President Lario. “They are the most vulnerable to climate change and the least prioritized for investment. Supporting them is essential if we want to ensure long-term food security.” IFAD will also stress that neglecting investment in food security, poverty reduction, and stability has dire consequences. In addition to the human and economic toll, land degradation and climate change could drive as many as 700 million people to migrate by 2050, further exacerbating global challenges. Small-scale farmers play a pivotal role in economic stability, particularly in many developing countries where agriculture is a key driver of GDP.