Farmers in Sub-Sahara Africa are bearing the biggest brunt of the effects of climate change. Most countries of the Sahel and West and Central Africa face challenges linked to droughts, soil acidity, nutrient depleted and degraded agricultural and pastoral lands.

This is a significant handicap to agricultural development made up mainly of small-holder farmers relying mostly on rain-fed production systems, natural methods of soil fertility maintenance and limited access to markets. Without climate sensitive techniques and approaches, climate change could continue to over-stretch the subregional production system and increase hunger and malnutrition. CORAF and its partners are working to design climate-smart crop varieties and practices.