ABSTRACT
Eighty percent of the population in Africa is estimated to be involved in agricultural production, which accounts for 30% of the continent’s GDP (FAO 2013a). A rise in productivity will contribute directly to food and nutritional security and poverty reduction. However, climate-change projections indicate that agricultural productivity will decrease between 10% and 20% due to more frequent heat stress, droughts, floods, and shifts in agroecological zones (AEZs) (FAO 2013b). In addition, the population is expected to reach two billion by 2050 (UNDESA 2013). On top of that, urbanization and increased international trade demand a more market-oriented 40agricultural sector. This means that armers and support services need to adapt their ways of operation to keep up with these changes.
