Among the successes in climate-smart agriculture highlighted in a recent FAO report is the revitalization of the 800 year old Kihamba agroforestry system on the southern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

The Food Tank website reports that climate-smart agriculture not only aims to improve and upgrade agricultural methods and technologies, but also to build the resilience of rural communities and their ability to adapt to increasing changes.

The Kihamba agroforestry system, which maintains several layers of vegetation to maximize available land and produce a variety of foods, was abandoned by many in the 1990s when coffee prices plummeted. Now, farmers are being assisted to revitalize the system through transitioning to organic coffee production, introducing vanilla and trout aquaculture, and upgrading irrigation systems. An open and independent decision-making process has brought together local government officials, community elders, and group representatives to discuss future climate-smart agricultural adaptations.

In the report, FAO provides examples from 10 ten sites across the globe where climate-smart agriculture programs are helping local communities relieve strain on the land and develop more sustainable farming practice. It emphasizes the importance of sustainability training and education together with strong community-based discussion procedures to help regulate new farming practices.

Read the full story: Climate-Smart Agriculture Success Stories

Find out more about the Kihamba agroforestry system

Download the FAO report: Success Stories on Climate-smart Agriculture