Economywide effects of climate‐smart agriculture in Ethiopia

• DOI: 10.1111/agec.12523
• Publication Date: 2019-10-12T11:23:41Z
• Authors: Adam M. Komarek; James Thurlow; Jawoo Koo; Alessandro De Pinto
• Keywords: Gross margin; Investment

Abstract Climate‐smart agriculture (CSA) is an approach for transforming and reorienting agricultural systems to support food security under climate change. Few studies, however, quantify at the national scale CSA's economic effects or compare CSA input‐intensive technologies, like fertilizer irrigation. Such quantification may help with priority setting among competing investment options. Our study uses integrated biophysical modeling contrast economywide of (integrated soil fertility management in our study) technologies Ethiopia's cereal systems. We simulate impacts 20‐year sequences variable weather, without Results indicate that adopting on 25% maize wheat land increases annual gross domestic product (GDP) by average 0.18% (US$49.8 million) reduces poverty rate 0.15 percentage points (112,100 people). more effective than doubling use same area, which GDP US$33.0 million assists 75,300 people out poverty. have some substitutability, but irrigation appear complementary. Although not a panacea concerns, greater adoption Ethiopia could deliver gains would need substantial tailoring farmer‐specific contexts.