Climate Change: ECOWAS shifts focus to agroecology, organic farming  

Amid changing weather patterns, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced a significant step towards sustainable agriculture by mobilising resources to support agroecology, organic farming, and climate-smart agriculture.

The decision was driven by the remarkable results achieved by farmers adopting these practices, with reported fivefold increases in yield—from about 10 tonnes to 30-60 tonnes per hectare for root and tuber crops and from less than one tonne to 4 tonnes per hectare for cereal crops. These methods have ensured the sustainability of production and improved farmers’ incomes.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Alien Touray, disclosed this during the Regional Forum on Agroecology and Organic Farming. He raised concerns that food systems in West Africa are currently facing multiple crises, including the effects of climate change.

He lamented that although the region contributes very little to global warming—only 1.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions—it is at the heart of climate change challenges in the 21st century.

Dr. Touray expressed concern that scientific forecasts show the region could experience a temperature rise of +2.3°C by 2060, with lethal heat days potentially ranging from 50 to 250 annually, depending on the extent of global warming.

In addition to extreme heat, rainfall patterns in West Africa are expected to become increasingly erratic, resulting in more frequent and severe climate hazards such as flooding, droughts, and seasonal shifts.

He warned that these changes threaten to devastate the region’s fragile ecosystems and worsen food insecurity. Vulnerable populations—such as women, youth, and the elderly—are expected to suffer the most as agricultural productivity declines and farm incomes erode.

He projected that agricultural studies revealing a temperature rise of more than 2°C by 2055 could reduce crop yields in West Africa by as much as 35% for manioc, 30% for sorghum, 22% for maize, and 28% for groundnuts. Furthermore, an increase of 1.5 to 2°C could shrink the availability of arable land for staples like maize, millet, and peanuts by 40 to 80%, placing further strain on food systems.

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In response to these growing threats, Dr. Touray stated that ECOWAS has committed to transforming West African agriculture through its regional agricultural policy, ECOWAP. The policy aims to support family farms in adopting sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices, including agroecology, organic farming, and climate-smart agriculture.

The Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, highlighted the mechanisms and opportunities for increasing funding for these sustainable agricultural approaches, as well as the instruments that can be mobilised and their effectiveness.

He said, “The Strategic Partnerships for Agroecology and Climate Justice in West Africa (SPAC-West Africa) project, which spans Liberia, Nigeria, and Senegal, is currently demonstrating the transformative power of agroecology in improving the lives of women and young people across the region.

“This three-year project, funded by ActionAid International’s Transformative Impact Fund (TIF), seeks to benefit 250,800 smallholder women farmers and young people, ultimately reaching over 1.5 million household members. Its core objective is to provide food and nutrition security, climate-resilient livelihoods, and a transformed agricultural landscape across West African communities.

“This forum is not just an event; it serves as a platform to foster collaboration among governments, regional institutions, farmer organisations, civil society, and non-state actors in advancing a shared vision of agroecology and organic agriculture.”