**2. Food demand and production**

Most of the poor population in Africa depends on agriculture, particularly smallscale farming, as the primary source of their livelihoods. Ensuring food security and poverty reduction in many African countries depends largely on the on the growth and development of the agricultural sector [6]. Agriculture in Africa is dominated by small-scale famers who rely on family labour; with 33 million farms that are less than 2 ha, small-scale farms represent 80% of all farms [7]. The role of small-scale farmers in ensuring food, nutrition security and sustainable rural development in Africa is becoming more crucial as the world faces increasing climate change challenges. Africa needs ecologically sound and climate-resilient farming systems to provide nutritionally balanced food and ensure food security for the most vulnerable.

Getting rural households to actively participate in small-scale agricultural activities for subsistence farming can play a vital role in minimizing the vulnerability to hunger in rural food-insecure households [8]. Studies done in different countries indicate that the gross domestic product (GDP) growth originating from

**65**

**Table 1.**

*Adapted from: AGRA [15].*

*The Role of Small-Scale Farmers in Ensuring Food Security in Africa*

agricultural activities is at least twice as effective in advancing the poorest half of a country's population than GDP growth generated from any other sector [9]. This benefit from the agricultural sector is to be anticipated considering that 75% of the poor in African countries live in the rural areas and derive their livelihood from agriculture as well as other agriculture-related activities. In another study, [10] also reported that people who depend on agriculture for their livelihood in African countries are typically much poorer than those working in other sectors; these people, however, represent a relatively large portion, often the majority, of the total

The term smallholder or small-scale farmers refers to producers who farm in smallholdings [11]. This term includes farmers growing in home-food gardens or homestead gardens, irrigated farmers and people farming in rain-fed fields outside of the homestead [11]. Characteristics differentiating small-scale/smallholder from commercial farmers include scale and size of farm system, proportion of crops sold, household expenditure, and use of family labour, mechanization, capital intensity,

financial ability and level of linkages with larger economic systems [11, 12]. According to Antonaci et al. [13], 80% of the food produced in sub-Saharan Africa is produced by smallholder farmers and these farmers are also the largest employers for the local labour force in these countries. This is partly because poverty is still a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa and also because the agricultural sector also contributes a large share of the GDP and employment. Agriculture employs

between 60 and 90% of the total labour force in sub-Saharan Africa [14].

**3. Impact of climate change on the productivity of small-scale farmers**

Climate change has had and will continue to have a significant impact on the livelihoods and food security of the rural poor in developing African countries. The 4th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) forecasts that climate change is expected to have a significant effect on water availability and agricultural production in many African countries. Projections by [15] suggest that when the effects of climate change are not considered, the total production of major agricultural products (cereals, fruits and vegetables oilseeds, pulses, roots and tubers, and meat) is projected to double or even triple between 2010 and 2050 (**Table 1**). However, with the inevitable adverse effect of climate change, production will be adversely affected, and different crops will be affected differently (**Table 1**). Climate change is projected to have a slightly positive effect on oilseed production and minimum effect on production of pulses, while showing and small negative

Cereals 114.2 178.4 237.1 108% −2.9% −5.1% Fruits and vegetables 101.4 187.4 293.7 190% −0.3% −0.1% Oilseeds 52.9 90 113.9 115% 0.3% 1.0% Pulses 11.6 18.2 27.5 137% 0.0% 0.0% Roots and tubers 224 346.6 483.2 116% −1.0% −1.7% Meat 10.8 20.4 34.4 219% −0.1% −0.1%

*Projected effect of climate change on agricultural production (million metric tons) in Africa.*

**No climate change Effects of climate change 2010 2030 2050 2010 2030 2050**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91694*

number of the poor people in these countries.

#### *The Role of Small-Scale Farmers in Ensuring Food Security in Africa DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91694*

*Food Security in Africa*

**Figure 1.**

security problems. The United Nations estimates that by 2050, 86% of the world's population living in extreme poverty will be concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa [1]. And in order to ensure food security in the future, current food production levels will

Projected climate change and unexpected extreme weather events will worsen the fragile agricultural systems, negatively affecting the natural resource base, particularly in places prone to soil degradation, water scarcity and desertification [5]. The sub-Saharan Africa is well known for relying heavy on rainfed agriculture, however, due to threats posed by extreme climatic events, high climate variability and change, the majority of the climate sensitive sectors are struggling to cope and adapt to challenges posed this natural vagaries. The general effect of climate change on agriculture will differ between different geographic regions, and it will still be difficult for farmers to plan and manage production while preventing crop losses or

Most of the poor population in Africa depends on agriculture, particularly smallscale farming, as the primary source of their livelihoods. Ensuring food security and poverty reduction in many African countries depends largely on the on the growth and development of the agricultural sector [6]. Agriculture in Africa is dominated by small-scale famers who rely on family labour; with 33 million farms that are less than 2 ha, small-scale farms represent 80% of all farms [7]. The role of small-scale farmers in ensuring food, nutrition security and sustainable rural development in Africa is becoming more crucial as the world faces increasing climate change challenges. Africa needs ecologically sound and climate-resilient farming systems to provide nutrition-

Getting rural households to actively participate in small-scale agricultural activities for subsistence farming can play a vital role in minimizing the vulnerability to hunger in rural food-insecure households [8]. Studies done in different countries indicate that the gross domestic product (GDP) growth originating from

ally balanced food and ensure food security for the most vulnerable.

need to be increased by at least 70% [1].

*Population projections. Source: [1].*

outbreaks of pests and diseases.

**2. Food demand and production**

**64**

agricultural activities is at least twice as effective in advancing the poorest half of a country's population than GDP growth generated from any other sector [9]. This benefit from the agricultural sector is to be anticipated considering that 75% of the poor in African countries live in the rural areas and derive their livelihood from agriculture as well as other agriculture-related activities. In another study, [10] also reported that people who depend on agriculture for their livelihood in African countries are typically much poorer than those working in other sectors; these people, however, represent a relatively large portion, often the majority, of the total number of the poor people in these countries.

The term smallholder or small-scale farmers refers to producers who farm in smallholdings [11]. This term includes farmers growing in home-food gardens or homestead gardens, irrigated farmers and people farming in rain-fed fields outside of the homestead [11]. Characteristics differentiating small-scale/smallholder from commercial farmers include scale and size of farm system, proportion of crops sold, household expenditure, and use of family labour, mechanization, capital intensity, financial ability and level of linkages with larger economic systems [11, 12].

According to Antonaci et al. [13], 80% of the food produced in sub-Saharan Africa is produced by smallholder farmers and these farmers are also the largest employers for the local labour force in these countries. This is partly because poverty is still a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa and also because the agricultural sector also contributes a large share of the GDP and employment. Agriculture employs between 60 and 90% of the total labour force in sub-Saharan Africa [14].
