Domestication of UNFCCC Commitments in Food Crop Sector: Case of Rice and Cassava in Cavally Region, Cote d’Ivoire

Abstract

In recent decades, the question of climate variability and change has been gradually taken into account in public policy. Climate variability have been affected food crop production including rice and cassava in Cote d’Ivoire. As many nations, Cote d’Ivoire has convened at the highly publicized May 1992 Rio de Janeiro Conference that led to the drafting of environmental policies known as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Since the decree No 94-616 of 14th November 1994 pursuing ratification of the UNFCCC, Cote d’Ivoire is committed to reduce its emission of greenhouse gases and protects its population against the impacts of climate variability and change. The study contributes to investigate the status of commitments of Cote d’Ivoire in food crop sector. The study, also tries to assess the policy integration of climate measures such as adaptation and mitigation. In addition, the paper analyzes the local awareness and determinants of farmers’ adoption of agro-environmental measures. Purposive sample was done to select the communities having benefited from projects and activities to assess the policies implementation. For this study, a random sampling was used to select a sample of 6 communities through 349 rice and cassava farmers. The study used the Content Analysis method to review national policies as well as the Obligation Integration Susceptibility Index (OISI) to evaluate the level of integration in relevant sectoral policies of rice and cassava crops. The study also used the Descriptive Statistics and the Binary Regression model to investigate awareness and adoption factors of sustainable practices. The study revealed a very weak level of climate integration of food crops policies at 35%. The findings showed that 66.8% of farmers were aware of lowland rice management, 59.3% to agroforestry practice, 40.45% to improved cassava varieties, and 34.4% to natural fertilizers use. In addition, the findings suggested that about 60% of farmers have adopted agro-environmental 4 measures. The resting 40% that are non-adopters explained that the lack of finance, the quality of improved seeds, the lack of farming land and the low revenue from food crops constituted overall the barriers for adopting of sustainable practices. Another major finding is that perceived impact, level of education, farm size and farming experience emerged as determinants factors influencing farmers’ adoption. The study therefore recommends that governments should promote climate education towards smallholders, experienced farmers, less educated that would mentor and stimulate other farmers to adopt friendly environment practices. Also, policy makers should promote the natural fertilizers based on local knowledge such as Eucalyptus leaves used as inputs. This would sustain the use of environmental practices and increase climate considerations in food sector.