Climate Change & Smallholder Farmers

Smallholder farmers are among those most likely to suffer hunger from climate change.

Smallholder farmers already face numerous hurdles to grow enough food for themselves and their families. They need sufficient fertile land, rains at the right time, health and strength to work the fields, freedom from conflict, access to inputs, and fair marketing opportunities. Climate change is an additional burden for smallholder farmers.

A changing climate not only means higher temperatures, but it may also lead to increased droughts, greater flood damage, stronger storms, sea level rise, and spread of human, livestock and plant diseases.

Many of the farmers the Foodgrains Bank supports are already noticing changes, such as unpredictable rains and more frequent droughts.

Our member agencies are doing excellent programming work in helping farmers adapt to these changes—be it conservation agriculture, small irrigation schemes, or sand dams.

But this is a global problem. And it requires changes in national and global policies to effectively help developing countries—and those most vulnerable—cope with climate change.

What are we trying to do?


We are calling on the Canadian government to help developing countries adapt to climate change by contributing its fair share of funding to international efforts. At the Copenhagen climate conference, developed countries agreed to a goal of mobilizing $30 billion a year for 2010-2012 and $100 billion a year by 2020 for developing countries.

Based on Canada’s contributions to other international financing efforts on environment, health and humanitarian response, Canada’s fair share should be 3-4% of both the short-term and long-term fund.


What have we accomplished?


In July, the Canadian government announced that it will invest $400 million in 2010 to help developing countries cope with climate change. This represents 4% of the short-term fund. In other words, the monetary value is what Foodgrains Bank and other aid agencies have been advocating for.

What are we still working on?


We are urging the Canadian government to continue contributing its fair share of funding in future years. 

We are also advocating that all funding should be additional to existing development assistance, so that other vital areas, such as health and education, aren’t neglected. It should be given as grants not loans. And it should be focused on those most vulnerable to climate change, including small-scale farmers.

We are advocating for sustainable agricultural practices, such as conservation agriculture, that can empower farmers to adapt to climate change, while also increasing food production.

We are also monitoring international climate change negotiations to ensure that smallholder farmers are treated fairly in a global climate change treaty.

Featured Articles:

This video shows how southern farmers are creatively adapting to climate changes in their respective regions and how Canadians can support these efforts.