Agriculture and food security

Local Evidence for Resilient Food Systems

Agriculture is central to livelihoods, economic stability, and food security across the Global South. It sustains rural economies, generates income, and ensures food availability. Yet these systems face growing pressure from climate variability, environmental degradation, and persistent structural inequalities.

In many regions, agriculture is highly climate-sensitive. Production depends on rainfall and farmers have limited capacity to adapt. Unequal access to land, finance, inputs, and services—particularly for women—further constrains their productivity and resilience.

PEP’s research shows that for policies to strengthen food systems they must tackle the structural, environmental, and institutional constraints shaping how farmers produce, adapt, and participate in markets. By supporting locally led analysis, PEP helps agricultural policies to be context-specific, inclusive, and sustainable.

What PEP Research Tells Us About Agriculture and Food Security

Climate information strengthens productivity and resilience

When farmers have access to timely, localised climate information they can use inputs more efficiently, manage risks, and improve yields. Combined with advisory services, this significantly boosts both their capacity to adapt and household outcomes.

Gender inequalities limit system-wide performance

Women face barriers to land, finance, inputs, and extension services. These barriers reduce women’s productivity while limiting overall agricultural efficiency. Closing these gaps is essential for improving food security and increasing resilience.

Inputs and extension systems drive adoption and innovation

Access to quality inputs and effective extension services turns knowledge into practice. Stronger systems accelerate innovation uptake and improve production outcomes.

Climate-smart practices enable sustainable gains

Improved farming practices boost productivity and reduce vulnerability to climate shocks. But unequal access to resources limits who can adopt them, underscoring the need for inclusive policy design.

Livelihood diversification builds resilience

Providing more opportunities for households to access to non-farm income allows them to manage risks, stabilise income, and invest more effectively in agriculture.

From Evidence to Policy Action

PEP’s research highlights the need for integrated policy approaches that address productivity, resilience, and equity together.

Governments should design gender-responsive policies that improve women’s access to land, finance, and extension services. Investments in climate-resilient agriculture—including crop diversification, soil management, and water control—are also essential to reduce vulnerability to climate shocks.

Sustained investment in inputs, extension services, and rural infrastructure helps farmers adopt improved practices at scale. Coordinated policy frameworks that bring together these elements are key to delivering inclusive and long-term productivity gains, strengthening food systems.

Agriculture Evidence in Action

Benin
Climate services and extension innovations improve farmer decision-making, productivity, and resilience.

Burkina Faso
Access to credit and targeted support reduces women farmers’ vulnerability to climate shocks.

Cameroon
Fertilizer subsidies and gender-responsive policies help mitigate climate impacts on food security.

Malawi
Addressing gender disparities in input access and technology adoption improves agricultural outcomes.

Nigeria
Crop diversification and improved access to land strengthen household food security.

Tanzania
Climate-smart agriculture technologies enhance productivity and close gender gaps.