A training session entitled “Using Climate Data for Agricultural Adaptation in Tropical African Environments” was held from April 7 to 9, 2026 in Garoua, Cameroon. The workshop was held under the auspices of the Innovacc project funded by the European Union (DeSIRA Initiative), which aims to strengthen the resilience of populations to climate change in the North and Far North regions of Cameroon.
This three-day session brought together 24 participants, including engineers and senior staff from several institutions, notably the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), the Ministry of Transport, MEADEN, the University of Garoua, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA), meteorological services, IRAD, and the Cotton Development Company (SODECOTON).
Led by Dr. Edward Gérardeaux, Dr. Romain Loison, and Dr. Cyrille Ahmed MIDINGOYI—researchers at CIRAD (UPR AIDA)—as well as Ibrahim NJOUENWET (consultant at CIRAD), the training addressed the impacts of climate change on agricultural systems, as well as local and international meteorological data sources, including methods for data collection, verification, and storage.
The workshop also covered the development of indicators to analyze interactions between climate and tropical crops. Finally, group work sessions enabled participants to test crop models, particularly DSSAT and SARRA-Py, to support decision-making and promote adaptation to tropical climates.
This knowledge-sharing initiative, highly appreciated by participants, contributed to strengthening the technical capacities of stakeholders involved in Northern Cameroon’s transition toward more resilient agriculture adapted to climatic realities.
The partners of this workshop included CIRAD, CIFOR-ICRAF, Agricultural Research Institute for Development (IRAD), and Fondem – Energies for the World.
