This Issue, Vol 9 (2) of the African Journal of Rural Development, presents eight research papers that address issues of promoting climate smart agriculture, improving crop productivity through increased resilience to abiotic stresses and genetic improvement, and reducing microbial load in broiler chickens. Africa still faces rampant food and nutritional insecurity and this is attributed to low productivity as a result of unsustainable land use management practices, declining soil productivity compounded by other abiotic stresses such as infestation by Striga, and now the ravages posed by climate change and variability, amongst other constrains. This calls for research to develop and use sustainable land management practices, crop and animal genetic improvement, and adapting climate smart agriculture management practices. Some of these aspects are addressed in this AFJRD Vol 9 Issue 2. Related works have been published in earlier AFJRD Issues and in other publication sources. Research is also needed to develop post-harvest management practices and diversifying use of agricultural and natural resource products The take home message is the need for more collaborative research for development activities to enhance resilience and productivity of Africa’s Agri-Food Systems, while minimizing post-harvest losses and adding value to products.