Projected impacts of climate change on african agriculture in the absence of effective adaptation measures, african crop production will likely be reduced by climate change, mostly as a result of increased regional temperatures. It was developed as a background document for the eighth informal nordicafrican foreign ministers meeting copenhagen, 1112 march 2009. Climate change and adaptation in african agriculture. The paper is organized into 5 sections and begins with a brief description of agriculture in the prairies, establishing the biophysical and socioeconomic context. This is evident from current experiences of extreme climatic events such as droughts and floods. Effects of climate variability and change on agricultural. For maize and beans, two key staple crops in africa, areas of suitability could decline by 2040 % relative. Climate change is now becoming a serious constraint.
Climatesmart agriculture pdf 957kb technology pdf 864kb. Climate change and variability in subsaharan africa. In past analyses of effects of climate change on the south african ecosystems e. Climate change is hitting african farmers the hardest of all. Many projections of the impact of climate change on the crop, livestock and fishery production sectors of african agriculture are reported in the literature. Climate change impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation iva researchers addressing climate change iva have studied issues related to food security using several approaches. Agriculture has not figured very prominently in the climate discussion so far. Production is struggling to keep up as crop yields level. One of the most important projects to mitigate climate change with agriculture and adapting agriculture to climate change at the same time, was launched in 2019 by the global evergreening alliance. Climate change and adaptation in african agriculture 4 local climate change adaptation platforms have been proposed by a number of development agencies, as a means of promoting collaboration between scientists and practitioners, and enhancing local adaptation capacity including the ability to draw on climate data. Climate change, the periodic modification of earths climate caused by changes in the atmosphere and interactions between the atmosphere and various other geologic, chemical, biological, and geographic factors. Statistics was used to determine climate variability and change impact on agricultural production.
Pdf this is a well researched, thorough and impressive work on climate change and agriculture in africa. One such challenge is the mismatch between the data available and the data required to design effectivepolicies, particularly at the regional, national, and subnaclimate change and agriculture in africa. This approach engages directly with the agriculture sector due to its generally high dependence on water. One common research strategy is to predict the impacts of. Climate change and ag california department of food and. Much of african agricultures vulnerability to climate change lies in the fact that its. Climate change, which is largely a result of burning fossil fuels, is already affecting the earths temperature. However, other stressors such as population growth may magnify the effects of climate change on food security. Climate change and agriculture are interrelated processes, both of which take place on a global scale.
Resilient adaptation to climate change in african agriculture. Agriculture has always been deeply dependent on the weather, with farmers needing a steady mixture of sun, warmth, and rains in order to reliably produce the food that all of humanity depends on for survival. The impacts of climate change on agriculture and other key economic sectors in the food production and supply chain, such as forestry and energy, threaten. Agriculture continues to be the mainstay of the kenyan economy with an estimated gross domestic product gdp share of 25. Since the 2006 saeo, local and global research has advanced its understanding of the projected impacts of climate change. Agriculture and climate change food and agriculture organization. The second of three books in ifpris climate change in africa series, east african agriculture and climate change. It is one of a series of 21 synthesis and assessment products being produced under the auspices of the u. Agricultural production in subsaharan africa is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, with rainfed agriculture accounting for approximately 96. As this paper illustrates, climate change in africa is not only a conservation problem but is a socioeconomic issue that must be dealt with at a global scale. One common research strategy is to predict the impacts of climate change on food production based on climate sce. Promotion of innovative solutions to respond to africas top priority needs. The perception of and adaptation to climate change in africa.
The effects of climate change on agriculture, land. Without extensive adaptation the effects of climate change on agriculture is expected to exacerbate africas deepening food crisis, narrowing channels of food. A common vision of sustainable food and agriculture 15 5. Pdf toward climatesmart agriculture in west africa. Climate change, food security, and livelihoods in sub. Now, these once predictable growing cycles are at risk from climate change, and smallholders like upendo are on the front lines. Climate change impacts in subsaharan africa climate analytics. Africa is the continent most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Full technical report on the implications of climate change. The production of crops and livestock other than pigs in subsaharan africa is typically located in semiarid regions barrios et al. Climatesmart agriculture csa is an integrated approach to managing landscapescropland, livestock, forests and fisheriesthat address the interlinked challenges of food security and climate change. Already experiencing temperature increases of approximately 0. We estimate the effects of climate variability and change on agricultural revenues of smallscale farmers in kenya.
What climate change means for agriculture in africa one. Climate change, land degradation and desertification are expected to affect african countries. Impact of climate change on agriculture in africa by 2030 article pdf available in scientific research and essays vol. The most pessimistic forecast about the impact of climate change suggests that africa may lose 47% of agricultural revenue by 2100, while the most optimistic predicts a loss of only 6%. Despite climate change, africa can feed africa africa. Food and agriculture organization fao, 2004, the number of african food.
In africa, much work has gone into downscaling global climate models to understand regional impacts, but there remains a dearth of local level understanding of impacts and communities capacity to adapt. The intergovernmental panel on climate change ipcc has. Apr 17, 2019 it is the only province that enjoys a mediterranean climate. This study very clearly indicates that the sector deserves more attention when it comes to both climate change threats and opportunities. Subsaharan africa has been portrayed as the most vulnerable region to the impacts of global climate change because of its reliance on agriculture which is highly sensitive to weather and climate variables such as temperature, precipitation, and light and extreme events and low capacity for adaptation. The economic impact of climate change on agriculture in. For south africa to adapt to the adverse consequences of global climate change, it would require yield improvements of more than 20 percent over baseline investments in agricultural research and development. This is a well researched, thorough and impressive work on climate change and agriculture in africa. Climate change and agriculture climate scientists project that over the next several decades the accumulation of greenhouse gases will continue to raise temperatures and change established precipitation patterns across the world.
A comprehensive analysis examines the food security threats facing 11 of the countries that make up west africa benin, burkina faso, cote divoire, ghana, guinea, liberia, niger, nigeria, senegal, sierra leone, and togo and explores how climate change will increase the. Climate change could be particularly damaging to countries in africa, being. The challenge of providing food security for a rapidly growing population must be met, and in doing so the role of smallholders both as contributors to climate change and as victims of it has to be addressed. Agriculture and climate change challenges and opportunities at the global and local. This is evident from current experiences of extreme climatic events such as. Pdf impact of climate change on agriculture in africa by. We work with them to plan for the long term, especially for climate shocks, like flooding or drought. In botswana, for example, pastoral agriculture represents the chief. The increasing occurrence of flooding and drought is also another predicted problem for africa. Pdf how can african agriculture adapt to climate change. Climate change impacts on agriculture across africa oxford. Dec 31, 2010 subsaharan africa has been portrayed as the most vulnerable region to the impacts of global climate change because of its reliance on agriculture which is highly sensitive to weather and climate variables such as temperature, precipitation, and light and extreme events and low capacity for adaptation.
Climate is the primary important factor for agricultural production, and any significant change in climate on a global scale is likely to impact on local agriculture. There are prolonged and intensified droughts in eastern africa. The impacts of climate change on agriculture and other key economic sectors in the food production and supply chain, such as forestry and energy, threaten food security. The challenge in africa climate projections for africa ipcc 2007 include a likely average temperature increase of 1. Climate change impacts and adaptation in south africa. Exploring the impact of climate change on children in. Global warming affects agriculture in a number of ways, including through changes in average temperatures, rainfall, and climate extremes e. Impact of climate change on primary agriculture, water. Climate impacts on agriculture and food supply climate. Developing countries are estimated to account for three fourths of global technical potential, with asia accounting for 40 percent, africa 18 percent, and latin. Farmers organizations from subsaharan africa and latin america. Exploring the impact of climate change on children in south. How climate change affects agriculture african economies are heavily dependent on agriculture.
It was developed as a background document for the eighth informal nordicafrican foreign. Climate change projections for this region point to a warming trend, particularly in the inland subtropics. South africas response to climate change was presented. Climate change and adaptation in african agriculture 4 local climate change adaptation platforms have been proposed by a number of development agencies, as a means of promoting collaboration between scientists and practitioners, and enhancing local adaptation capacity including the. As a first step to address this need, the purpose of this paper is to present a brief overview of the literature on agriculture and climate change impacts and adaptation in the prairies. I recommend it to students, researchers and practitioners working on climate change issues. Climate change impacts on agriculture across africa www0. Agriculture prominent in guides to countrylevel action 12 4. Internationally, these effects of climate change on agriculture and food supply are likely to be similar to those seen in the united states. Climate change science program ccsp, which coordinates the climate change research activities of u. United nations fact sheet on climate change africa is.
Climate change and food security food and agriculture. The implications of climate change on water supply, and thus on the other key sectors is simulated, together with the demand for water from other sectors as affected by climate change. Climate change and security in africa 1 acknowledgements this deskbased report was produced with the financial support of the danish ministry of foreign affairs. Climate change has significantly affected global agriculture in the 21st century and the intergovernmental panel on climate change ipcc assessment report indicates. The perception of and adaptation to climate change in africa1 david maddison2 1 an earlier version of this working paper was published as ceepa discussion paper number 10. We use a balanced panel household data set collected in 2000, 2004, 2007 and 2010 from eight agroregional zones and climate data from 1980 to 2010. Summary of climate change impacts on agriculture 21 6.
Understanding interrelations and interactions in the agricultural sector and. According to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change, warming in subsaharan africa ssa is expected to be greater than the global average, and rainfall will decline in certain areas. Full technical report on the implications of climate. Pdf impact of climate change on agriculture in africa by 2030. The impacts of climate change on agriculture and other key economic sectors in the food production and supply. Agriculture is considered as the largest main economic activities in africa and it.
Results indicate that farmers are aware that limpopo province is getting warmer and drier with increased frequency of droughts, changes in the timing of rains, observed trends of temperature and precipitation. Climate change has a significant impact on agricultural systems as it affects both plant and animal health. The first of three books in ifpris climate change in africa series, west african agriculture and climate change. Resulting changes in regional water endowments and soil moisture will affect the productivity of cropland, leading to changes in food production and international trade patterns. The initiative for the adaptation of african agriculture to climate change aaa responds to the needs expressed by african countries. Mark new,2 emma archer van garderen,3 guy midgley,4 anna taylor,5 ralph hamann,6 sabine stuarthill,7. South africa is likely to experience higher temperatures and less rainfall as a result of climate change. Confidence in the projected impacts of climate change on agricultural systems has increased substantially since the first intergovernmental panel on climate change ipcc reports. A doubling of irrigation development, on the other hand, will not be sufficient to reverse adverse impacts from climate change in the country.
Climate change can set back development of nations. Jun 12, 2007 impact of climate change on agriculture in africa by 2030 article pdf available in scientific research and essays vol. With international food prices expected to rise due to climate change and somewhere around 9 billion mouths to feed by 2050, the time to transform agriculture in africa is now. The economic impact of climate change on agriculture in cameroon. Climate change, food security, and livelihoods in subsaharan. However, they may be arguably too general to understand the magnitude of impact and to. Climate change is projected to compromise agricultural pro duction, especially in smallholder systems with little adaptive. The following short papers summarise farm africas approach to. Africa agriculture status report 2014 climate investment funds. Climate change impacts on agriculture across africa.
Agriculture and climate change are inextricably linkedcrop yield, biodiversity, and water use, as well as soil health are directly affected by a changing climate. Increased temperatures, especially in the number of extreme hot days, as well as changes in precipitation, are the main climatic variables affecting agriculture on the african continent. Africas agricultural producers to adapt to climate change andor mitigate its effects. Climate change and agricultural production in south africa. Chapter 11 climate change department of environmental. Africas food production systems are currently among the worlds most vulnerable. Wires climate change climate change impacts in south africa a climate change.
A comprehensive analysis examines the food security threats facing 10 of the countries that make up east and central africa burundi, democratic republic of congo, eritrea, kenya, madagascar, rwanda, sudan, tanzania, and uganda and explores how climate change will increase the. Advocacy to secure financing for projects of agricultural adaptation in african countries. Threats and opportunities international climate change. This paper was funded by the gef and the world bank. Climate change is an additional challenge to effective farming in africa.
Six out of ten people rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. Impacts and adaptation options, centre for environmental economics and policy in africa ceepa, discussion paper no 21, university of pretoria, pretoria, south africa. Overview climate change impacts and adaptation in south africa gina ziervogel,1. The challenge of providing food security for a rapidly growing population must be met, and in doing so the role of smallholders both as contributors to climate change and as victims of it has to be. A growing global population and changing diets are driving up the demand for food. The economic impact of climate change on agriculture in cameroon1 ernest l molua and cornelius m lambi2 1 an earlier version of this working paper was published as ceepa discussion paper number 17. Climate change could be particularly damaging to countries in africa, being dependent on rainfed agriculture and under heavy pressure. Gender and climate change africa gender, climate change and food security 2 policy brief 4 agriculture is central to the livelihoods of women it is now widely acknowledged that climate change impacts will not be genderneutral. Dec 12, 2014 impacts of climate change on agriculture and other food systems increases rates of malnutrition and contributes to poverty with one in four people still undernourished in subsaharan africa, climate change impacts make it even more difficult for governments across the region to improve food security and help reduce tensions.