Agriculture is a cornerstone of many Sub-Saharan African economies, contributing up to 60% of some countries’ gross domestic product (GDP). However, this vital sector faces a daunting challenge: vulnerability to climate change due to its heavy reliance on climatic factors.
Agricultural economists conducted a comprehensive literature review on this pressing issue. They examined the distribution of climatic factors like rainfall, temperature, and extreme weather events across the region and their impact on agriculture. Their investigation also covered rural farmers’ responses to climate change.
They discovered the diverse implications of climate change for agricultural and economic development across the region. The exact effects on agriculture and economic development remain unpredictable, yet the vulnerability of countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, and Kenya to climate change is evident.
Unfortunately, farmers are not utilizing effective adaptation strategies, such as planting drought-tolerant crops or conserving water and soil. Constraints like limited resources and infrastructure are major hindrances.
Mitigation programmes, including carbon pricing, water management, recycling, afforestation, and reforestation, have seen limited success. Challenges such as low climate change awareness, unstable government policies, and political instability have impeded these efforts.
The impact on vulnerable households could be severe if timely and adequate measures are not implemented. Research indicates that countries like Togo, Nigeria, the Congo, and Mali will suffer more agricultural losses without adaptation.
Governments, international organizations, local communities, and other stakeholders must develop strategies to cater to the diverse needs of rural farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to a report by ESI Africa, the researchers highlighted significant changes in rainfall, temperature, and extreme weather events in the region, trends expected to continue in the coming decades. The region sees varied rainfall patterns, with annual amounts ranging from as low as 100 millimetres in arid areas to over 500 millimetres in tropical regions. Temperatures often exceed 40°C (104°F) during the hottest months, with the mean temperature rising by about 0.74°C over the last century.
Agricultural production and society face numerous challenges due to these conditions:
- Yield reduction: Higher temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, droughts, and floods have decreased crop yields. Nigerian farmers, for example, have experienced yield losses due to new pests, disease outbreaks, and river dry-ups.
- Food insecurity: Diminished agricultural productivity leads to food scarcity, affecting rural and urban populations. Reduced crop yields can escalate prices, exacerbating malnutrition and hunger.
- Income loss and poverty: Declining agricultural output erodes smallholder farmers’ income, increasing poverty and economic vulnerability. Cereal production in Ghana, Congo, and South Africa has declined over the past decade.
- Decreased livestock productivity: Livestock farming faces challenges from higher temperatures, variable forage availability, and water scarcity, increasing disease prevalence and mortality. Farmers face steep costs for immunization and treatment.
- Vulnerability of smallholder farmers: Many farmers lack the resources and capacity to adapt to climate change impacts.
Recommendations for protecting farmers from climate change impacts include:
- Strengthening institutions for policy development and implementation to coordinate adaptation efforts and sustainable practices.
- Improving rural infrastructure to spur economic growth, reduce poverty, and build community resilience.
- Initiating public welfare programmes, and enhancing access to finance, markets, education, and climate information.
- Establishing and maintaining forest plantations to mitigate climate change impacts on agriculture and promote economic development.
- Implementing afforestation and reforestation to absorb carbon and conserve biodiversity.
In conclusion, Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic growth hinges on empowering rural farmers to counter climate change effectively. By implementing these recommendations, the region can protect its agricultural sector, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future.
