Enlightening farmers in the face of climate change - CTA Partners ...

Climate change is the result of
global warning due to release
of green house gases such as
methane, carbondioxide,
nitrogen oxide etc which trap
heat in the atmosphere thereby
making the earths temperature
warmer than it normally
would. These gases are release
from industrial activities
which include burning of fossil
fuels etc and deforestation of
lands to develop urban
settlements and activities such
as land clearing (bush burning)
for farming.
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Africa is one of the areas of the
world, most exposed to global
warming.
Experts see sub-saharan Africa
as being especially prone to the
effects of climate change with
the possibility of displacing
and killing millions.
In Nigeria for instance,
agriculture is the main source
of food and employs about 70%
of its population. The problem
is that a majority of farmers
depend on rain fed agriculture
alone. In the semi-arid regions
of Northern Nigeria, farmers
struggle to grow food in a harsh
environment characterized by
sparse and varying rainfall and
changes in weather. The impact
of climate change are first felt
by those people whose
livelihoods depend on rain fed
agriculture.
E CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
^
Discussion session on the context of climate change
In 2007 farmers in this region
experienced poor yield due to
change in the duration of the
raining season where the' rain
came late in June and did not last
till September as was customary.
Crops most affected by this
incidence were maize and
groundnut.
Hulme and Kelly (1997) also
noted that the decline in rainfall
observed in the Sahel region was
the most substantial and
sustained recorded anywhere in
the world since instrumental
measurement began!
Some of the factors which will be
exacerbated by climate change
and cause dramatic consequences
in
Africa include:
• Desertification
• Food security
• Water supply
Farm area washed off by erosion in Kumbotso LGA of Kano State