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Climate change to lower
agricultural production potential - Report
Accra, July 18, Ghanadot/GNA - Climate change is expected to
lower the potential for agricultural production, according
to the Little Green Data Book 2008, which was launched on
the occasion of the 16th Session of the United Nations
Commission on Sustainable Development that focused its
deliberations on issues of agriculture and rural
development.
This year's World Bank Little Green Data Book shows that
worldwide agricultural potential could fall by as much as 16
per cent due to climate change. The drop would be
particularly steep in developing countries 20 per cent
compared to industrial countries' six per cent. At the heart
of the problem are worldwide carbon dioxide emissions the
world today produces 27.7 per cent more carbon dioxide than
it did in 1990.
Warren Evans, Director of Environment, World Bank, said,
"Climate change can be very harmful to worldwide
agricultural potential, as this year's Little Green Data
Book highlights. The development community needs to take
action to reverse the alarming trend of continued growth in
greenhouse gas emissions."
As the planet warms up, climate variability and extreme
weather events such as floods and droughts become more
likely, with negative impacts on agricultural productivity.
The negative effect of warming is particularly strong in
countries close to the equator, where average temperatures
are already above the optimum for most crop production. The
negative effects of increasing weather variability and
extreme events are accentuated in low income countries,
where the capacity to adapt is limited.
The situation is particularly critical in Sub-Saharan Africa
(SSA), where adaptation capacity in agriculture is minimal
owing to the lack of infrastructure, assets and incomes.
Agricultural land on the Continent constitutes 44 per cent
of total land area, yet use of agricultural inputs such as
water, irrigation infrastructure and fertilizers is low,
making the potential impact of climate change on
agricultural productivity even more pronounced.
In poor countries, the impacts of falling agricultural
productivity can go beyond the negative effect on local
economies and the environment. As agriculture delivers lower
yields, food prices will go up and levels of malnutrition
and related human diseases will increase. Impacts will be
most felt in South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Evans said: "Dealing with climate change impacts is possible
and win-win opportunities can be found, especially in
developing countries. For example planting mangroves to
buffer the effects of storm surges on infrastructure near
the coast, can also sequester carbon; afforestation and
avoided deforestation programs prevent soil erosion and
improve the micro-climate; water storage reduces flood
risks, helps in drought response, and can provide clean
energy from hydro".
GNA
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