ADAPTING agriculture in Africa to accommodate drastic climate changes will deliver benefits for future food security and the poor, International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said
"Food security is important to Africa's economy as it impacts heavily on a country's poverty alleviation and sustainable development plans," she said at an African ministerial meeting on climate change in Johannesburg.
Climate change could affect agriculture through higher temperatures, greater crop water demand, more variable rainfall and extreme climate conditions like heat waves, floods and droughts.
A knock to a country's farming sector would affect not only food, fibre and fuel production, but the gross domestic product, employment and foreign exchange earnings, she said.
Sub-Saharan Africa was particularly vulnerable as agriculture contributed to 30percent of the region's GDP and employed up to 70percent of its labour force.
"Millions of hungry and starving individuals have their hopes invested in us," said Tina Joemat-Petterson, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
"The sharing of experiences on this continent will lead to shared actions (and) not just plans of action."
Climate-smart agriculture included proven, practical techniques like mulching, intercropping and no-till farming, which increased organic content in soil.
Joemat-Petterson said reducing carbon emissions was an important goal for Africa, as its agriculture sector contributed about 14percent to total greenhouse gas emissions.
The World Bank said yesterday that investing in agriculture was a priority, with a $6billion (R44,3billion) budget planned for this year alone.
"Food price volatility has already pushed 44million people into poverty," said the bank's special envoy for climate change, Andrew Steer.
He said worldwide food production would have to increase by a projected 70percent by 2050 to accommodate an increasing population, estimated to reach nine billion people. - Sapa
Agriculture based on climate the way to go
ADAPTING agriculture in Africa to accommodate drastic climate changes will deliver benefits for future food security and the poor, International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said
"Food security is important to Africa's economy as it impacts heavily on a country's poverty alleviation and sustainable development plans," she said at an African ministerial meeting on climate change in Johannesburg.
Climate change could affect agriculture through higher temperatures, greater crop water demand, more variable rainfall and extreme climate conditions like heat waves, floods and droughts.
A knock to a country's farming sector would affect not only food, fibre and fuel production, but the gross domestic product, employment and foreign exchange earnings, she said.
Sub-Saharan Africa was particularly vulnerable as agriculture contributed to 30percent of the region's GDP and employed up to 70percent of its labour force.
"Millions of hungry and starving individuals have their hopes invested in us," said Tina Joemat-Petterson, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
"The sharing of experiences on this continent will lead to shared actions (and) not just plans of action."
Climate-smart agriculture included proven, practical techniques like mulching, intercropping and no-till farming, which increased organic content in soil.
Joemat-Petterson said reducing carbon emissions was an important goal for Africa, as its agriculture sector contributed about 14percent to total greenhouse gas emissions.
The World Bank said yesterday that investing in agriculture was a priority, with a $6billion (R44,3billion) budget planned for this year alone.
"Food price volatility has already pushed 44million people into poverty," said the bank's special envoy for climate change, Andrew Steer.
He said worldwide food production would have to increase by a projected 70percent by 2050 to accommodate an increasing population, estimated to reach nine billion people. - Sapa
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