By Yinka Adeyemi, 19 April 2006
Addis Ababa, April 18: UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa today called on climate experts to devise appropriate strategies to help African farmers cope with problems associated with climate change, such as drought and floods.
In an opening statement to participants at a three-day workshop on "Climate information for development in Africa" which opened today in Addis Ababa, Mr. Janneh said there were indications that Africa would be negatively impacted by climate change and that more people would face hunger by 2080. “And since high-tech solutions do not always reach poorer farmers who rely on rain for crop sustenance, they will pay the highest price”.
He cited studies which conclude that climate change would also increase the dependence of developing countries on food imports and accentuate food insecurities for vulnerable groups and countries.
Thirteen African countries, said Janneh, which already have 87 million undernourished people, “may lose cereal production potential in the 2080s for three climate models and across all emission scenarios”.
He said since management of climate-related disaster risks was key to achieving the MDGs, “the lack of information about the onset, intensity and cessation of rainfall may cause farmers to lose their assets, including crops and seeds, affecting the livelihoods of many African homes.
Mr. Janneh said at the farm level, since the most serious problems facing farmers were inadequate rainfall and lack of knowledge, climate forecasts on possible droughts and food shortages can help governments and humanitarian agencies plan ahead for timely assistance.
The workshop ends on Friday.