Climate change and agriculture: A call for action from Africa to the World

By Robert Mutasi 

The world is at the higher level of surging climate crisis, and Kenya is one of the major victims since she has ventured into agriculture. 

The most area that is going to be adversely affected is agricultural sector. 

It is estimated that over 70% of Kenyans population depend on farming for their survival. 

Already effects of climate change have started manifesting, temperatures are rising, there are irregular rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events that keep increasing. 

Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that climate change can cause up to 50% declines in crop produces coming the year 2050 especially in vulnerable regions like Sub-Saharan Africa should they fail to mitigate immediately. 

You see this disaster is impending that require strong decision and action from international to respond to the pressing issue. 

Recently, floods and droughts have hit hard the East African region, these are one of the devastating effects of climate change. 

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, climate-drive shocks have affected nearly 40% of the population and are putting pressure on food security. 

Over many years, communities more so in Africa have been using traditional systems of agriculture, but now they are being challenged by the effects of climate change, that keeps changing which in turn interfere with the system.

This will obvious force farmers to shift the system and forge the one that will align with the period. 

Do you know that African agriculture is not just a local issue as you may think? It is a global issue, it is everywhere. The only difference here is that as Africans we lack enough funds and mechanisms to curb the effects of climate change. 

Unfortunately, industrialized countries are less in climate commitments as you compare to the developing countries. 

For sure, industrialized countries are the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, but they are failing to deliver on their promises of supporting adaptation efforts in the Global South. 

During the Conference of 2009 Copenhagen Accord, developed nations promised $100 billion annually, but this remains largely unmet.

This has led to the funding gaps that would have boosted Africa in investing in effective agricultural technologies and sustainable practices that would help reduce the impacts of climate change. 

This has not hindered Africa to come out with partial solutions, they have created successful initiatives in sustainable agriculture. 

The efforts that have made in grassroots include agroecological practices that enhance soli health and biodiversity. 

Such act create a good model that encourages financial and technological advancements from external. 

Without taking action earlier food security will affect millions of people in Kenya and will also destabilize the world.