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Africa: Climate Change Threatens Crop Yields

7 July 2009


document

Excerpts from the Oxfam report “Suffering the Science: Climate Change, People and Poverty”:

As a consequence of climate change, there has already been significant change in the types of crop that people grow, because in the tropics it takes only 1°C of average temperature change to begin to alter the suitability of some key crops. Reduced crop yields become all the more grave when combined with large population growth and low economic prospects, which threaten disaster for many countries.

One study combines all these factors to predict which African countries will be hardest hit by climate change in the future: it puts Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Tanzania at the top of that list by 2030.

Poor farmers often have to gamble when deciding what might be better crops to shift to. In countries where rainfall patterns and cyclical dry spells are becoming increasingly unpredictable and extreme, even the ‘common farming sense’ of swapping from one crop to another to find a successful one can backfire.

Unfair shares

Across the world, the effect of climatic changes on agriculture will be grossly unbalanced. Essentially, the further a person lives from the Equator, the better their prospects of being fed – and that’s not just because the richer and less populated countries tend to lie in the higher latitudes of the Northern hemisphere, where precipitation will increase and winters will get warmer.

Wheat production should rise considerably in northern Europe and Canada. Meanwhile on the Indo-Gangetic plain, where 15 per cent of the world’s wheat is grown, production will shrink by more than half by 2050. This change alone will threaten the food security of 200 million people. The Mediterranean countries and some parts of the USA are similarly threatened.

Adapting to these changes will be easier in sophisticated and richer agricultural economies. According to one forecast, US agricultural profits will rise overall by $1.3 billion, or 4 per cent, per annum because of climate change, though some states, including California, will see substantial declines.32 Meanwhile sub-Saharan Africa will lose $2 billion per annum as the viability of just one crop – maize – declines.

Government scientists in South Africa are now advising that countries in the region should prepare to see a 50 per cent drop in productivity of all cereals by 2080.

Broadly, the current scientific predictions on the hunger threat can be summarised as follows:

Maize

Maize – or corn as it is known in some countries – is one of the world’s four most important food crops. It is the staple food for more than a quarter of a billion East Africans, and is also a hugely important animal feed across the world. Maize is particularly vulnerable to heat changes and to ‘water stress’.

As one crop scientist puts it, ‘When you look at the graph, under even small average heat rises, the [production] line for maize just goes straight down.’

Drought damages maize especially at its seedling stage, when the farmer will find the leaves ‘rolled’ and the plant looking tired. There may be a decreased yield or no maize ears at all. A severe problem may mean no crop that year.

In one of the best-documented heat waves of modern times, the 2003 event in western Europe, when temperatures rose up to 6ºC above average, maize production dropped by 20 per cent in France, and by up to 36 per cent in parts of Italy.47 Other staples such as wheat were badly affected as well.

Even under milder scenarios, the viability of maize as a staple crop is under serious challenge in a range of Southern African countries, including Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. The suitability of maize as a crop is forecast to drop by 15 per cent or more by 2020 in much of sub-Saharan Africa and in most of India. One estimate puts the loss to Africa at $2 billion a year.

Crop substitution – not so simple

There are alternative crops that may survive better. For example, millet and sorghum are suited to cultivation in parts of Southern Africa as temperatures rise and rainfall decreases. With the aid of Oxfam and government agencies, farmers are already trying different species in a number of countries. Some populations could, for example, substitute cassava or yam for carbohydrates…

However, the social costs of trying to adapt whole agricultural systems to new crops, or the mass moving of entire farming populations, are considerable. It will take ‘a pretty radical upheaval’, says one expert…

Export crops

Crops of course are not grown just for general consumption in the country of origin, but are also grown for export. Due to climate change effects, cash crops – which are crucial to many equatorial countries – are likely to suffer, so affecting income generation.

The regions most suitable for coffee production will shift; coffee yields and quality are likely to change with small temperature increases (1– 2°C). Such intensively grown crops are likely to be affected by more diseases and pests.

Tea production, which employs 500,000 people in Kenya, with perhaps two million more people dependent on their income, is also highly sensitive to changes in heat and water.

The locust bean tree

The bright red flower and protein-rich seeds of the locust bean tree are valued by people across West and Central Africa, from Senegal and Guinea to Congo and Chad.

Oxfam Warning on Climate Change

The fruit pulp and seeds are rich in sugars, amino acids, and vitamins. They are good food for both humans and animals. The trees also provide fuel, building materials, and medicine. Even the twigs are used as toothbrushes. The broad branches of this beautiful tree also provide shade for growing vegetables and play an important role in soil ecology.

But drought in recent decades has caused the locust bean tree to retreat swiftly from the northern parts of the Sahel countries. Moussa Ouedraogo, a scientist at the Centre National de Semences Forestières in Burkina Faso, has run studies of the locust bean tree in the field. He says that urgent action is needed to develop improved seeds so that the tree can adapt to the coming climate change.

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Oxfam Warning on Climate Change

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AllAfrica - All the Time
Author: AfricAgroBusiness FACILITATOR- http://go.to/agrobroker
Tue Jul 7 11:55:20 2009

Can see that there some listening ears? We have a urge to point out to all concern parties of Agriculture sector WORLDWIDE that there is a bio-chemical farming or Organic and Eco-friendly Farming that can Feed the World and will halve the use of chemical fertilizers and still increase the yield.. However, there has been extremely little interest in it. We can’t understand why. It is very frustrating as we could eradicate chemical fertilizers while increasing crop yield and lowering costs significantly, and fertilizing the soil with an abundance of micro-organisms and minerals. On the one hand the governments profess that they want to get away from chemical farming, but at the same time they continue to support the 100% chemical fertilizer companies so much when there is a well-tried and tested 100% organic alternative that will enable them to transform their food production levels and soil fertility at much lower costs. Chemical Urea, DAP, NPK, etc., are obsolete technology that are doing a disservice to mankind, and they can be replaced totally or not with two 100% organic liquid microbial bio-fertilizers giving higher yields and lower costs, significantly. But at least there are few officials listening

Author: upliftdarace_144
Wed Jul 8 07:04:14 2009

This Global Warming Stuff Is A Complete Hoax . Man has so arrogantly told

God, by inference, that God the Creator didn’t Create things quite right. The United

Nations is just another attempt by Satan to build another Tower of Babel .

If you want to know some real truth tune in to Alex Jones’ Infowars broadcast.

You can listen 24 hours a day. It’s live for 4 hours and on continuous re-broadcast for the

other 20 hours. Here’s a link to articles on the Hoax of Global Warming.

[http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/nbbw.cgi]

What is this hype of Global warming for ? It’s designed to give these phony

scientists ( who actually act like they were taking part in the Creation itself ) and the

organizations they represent control of the world’s natural resources. The GEORGIA

GUIDESTONES is consistent with United Nations goals for the world.

Here is a synopsis of the GEORGIA GUIDESTONES :

[The Agenda Of The Antichrist aka The Georgia Guidestones (GG) ]

10 POINTS LIKE THE 10 HORNS OR RELIGIONS OF THE BEAST

[Revelations 13:1]

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having 7

heads (Kings) and 10 HORNS (Religious Kingdoms), and upon his horns ten crowns, and

upon his heads the name of blasphemy

THE GEORGIA GUIDESTONES

1) MAINTAIN HUMANITY'S POPULATION UNDER 500 MILLION IN

PERPETUAL BALANCE WITH NATURE

2) GUIDE REPRODUCTION WISELY —IMPROVING FITNESS AND DIVERSITY

3) UNITE HUMANITY WITH A LIVING NEW LANGUAGE

4) RULE PASSION — FAITH — TRADITION AND ALL THINGS WITH

TEMPERED REASON

5) PROTECT PEOPLE AND NATIONS WITH FAIR LAWS AND JUST COURTS

6) LET ALL NATIONS RULE INTERNALLY RESOLVING EXTERNAL DISPUTES

IN A WORLD COURT

7) AVOID PETTY LAWS AND USELESS OFFICIALS

8) BALANCE PERSONAL RIGHTS WITH SOCIAL DUTIES.

9) PRIZE TRUTH — BEAUTY — LOVE — SEEKING HARMONY WITH THE

INFINITE

10) BE NOT A CANCER ON THE EARTH — LEAVE ROOM FOR NATURE —

LEAVE ROOM FOR NATURE

In conclusion the directives for these GEORGIA GUIDESTONES call for : a) b) c) Elimination of around 7 billion residents d) e) f) Control of how many people are born g) h) i) The return of the system of ONE LANGUAGE as it was during the construction j) k) of the TOWER OF BABEL l) m) n) The other goals seem to infer that there isn’t currently a choice available to us that o) p) can help us to be better people. And there is a choice. q) r) s) But as the prophecy said in Daniel , The Beast/Antichrist will not allow any other t) u) worship, but of himself.

Global Warming and all this false human-directed unity is designed to appeal to our

personal pride , our lustful flesh and our unsatisfied eyes. But we can’t save our

selves. We children need OUR FATHER GOD to fight for us against our evil older

brethren Satan (formerly known as Lucifer) and His Fallen Followers.

CHECK OUT THIS EYE-OPENING VIDEO ON THE SCAM SWINDLE OF GLOBAL WARMING 1) T

HE GREAT GLOBAL WARMING SWINDLE

- URL – [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMA6sszChwQ]

Revelations 11:18

And the nations were angry, and your wrath is here, and the time of the dead, that they

should be judged, and that you should give reward to your servants the prophets, and to

the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; AND SHOULD DESTROY

THEM WHICH DESTROY THE EARTH.

- FEED YOURSELVES SUGGESTION -

WE ARE MAKING HUNDREDS WHILE GIVING AWAY BILLIONS TO OUR ECONOMIC SLAVE MASTERS !!!

THERE IS NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T TAKE CONTROL OF OUR OWN COUNTRY !

NEIGHBORHOOD COOP GREENHOUSES

ANOTHER SUGGESTION IS FOR THOSE LIVING IN THE CITY TO POOL

THEIR RESOURCES TOGETHER AND MAKE NEIGHBORHOOD COOP

GREENHOUSES . HERE YOU CAN GROW SOME KIND OF FOODS AND NOT

BE TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON GROCERY STORES.

OUR DEEPEST FEAR By Marianne Williamson

Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.

We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?

Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.

Your Playing Small Doesn’t Serve The World.

There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Won’t Feel Insecure Around You.

We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.

We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.

It’s Not Just In Some Of Us; It’s In Everyone.

And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.

And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others

[NOTE – BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WON’T STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING]

(Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )

God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .

God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.

From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.

Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.

[Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]

WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

[http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] / [gcnlive.com] / [http://alexjonesringtones.net/]

- Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]

SO PLEASE WAKE UP MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. GOD IS ALL WE NEED. You are In My Prayers. God Bless Us. God Bless Africa.

Author: upliftdarace_144
Wed Jul 8 07:04:46 2009

MATTHEW 10:26 DON’T BE AFRAID OF THEM, FOR THERE IS NOTHING COVERED THAT WON’T BE REVEALED AND THERE IS NOTHING HIDDEN THAT WON’T BE KNOWN.

Remember the 120 ! in the Upperroom, Gideon’s 300, One(1) believer can chase 1,000 demons & Two (2) can make 10,000 run .

How many will 1 million chase ?

Here’s An abbreviated Spirit Bomb prayer that I’d like for us to say to God The Creator Of All :

OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN , HOLY IS YOUR NAME, YOUR KINGDOM COME , YOUR WILL BE DONE, IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN .

- In Jesus Name We Pray – Amen

Pray twice per day once around sunset & once around sunrise .

Have prayer lists which include Family, Chritians, Truthseekers ,& Worthy Causes , etc…

SOME OF OUR LEADERS OR UNDER DEMONIC INFLUENCE , SOME OF OUR

WORLD IS UNDER THE SAME,. OUR UNITED , CONSISTENT, CONTINUOUS

PRAYERS WILL HELP US TO SEE THROUGH JESUS’ EYES. REMEMBER , HE’S

THE HEAD, WE HAVE NO EYES, EARS, NOSE, MOUTH, ETC..WITHOUT THE

HEAD. THAT IS WHY WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT, SOUND, TASTE

OR ANY OTHER NATURAL DISTRACTION. WE ARE SPIRITUAL WARRIORS !!!

Make a Habit Of Praying Twice a Day (Sunset / Sunrise). Have A Daily Prayer, Weekly

Prayer , Monthly Prayer, even Yearly Prayer ; keeping persons, organizations and causes

in mind that you’d like to pray for at these intervals of time ( Daily-Weekly-Monthly-

Yearly).

Some prayer list suggestions –

(DAILY PRAYER LIST ) -

Christian & Natural Family -

TOP-PRIORITY Persons, Causes & Oragnizations

(WEEKLY PRAYER LIST ) -

MID-LEVEL Persons, Causes & Oragnizations

(MONTHLY PRAYER LIST ) -

- Persons, Causes & Oragnizations ( For Example – Heads Of Countries)

(YEARLY PRAYER LIST ) -

LOWER LEVEL - Persons, Causes & Oragnizations

[God Bless You Readers To Want To Know And Seek To Know The Truth] - MAY GOD BE A HAVEN OF PEACE IN OUR TIME OF TROUBLE --

[This inspiring poem was featuring in the movie “Coach Carter ”]

Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.

We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?

Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.

Your Playing Small Doesn’t Serve The World.

There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Won’t Feel Insecure Around You.

We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.

We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.

It’s Not Just In Some Of Us; It’s In Everyone.

And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.

And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others

- Marianne Williamson -

[NOTE – BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WON’T STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING]

(Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )

God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .

God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.

From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.

Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.

[Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]

[http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] / [gcnlive.com] / [http://alexjonesringtones.net/]

WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

- Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]

Author: isabela_080289
Tue Jul 14 08:06:21 2009

Development analysts suggest that much of the funding for the initiative will be recycled from existing aid budgets and that donors could provide money via loans from the World Bank, rather than as direct grants to the world's poorest countries. Critical issues such as funding for key multilateral bodies (principally the World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisation) were also ignored, as were issues related to the dangers of biofuel use and emerging trends of ‘land grabbing' by countries dependent on food imports. Getting rid of food crisis is worth talking with money lender to get started.


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