CGIAR (Montpellier)

Africa: For Africa to Feed Africa, We Must "Make Peace" With Climate Change

editorial

Photo: CGIAR
Robert Zougmoré.

A recent and widely-covered report from the World Bank gives voice to ominous predictions that have been circulating among climate scientists and agriculture experts for several years: higher temperatures and weather extremes caused by climate change are on course to dramatically increase the already daunting number of Africans who don't get enough to eat.

Indeed, the report predicts, for instance, that in just a few decades, 40 to 80 percent of the land now devoted to maize, millet and sorghum in sub-Saharan Africa could become unsuitable for these critically important staple crops. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim has tried to stay upbeat in the face of such grim predictions. "I do not believe that the poor are condemned to the future scientists envision in this report," he said.

This week in Ghana, leaders from across the continent are gathering for Africa Agriculture Science Week 2013, whose theme is "Africa Feeding Africa." As the World Bank report shows, few things are likely to affect food self-sufficiency in Africa more than the changes in growing conditions caused by climate change. The conference presents a timely opportunity to consider how scientists can help Africans adapt to climate change so they are not "condemned to the future" their colleagues have so vividly outlined in the World Bank analysis.

One way to do this is to strengthen the adaptive capacity of African farmers by bringing climate science down from the upper atmosphere and into farmer's fields in the form of practical seasonal forecasts of probable rainfall patterns and temperature, which can guide farm management (i.e., planting, farm operations and harvesting decisions).

My organization, the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) is collaborating with low-income farmers around the world to overcome threats to agriculture and food security caused by climate change.

Over the last couple of years, we have conducted a pilot project in seasonal climate forecasting with farmers in Kaffrine, Senegal, located in the Sahel region. Global circulation models show that over the next 20 years, the farmers of Kaffrine could steadily experience a decline in rainfall and a rise in temperature. This provides an interesting laboratory for learning how to manage the risks of weather variability.

But one cannot just send a climate forecast to farmers and expect them to dutifully follow it. That's why in Kaffrine, we focused on developing a dialogue with farmers to integrate our knowledge with their traditional approaches.

For example, farmers talked to us about how they watch for unusual appearances of snakes and frogs, a shift in wind direction, and the sudden transformation of dark clouds to white as ways to anticipate the onset of rain. We discussed how these insights compare to what science tells us: that the onset of the rainy season is announced by a shift to humid southwesterly winds; that animals, including frogs and snakes, can be sensitive to this shift; and that rain squall lines involve dark stratocumulus clouds followed by white cumulonimbus clouds.

We also helped them understand how oceans can retain heat over a long period of time--something known as "ocean heat memory"--and that by assessing the current state of ocean temperatures, one can forecast how they are likely to affect precipitation trends over a period of several months.

We noted that, like traditional methods, our methods show only the probability of rain, not the certainty. Farmers ultimately asked us to provide forecasts for the number of rainy days in the season and for when monsoons were likely to arrive. Thus far we are finding that farmers equipped with the seasonal climate forecasts are making better planting and harvesting decisions than farmers who are not. And farmers appear eager to have these insights. We had initially planned on dividing the farmers in Kaffrine into two groups--one that received climate forecasts and one that did not--so we could observe the outcomes.

But ultimately we provided the forecasts to everyone because no one wanted to be left out.

Seasonal climate forecasts are just one tool among many that will be required to help Africans manage the challenging risks presented by climate change. But the farmers in Kaffrine have left me with a sense of optimism about Africa's ability to adapt. With the right investments, there are opportunities for Africa to make peace with climate change and realize a future in which Africa can feed Africa.

Robert Zougmoré is the West Africa Regional Program Leader for the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security.

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Comments Post a comment

  • upliftdarace_144
    Jul 21 2013, 16:33

    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 broadcasts like Living In Black

    (Hosted By Keidi-Obi Awadu – via www.libradio.net) & Alex Jones’ Infowars broadcast

    ( via www.inforwars.com)

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

    1) [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) ]

    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

    2) THE 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.

    3) Scientists Debunk UN “Global Warming”

    [ http://www.infowars.com/scientists-debunk-un-global-warming/ ]

    4) Gore cancels on Copenhagen lecture — leaves ticket holders

    in a lurch

    [ http://www.infowars.com/gore-cancels-on-copenhagen-lecture-leaves-tickethol ders-in-a-lurch/ ]

    5) It’s Over, Al Gore.

    [ http://www.infowars.com/its-over-al-gore/]

    6) Rep. Miller Calls For Climategate Investigation

    [http://www.infowars.com/rep-miller-calls-for-climategate-investigation/ ]

    7) Climategate Crooks Recast Themselves As The Victims [ http://www.infowars.com/climategate-crooks-recast-themselves-as-the-victims / ]

    :WHO BROUGHT THE SLAVES TO AMERICA ?

    [ http://isohunt.com/torrent_details/42787621/Who+brought+the+slaves+to+ameri ca?tab=summary]

    for full length video

    FRITZ SPRINGMEIER A Bold Christian Truthseeker

    The Top 13 Illuminati Bloodlines

    [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k73Q2_f4vKU ]

    WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! .

    [ libradio.net ]

    [http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx]

    [gcnlive.com]

    - 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.

  • upliftdarace_144
    Jul 21 2013, 16:33

    Titled :

    The Weather Is Being Influenced By Evil Technology In The Hands Of (The

    Robbers Of Our People) Those Who Want What We In Afrika Are Sitting On

    WEATHER WARS

    There is Technology Being Used By Countries Like China, Russia, America, And A Host Of Others To Manipulate The Weather.

    Here’s A Question :

    1) Why has Africa Suffered So Many Droughts ?

    [http://www.weatherwars.info/ ]

    2) Can this type of technology control developing hurricanes ?

    3) Playing with weather stirs debate in China [ http://www.infowars.com/playing-with-weather-stirs-debate-in-china/ ]

    4) HAARP - a device used to influce the weather -

    [http://www.haarp.net/ ]

    WHO BROUGHT THE SLAVES TO AMERICA ? [ http://isohunt.com/torrent_details/42787621/Who+brought+the+slaves+to+ameri ca?tab=summary] for full length video

    FRITZ SPRINGMEIER A Bold Christian Truthseeker The Top 13 Illuminati Bloodlines [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k73Q2_f4vKU ]

    WAKE UP !!! STAY UP !!!

    [ www.libradio.net ]

    [http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx]

    [gcnlive.com]

    Life Is A Game. Have Fun . Luke 18:17 - Isaiah 11:6

  • upliftdarace_144
    Jul 21 2013, 16:34

    Africa Must Free Africa [ Deuteronomy 28:68 ] And the Lord shall bring Israel into Egypt again with ships and there Israel shall be sold to Israels enemies as slaves, and no man shall set Israel free; by the way of which I spoke to Israel , Israel shall see it no more.

    Believe it or not, we Black African in the diaspora of countries like America, Brazil,The United Kingdom, the islands, even India (via The Islamic version of robbing Africa of its people), are descendants of the Israelites The Lord God said ( via his Prophet Moses ) we would suffer this fate; because of our stubbornest and refusal to stick with Lord God .

    And speaking of those descendants, will we ever be free ? Recently & once again the World recognized Martin-Luther King Jr. . On April 3, 1968, hours before he was murdered, he said (talking strictly to his disenfranchised and scattered Africans ): .We as a People Will get to the Promised Land . I believe that this was a prophecy of not only what would happen, but how it would happen. Going back to Deuteronomy 28:68 and adding it to MLK Jr.'s prophecy, here's what I get:

    a) No man shall set us free PLUS b) We As A People shall get to the Promised Land = [ We shall set ourselves free, when we choose to become whole again. ] And how do we become whole again? By reclaiming our missing parts. What is stopping Africa from reclaiming its stolen people ?

    I believe that the times are approaching for Africa's redemption from: Poverty, Oppression, and Depression.

    [Daniel 11:14 ] And in those times there shall many nations come against the king of the south (Great Britain BABYLON ): ALSO the ROBBERS OF ISRAEL exalt themselves to establish the vision; BUT THE ROBBERS OF ISRAEL SHALL FALL !

    We are that Israel held in exiled & domestic captivity by Babvlon ( The United Kingdom) & It's Whore (America).

    Many of us Black Africans want to return to our Motherland. Reclaim your missing children Africa! As is sung in The Song of Africa, we sing God Bless Africa. How can God Bless Africa, when Africa won't Bless itself. There is an unlimited wealth of prosperity awaiting Africa, if Africa rejects the ways of Balaam and receive the Blessings Of Father Abraham, via Africa's Impoverished, Oppressed, Depressed Children.

    The question is Will Africa Invest In Africa ? The Robbing of our people was not only done by Europeans & Muslims, but by Africans too. We Black Africans must first give ourselves Reparations. As the saying goes, Love your neighbor, as you love yourself. We cannot truly love anyone, until we first love ourselves. Africa Claim your heritage, claim your children Africa. Free us from this bondage .We have trillions upon trillions in capital, expertise, and experience !!!

    Africa Must Free Africa !!! ( Deuteronomy 28:68 )

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