Climate Change Impact on Agriculture

Climate Change Impact on Agriculture.

Introduction

Global warming is one of the most important problems of the present days, posing a serious threat to such segments of the economy as agriculture, inter alia. Climate change as a result of excessive emission of greenhouse gases leads to increase in temperature affecting weather, increase in incidence of severe weather conditions, and altered pattern of rainfall. These transformations are major risks to the achievement of food security, the yields of agriculture and the sustenance of the millions of farmers throughout the globe. This paper looks at the general conse-quences of climate change, considers how these changes affect the production of food and how techniques could be implemented to promote sustainable farming for the future.

Impact on Crop Yields

Among the primary consequences of climate change on agriculture it is pertinent to discuss crop yield. Basic foods like wheat, rice and maize give necessary demands of temperature and moisture ratios to grow. When temperatures get to high levels crops may get stressed up, implying the rates of yield may decrease. It is agreed that for every degree of temperature rise yields of most produced crops can decrease by 10-25%. For instance, wheat and rice, which the world depends on as staples, do badly when temperatures increase during flower formation and during grain development.

 Climate change affects yields differently; the worst affected will be the developing nations in the sub-Saharan Africa and the South Asian region. They also have relatively smaller or even negligible adaptive capacity and numerous parts of these regions are engaged in rain-fed farming, as a result, such parts are more sensitive to conditions of variability. With declining yields, food deficit increases hence malnutrition among the populations, and higher poverty levels among the groups.

Effects on Livestock Production

Climate is also greatly affecting livestock production because of the increased temperatures, changes in feed, and diseases which are threatening. Like crops, livestock also grow well under certain temperature conditions, some high and others low temperatures. Heat stress in animals causes diseases which have negative impacts to their body growth, reproduction and milk yield. For instance, dairy cows that are exposed to elevated temperature of the environment give less milk and are easily attacked by diseases hence a loss making business by the side of the farmer.

Global warming also adds to the existing challenges in livestock production, most especially because of climate change affects pastures available for the animals as well as the quality of such pastures. Changes in rain patterns mean less growth of grasses and what used to growth as forage must now be supplemented with feeds that are expensive and unsustainable. Also, climate change abrasive factors such as floods and droughts impact grazing land and greatly affect an extent of losses in livestock and income to farmers.

Furthermore, climate change may enhance the incidence of diseases which infect livestock. Given favorable conditions, temperature increase leads to improved conditions of pests and pathogens to transmit diseases of animals. For instance, since tick and other parasites are known to be fond of warm and wet areas, cases of tick borne diseases are rife during such conditions. This again increases health complications of livestock; hence low production and high veterinary expenses for farmers.

 Impact on Fisheries and Aquaculture

It is clear that climate change reaches far beyond the negative impacts on land-based agriculture, the fishery and aquaculture industries. Temperatures in seas are on the rise as are acidity in water, changes in salinity levels hence exerting pressure on the stock and their environment. With the waters being warmer, they expect change in stock movement, reduced stock supply and limited supply of fish stocks for both commercial and subsistence fishing. Some of the fish species involved include the cod and haddock, which is sensitive to temperature changes thereby leading to migration to cooler area leading to cut losses for fishers from affected area.

Global warming due to increased levels of CO₂ affects shellfish and coral reefs – important features for marine ecosystems and fishing. The decline of these species can collapse whole ecosystems by upsetting the food chains and where fishing is an economic activity, loss making. Furthermore, seawater–farming–an expanding component of global diets– is also at risk. Fluctuations in water temperature and water quality affect the physiologic rate of farmed fish and consequently reduce yield hence imposing losses on fish farmers.

In many parts of the world, and particularly in the developing countries, fisheries and aquaculture products are critical source of animal protein. Finally, we discuss the implications for food security and local economies when fish populations and habitats are affected by climate change, thereby emphasizing the importance of arguments in favor of sustainable management when climate is changing.

Socioeconomic Consequences

The social and economic impacts of climate change on agriculture are well established and very severe for those farming at a small scale and those living in rural areas. While crop yields reduce and livestock farming turns into a difficult proposition, the farmers are under more and more pressure economically. Most of the smallholder farmers are always vulnerable as they operate on low levels of profit and credit, lacks input, technology, and credits to enable them change their farming practices. This weakness escalates poverty and food insecurity in the farming areas creating a vicious cycle that is hard to eliminate.

Climate change can compel persons in a number of regions that participate in agriculture to migrate to other areas following the change of climate. Readily, the migration from rural areas to the urban area overwhelms the existing infrastructural and some basic services in the urban areas like housing, Employment, Education, and health. This migration can also lead to the erosion of cultural and carrying capacity of soils, and traditional farming practices leading to the further compromise of the resilience of farm holders.

In addition, climate change has also negative impacts on society and wealth distribution including for women and indigenous peoples as well as for the poor population in society. Such groups do not control or have adequate access to resources and decision making as they should to mitigate effects of climate change. With the global food systems’ pressure building, these groups fall under more pressure, this shows, therefore, that there is a need for more policies to be put in place that will favor the above vulnerable groups..

Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies

As climate change is now affecting agriculture in the worst and has the worst potential of severely hindering agriculture and therefore food security, it is vital to start putting measures for adaptation and mitigation than Apiwows says. Adjustment measures can be the use of crops and animals that are less susceptible to climate sensitive risks. Since planting different species, farmers are able to diversify climates hence increasing chances of benefiting from erratic weathers.

In the same school of thought, excellence and facilitation of sustainable farming practices including agro forestry, conservation tillage amongst what as well as integrated pest management will go a long way in enhancing soil health, water retention and encouraging on-farm biodiversity. They also enhance the nation’s ability to cope with climate change since they enhance carbon stocks in the ground and trees.

It is also crucial to fund the construction of climate shift climate-proof structures. Irrigation systems that work and flood control measures, better drought-resistant crops were discussed to help farmers to come to terms with the changing weather. Financial and credit accessibility opportunities may help farmers to purchase protective tools and technologies, or to adopt ecologically friendly practices which secure their further existence.

At this level, it is necessary to strengthen the norms relating to Research and Development of climate smart agriculture. Policy makers, donors, private sectors and farmer organizations should support and promote research for crop improvement, farming practices and technologies needed to reduce vulnerability to climate change. However, capacity building to create awareness of climatic change and its effects on farming and available strategies for mitigating its effects is important in the farming industry.

Conclusion

Global climate change is a real problem that has a major impact on agriculture, through rainfall and temperature effects on crops and animals required in food production. The effects are diverse and many-sided, they cover the damages to the environment, livelihood of millions of farmers and inhabitants of rural areas. Considering the ongoing effects of climate change in our agricultural systems, finding and applying proper adapt and mitigate measures are critical to our actions.

Some of the solutions are increasing awareness on sustainable practices, encouraging research and innovation in the agricultural sector as well as supporting vulnerable people and communities by developing climate smart policies that will enable the agricultural sector to vector the effects of climate change. The fate of global food security therefore lies in how well these changes are managed so that agriculture has the capacity to operate in a climate change environment. Climate change in agriculture is one of the most pressing problems of the modern world not only in terms of environmental, but also social and economic impact, as well as food security.