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It appears that a great crisis is looming over the agriculture of Africa, all in light of the current situation of climate change. A new study shares alarming results for the African continent, and drastic actions will need to be taken in order to save it.
Working on the Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security of CGIAR, Julian Ramirez-Villegas is also the lead author of the study. His research consisted of examining nine types of crops. Together, these crops make about half of the entire food production in Africa. At the end of the study, the conclusion was that sixty percent of the areas where beans are produced will become barren before the year 2100. Furthermore, thirty percent of the regions that grow bananas will also be unviable over the next one hundred years.
Released by the University of Leeds, the statement also gives thought to the measures that could be taken in the future in order to avoid such a crisis. Farmers will have to either abandon crop farming or choose different types of crop, and this could also lead to a change in the diet. African people might find themselves in a situation where they have to consume drought-resistant crops such as millet and sorghum.
Unfortunately, there is not much time left either. According to the study, the regions where banana trees grow can become unviable starting with 2025. The most vulnerable part of the continent is said to be the western one. The west is followed by the south, with less than one hundred years left before becoming barren.
The study was published in the Nature Climate Change journal on March 8, and its main conclusion is that bananas, maize, and beans are the crops that are most at risk from drought. Furthermore, it also features timeframes for practice and policy changes in order to save the African continent.
According to Dr. Andy Jarvis, co-author and leader of the CCAFS research regarding Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices,
“This will require not only increased funding but also a supportive policy environment to bring the needed solutions to those affected. We also need to ensure that the needs of women and marginalised groups are built into adaptation policies, to ensure they can be successfully implemented.”
The alarming study once again raises awareness for climate change and the terrible consequences of drought, that all of us must take into consideration.
Image Source: Devex
