Zambia calls for climate smart agriculture policies across Africa

The Zambian government has called on African nations to introduce effective agricultural policies to boost the continents resilience to climate change.

Zambia’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestocks Permanent Secretary David Shamulenge said Africa holds enormous potential to increase agricultural production significantly if the right policies are adopted.

Shamulenge delivered an opening address at a regional climate smart agriculture policy dialogue meeting and said: "Climate resilient agricultural policies are one such policy that will help Africa adapt to the effects of climate change… Climate smart agriculture will enable the continent to contribute towards mitigation efforts."

The two-day meeting was organised by the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), a regional think-tank involved in agricultural research activities, and was called to assess climate smart agriculture as part of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies across Africa.

Shamulenge highlighted the threat of climate change to Africa’s agriculture and the livelihood of millions of people the urgent need to adopt policies to enhance adaptation measures.

Shamulenge said: "The impact of extreme climate, whether in the form of a super El Nino or other long-term trends, affects those that engage in agriculture in the region… If affects the food and nutrition security of the region and ultimately affects economic growth of the region."

According to a Consultative Group International Agriculture Research (CGIAR) programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security in Africa, climate change will lower crop yields by at least five per cent with an average global temperature of 2°C, and will lower by about 15 per cent should warming increase to 2.5°C.

The meeting is also designed to evaluate the results of a climate smart agriculture policy pilot project conducted by FANRPAN in 15 African countries.

Shamulenge also urged African nations to make agriculture integral to all international agreements and activities ahead of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, France in December, when an historic global climate deal is due to be agreed.

The chairman of FANRPAN, Agent Chula, also addressed delegates at the two-day meeting and highlighted the key role of climate smart agriculture in ensuring food security across Africa.

Chula said: "The threat of climate change has never been more urgent than today. Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to the impacts of climate change, which have negative implications on food security and economic development."