163-9 Climate Change and Agriculture in Africa: Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation Potential.



Tuesday, October 18, 2011: 11:45 AM
Henry Gonzalez Convention Center, Room 214D, Concourse Level

Andre Bationo, AGRA, Nairobi, Kenya and Jesse B. Naab, Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Wa, Ghana
In Africa, the agricultural sector is a critical mainstay of local livelihoods and national GDP in many countries, with average contributions of 21% (ranging from 10 to 70%) of GDP (IPCC, 2007). This sector is particularly sensitive to climate, including periods of climate variability such as El Nino events and extended dry spells, as well as other extreme natural-resource challenges such as poor soil fertility, pests, crop diseases, and a lack of access to inputs and improved seeds. These challenges are usually aggravated by periods of prolonged droughts and/or floods and are often particularly severe during El Niño events. This paper presents an overview of the agricultural climate change impacts, adaptation, and mitigation for Africa.
See more from this Division: Z01 Z Series Special Sessions
See more from this Session: Agriculture’s Contributions to Climate Change Solutions: Mitigation and Adaptation At Global and Regional Scales