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

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.