Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource Sustainability in Africa
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer
Abstract
The major challenge related to sustainable management of natural resources,
agricultural and livestock production, and the assessment of innovative technologies
and policies is to identify solutions for these problems. Soil degradation, a serious
problem in sub-Saharan Africa, is affected by climate change through emission of
greenhouse gases (GHGs). Thus, restoration and sustainable management of soil to
minimize risks of soil degradation are important to adaptation and mitigation of climate
change and to advancing sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
Livestock is a source of animal proteins for humans on the one hand and a source of
nutrients and energy (biogas) on the other. However, livestock is vulnerable to many
climate change-induced disasters such as prolonged droughts and floods, resulting in
loss of animals and feed resources. In order to fully benefit from livestock, the targeted
interventions needed include adoption of feed preservation technologies, including hay
and silage for use during lean periods, controlled planning and management of com-
munal grazing areas, rehabilitation of degraded communal grazing areas, and range-
lands as a way of improving pasture availability. Research and development priorities
and emerging issues include conservation agriculture (CA), use of legume-based crop-
ping systems, integrated nutrient management (INM), climate-resilient livestock and
feed systems, value addition policies, and adoption of innovative technologies.
Description
Keywords
Climate impacts, agricultural resources, natural resources, agricultural sustainability, food access, Africa