Monday 20 October 2008

GLOBAL CLIMATIC CHANGE PUTS MALAWI UNDER THREAT

The adverse effects of global climatic change are set to hit the country the hardest because of its dependence on agricultural production for its economy and livelihood.

Secretary for Agriculture and Food Security Mr. Andrew Daudi observed on Monday in Mzuzu that projected temperature increases and expected reductions in precipitation are likely to reduce productivity.

Mr. Daudi who was speaking through Mzuzu ADD Programme Manager Mr. Chris Khonje asked a land resources conservation departmental conference to come up with better strategy to cope up with climatic changes.

The country’s officials from the department of Land Resources Conservation are meeting in Mzuzu, which is an annual fixture on their calendar.

However, what is perhaps the change in this year’s meeting is the realization of the threats to the country’s survival that has come due to the adverse effects of global climatic change.

Mzuzu ADD Programme Manager Mr. Chris Khonje who opened the conference on behalf of the Secretary for Agriculture and Food Security Mr. Andrew Daudi observed that since agriculture contributes nearly 40 % of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) it employs almost 90 % of the population and brings in over 80 % of foreign earnings through exports.

He said this is the reason this particular meeting is themed; “Up scaling Conservation Agriculture: Adaptation to Impact of Climate Change to Achieve Increased Sustained Food Security’ aimed at coping up with the changes in climate.

The agriculture secretary therefore said the only way to achieve this is through sustainable land and water management pillar in the Agricultural Development Programme, which is an investment framework for agriculture in Malawi.

"This particular pillar is targeting higher efficiency of soil nutrients and available rainwater to maintain and increase crops and fodder production, which in turn would allow for cash cropping and food diversification," he said.

Through this arrangement the ministry will encourage adaptation to climate change is a process through which people reduce the adverse effects of climate.

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