CLIMATE CHANGE IS WITH US AND WE MUST TAKE ACTION, SAYS IITA’S DG SANGINGA


The negative consequences of climate change on agricultural production and productivity are with us and resolutions must be implemented to save West and Central Africa, said the Director General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dr Nteranya Sanginga.
Addressing national and international researchers attending a conference on Biotic stresses, climate change and agricultural production in Cotonou, Bénin, on Monday, Dr Sanginga noted that the emergence of agricultural pests such as the papaya mealybug was closely linked to climate change, and stressed that there was the need to go beyond rhetoric to action.
“Whatever recommendations we make at this meeting, let’s work towards implementing them,” he said.
The Director General pinpointed to agricultural research and the capacity development of adequate human resources as the critical tools needed to tackle the challenges posed by climate change. He cited the example of cassava pests (cassava mealybug) in which past research by IITA and partners had played a critical role in solving the problem and saving the crop from probable extinction in Africa.
The Interim Director General of AfricaRice, Dr Adama Traoré, pledged that his organization would support the implementation of the meeting recommendations, as they would go a long way in addressing agricultural productivity in the region.
Researchers at the conference said the impact of climate change on biodiversity linked to biotic stresses could have a deep impact on agricultural productivity.
For instance, studies suggest that climate change might adversely influence established biological control by curbing natural enemy–pest interactions. Also, extreme climatic events may affect the benefits provided by living things in the soil ecosystem such as endophytes, rhizobia, and mycorrhiza.
“All these interactions need to be properly assessed and documented to develop and deploy preemptive and adaptation strategies,” said Dr David Arodokoun, the Director General of the National Institute of Agricultural Research of Bénin (INRAB).
In West and Central Africa, most of the current studies targeting the impacts of climate change on agriculture have focused directly on productivity (i.e., crop yields), or indirectly, on livelihoods.
Dr Arodokoun said the regional meeting had brought together researchers working on biotic stresses linked to climate change affecting the region as a first step to take stock of the available human and infrastructural resources. This, he said, was a starting point for defining a common regional strategy for managing biotic stresses and biodiversity under changing climatic conditions.
The regional meeting attracted policymakers and national and international scientists working in the West and Central African region, and was attended by donors and IITA’s board of trustees.
Dr Yacoubou Toure, the Directeur de Cabinet du Ministre de Agriculture, declared the event open. He   said that farmers in developing countries were vulnerable to the negative impact of climate change on agricultural production. He pledged his Government’s commitment to join efforts to develop and make mitigation options available to farmers.
Dr Manuele Tamo, IITA’s Insect Ecologist and Country Representative based in Cotonou, said the regional meeting sought to develop a regional strategy that would help member countries in dealing with the biotic stresses that are linked to climate change in the region.

The meeting was convened by IITA, INRAB, AfricaRice, Bioversity, CIRAD, and CORAF with donor support from the Swiss Development Cooperation.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Photo of a man with amazingly ‘super head’ causes a stir on social media

Image
Many eyes have seen it but are yet to believe. To those who are convinced that God's creature exits on earth with such a weird shape of head have been left totally flabbergasted and worried too.That is human nature; doubting Thomases everywhere. A man whose photo has been making rounds on social media platforms has been the one in the centre of a huge controversy that rendered onlookers astounded and divided. The photograph in question has really created a scene that is of comic relief and over-sensational. The problem per se is not about his facial appearance but borders specifically on the 'caricature' shape of his head coupled with his jaw-jutting chin which has become the point of attraction at all cost.  It appears no amount of words could best describe the shape of his 'Hill-Valley-Hill Head' which looks very sparkling without hairs on it.  But some social media users who caught sight of the photograph have been reacting with varying...
Read more

Samsung opens ultramodern showroom in Accra

Image
Samsung Electronics West Africa (SEWA), Africa’s largest electronic company has partnered with Electroland Ghana Limited to open an ultramodern brand store in Accra aimed at offering customers   relaxed environment for the needed shopping satisfaction. The move forms part of efforts to maintain its position as the largest electronics company in Africa and to ensure consumers have easy access to world-class innovative electronic appliance and smart devices.   The new premium brand store, a magnificent building which can be spotted at Ring Road Central Former Alibert Building, near Paloma Hotel (about 200 meters away from the Kwame Nkrumah interchange, Circle, Accra) comes with a product experience zone and    full range of Samsung Digital Appliances and other Smart devices to give customers true satisfaction. It also seek to offer   consumers   the exclusive opportunities to experience the latest range of Samsung’s luxury products which includ...
Read more

Video: Saving lives, contributing to achieving SDGs; the success story of Human Rights Reporters Ghana

Image
  In a bid to help end the kidnappings as well as the burgeoning human rights and social issues in Ghana and beyond, the Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) in 2019 embarked on a ‘Nationwide Sensitization Campaign on Kidnapping, Teenage, Pregnancy and Tramadol/Drug Abuse’ (KTT). The campaign, popularly known as the ‘KTT Project’, focused on addressing issues of kidnapping, teenage pregnancy and drug abuse but equally set about creating a deeper education on human rights to bring about a cultural change. The ‘messiah initiative’ which saw a dedicated team of young volunteers in communities, schools and religious settings within three regions of the country managed to reach over 60,000 Ghanaians over two years sensitizing them on the most pressing and critical and social issues Ghana is facing.   HRRG team of volunteers The HRRG is a non-governmental organization (NGO) which brings together journalists, news editors, human rights activists, advocates, defenders and la...
Read more