The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that maize yields will drop by 30 per cent and beans 50 per cent in all traditional growing areas due to climate effects.
The panel says the drop in yields is attributed to the current warming rates and erratic rainfall.
Through a report, the panel said the findings show that climate change is mounting threat to the well-being and a healthy planet.
“This report is a dire warning about the consequences of inaction,” said Hoesung Lee, who chairs the panel.
“Our actions today will shape how people adapt and respond to increasing climate risks,” he added.
The report was released at a time when agriculture experts, policy-makers, representatives of Civil Society Organisations and farmer groups congregated in Naivasha for talks on how to forge a common position for the Cairo meeting in November, this year.
In Naivasha under the Africa Group of Negotiators (AGN) Strategy Meeting and Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture, the stakeholders admitted that climate change was compounding food insecurity on a continent already severely afflicted by hunger and malnutrition.
George Wamukoya, the AGN team leader noted that the Cairo climate summit, presents an opportunity for the continent to lobby for more adaptation funds designed for the agriculture sector.
“The November meeting is important for governments in the continent to push for financing of agriculture activities,” he said at the end of the three-day meeting organised to consolidate views from the 55 African countries represented by governments and experts.
For now, the farmers can only hang on hope that policy-makers will decisively address the issue at the next UN climate talks later in the year in Cairo, Egypt.
