"SEC S20W1: Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture"

Welcome to my blog! It is now time for me to put down in writing the impact of climate change on agriculture.

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Describe in detail how agricultural productivity is affected by climate change.

Talking about climatic changes it has significant impacts on agricultural productivity in many ways such as;

1. By changing precipitation patterns such as flood, drought, unexpected rainfall that affects soil moisture as well as availability of water.

2. Rising temperatures and warmer temperatures
   most times alter planting seasons affect crop growth and the way ot yields.

3. When the frequency and severity of weather increase is extreme causing heatwaves, wildfires, storms damage plants, infrastructures and agricultural resources.

4. It also have impacts on the way pollinators and beneficial organisms like bees and other beneficial insects behaves.

5. Changes in temperature, water cycles and precipitation impact irrigation, drainage and availability of waters for plants.

6. Climatic changes causes disruptions to agricultural systems and infrastructure like storage facilities, transportation network and market.

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Climatic changes has a lot of impact on agricultural
labour and migration because it usually influences availability of labour, rural livelihoods and migration patterns.

The above factors reduced jow crops yields, reduction in crop production, reduced agricultural productivity and utimately affect food security and local economies.

Discuss how extreme rains and extreme droughts damage crops.

Extreme rains and droughts can impacts significantly on the health of crop productivity, and quality and thereby causes substantial economic losses.

Extreme Rains damages on crops:

★ It causes water logging to root of the crops thereby leading to reduced oxygen availability to the crops.

★ Extreme rain causes soil erosion which washes away the top soil, the seed and soil nutrients.

★ Extreme rain causes flood and as we know, flood reduced the availability of light to crops this can increase disease susceptibility.

★ Extreme rains leaches away the soil nutrients making the crops to lack in some essential nutrients.

★ Strong wind and heavy rainfall causes premature
falling of crops.

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Extreme Droughts Damages on crops:

★ Extreme drought causes insufficient water otherwise known as water stress leading to reduction in photosynthesis and stunts growth of the soil.

★ Extreme droughts increase pest pressure as plant begins to attract more pest and diseases.

★ Apart from water stress, it also causes heat stress where the high temperature accelerate water loss and damage tissues.

★Extreme droughts lead to reduction in pollination and as such plants begins to prouces fewer flowers.

★ Extreme droughts causes soil dehydration and this causes crack in soil and reduction i root growth and water uptake.

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Discuss in stages how new pests and diseases are emerging as a result of climate change AND what measures farmers can take to prevent them.

Lets have a discussion on how new pests and diseases emergence due to climate change and measures farmers can take to prevent them:

Stage 1: Climate Change-Driven Emergence

1. Changing precipitation patterns alters rainfall and drought cycles thereby disrupting pest and disease life cycles.

2. When temperature increases and become warmer it alter ecosystems making pest and diseases to spread.

3. When there is changes in growing seasons and weather extremes it create ideal conditions for pests and diseases to spread more and more.

Stage 2: Impact on Agriculture

1. Yield reduction: The increase in pest and diseases
   as a result of climate changes cost reduction in crop yields and it quality.

2. It causes food insecurity because of reduction in crop yields.

3. I causes economic losses and pest and diseases keep increasing as a result of climate change.

Stage 3: Farmer Response and Prevention Measures

1. Practising crop rotation will help break the disease cycle and also disrupt pest habitats.

2. Using of pruning method by removing infected plant part from others.

3. Sanitation will help a great deal and this will be done by removing infected plants and disinfecting the equipment in use.

Stage 4: Adaptation and Resilience

1. Implimentation of climate smart agriculture like agro forestry and conservation agriculture.

2. Soil health management will help in improving soil fertility, its structure and water holding capacity.

3. Practising diversification that is planting multiple
   crops is one of the ways farmer can help prevent emergence of pest.

Farmers can reduce the emergence of pest and diseases by implementing preventives measures like the ones mentioned above to reduce thw impact of climate changes on agriculture.

Discuss what changes in irrigation systems are required due to climate change.

Some of these changes are required in irrigation system due to climate change.

1. Implimentation of efficient water conserve
   like drip irrigation, sprinkler system and precision irrigation method is required.

2. Developing a flexible irrigation systems that adjust to either alter rainfall or drought.

3. Using mulching, shade clothes and cover crops can help reduce evaporation and retain soil moisture.

4. Enhancement of water storage by investing and storing rain water for future use.

Applying these changes will be of great help irrigation system in adapting to climate change.

Explain the two best ways to respond to climate change.

Here are the two best way respond to climate changes.

Mitigation:

Mitigation involves here involve the reducition in
greenhouse gas emissions to slow the rate of climate change.

Strategies like transitioning into the use of renewable sources like hydro, solar and wind can help response to climate change.

Adaptation:

Talking about adaptation it involves preparing for and responding to the impacts of climate changes

Strategies like developing emergency preparedness plans, enhancing water management system, and the development of climate smart agricultural practices are some of the strategies needed to respond to climate change.

As I menioned above, mitigation and adaptation are are very important for responding to climate change. Mitigation on its own reduces the severity of climate change while adaptation will help us to cope with the impacts of climate change. To respond very well to climate change we need both mitigation and adaptation strategies.

I am inviting @manuelhooks, @goodybest and @bela90 to participate in this engagement challenge.