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Recent climate related stresses and their human consequences in Southern Africa.

Recent climate related stresses and their human consequences in Southern Africa. Elijah Mukhala & Simbarashe Chidzambwa.

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Recent climate related stresses and their human consequences in Southern Africa.

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  1. Recent climate related stresses and their human consequences in Southern Africa. Elijah Mukhala & Simbarashe Chidzambwa

  2. SADC Food Agriculture and Natural Resources (SADC-FANR) The SADC region is periodically confronted with disruptions in food security caused by climatic, political, social and economic problems. SADC Food Security Programme is currently based in Harare. Introduction Objectives of the programme The main objective of the SADC Regional Early Warning System is to provide member states and the international community with advance information on food security prospects in the region through assessments of expected food production, food supplies and requirements.

  3. Factors affecting crop productionThere are many factors that influence how well plants grow and develop. These factors are sometimes used by the farmer to make decisions. It is beyond the scope of this presentation to list every factor that affects crop production, however a basic list of types of factors is attempted.

  4. Soil factors: Soil types, soil fertility (levels of nutrients), soil depth, soil moisture etc. Pest factors: Historical or current infestations of soil fungus, bacterial diseases, insects or weeds etc.Management factors: Crop rotation practices, fertilizer and pesticide applications, tillage practices etc.Technological factors: Use of farm implements, improved seed, irrigation, soil moisture conservation methods etc Weather factors: Rainfall, insolation temperature and humidity.Climatic factors: Long range weather patterns (frost, length of growing season, start of the rains, end of the rains, degree days etc.)

  5. Among the factors that affect crop production in southern Africa, climate related factors are the most severeThe repercussions have been very disastrous with thousand of both human and livestock lives lostThis has also exercebated the rate of HIV/AIDS suffering food is in short supply.

  6. YIELD f (temperature;technology) YIELD f (water; temperature;technology) YIELD f (water;technology)

  7. In sub-Sahara Africa, subsistence agriculture is heavily dependent on Climate (rainfall/ soil moisture).

  8. 2001/2002 Growing Season

  9. Water Requirement Satisfaction Index Water Requirement satisfaction Index – is a measure of the extent to which the water requirement of a particular crop have been fulfilled during the crop growing season

  10. Regional cereal – 5.6 million tonnes (as of July 2002 assessment)Regional Maize deficit – 3.48 million tonnes (as of July 2002 assessment) Approx 15 million people in soil water deficit areas (drought) in need of food aid.The need have been reduced due humanitarian aid and December 2002 VAC Assessments provide the following: SADC Region Cereal situation 2001/2002 season Country Pop in need % tot pop Estimated Reqt (‘000 tonnes)Zimbabwe 7,180 000 52 480Malawi 3,600 000 31 173Zambia 3,595 000 28 131Mozambique 655 000 3 31Lesotho 740 000 34 36Swaziland 297 000 28 14 Source: VAC Report January 2003

  11. 01-10 January 2003 11-20 January 2003

  12. 11-20 February 2003 21-28 February 2003

  13. Conclusion Southern Africa has been affected tremendously by climate change. This has resulted in millions of people being affected by food insecurity Research should focus on strategies of sustaining agricultural production under the circumstances

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