Diana Kibuuka
As intensifying climate change compromises crops around the world, Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD), is calling for global leaders attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Azerbaian – Baku, scheduled to start officially this Monday 11th. November, to set a specific and ambitious goal on finance for adaptation to target the needs of small-holder farmers who produce a significant part of the food in developing countries, and for the world at large.
Small-holder farmers produce up to 70 per cent of the food in developing countries but receive just a tiny fraction of climate finance. To eradicate poverty and food insecurity – and secure a brighter, greener future for all – small-holder farmers must be brought in to the centre of climate discussions.
IFAD, indicatively estimates the finance gap for small-holder farmers’ adaptation to climate change at about US$ 75 billion per year in developing countries.
This specific goal on adaptation would fit under the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance, the new financial target for the amount of money developed countries contribute to support developing countries to tackle climate change, that COP member states are meant to adopt during COP29.
“As climate change profoundly disrupts food systems, the only way to safeguard global food security is to prioritize helping small-holder farmers to adapt to the new reality,” said Lario.
“The first step is for leaders at COP29 to set an ambitious goal for adaptation finance that allows food production to continue even as the planet warms,” he adds.
Data shows that global climate finance for small-holder agri-food systems is strikingly low, at an annual average of just US$ 5.53 billion in 2019/20, equivalent to just 0.8 per cent of total climate finance tracked across all sectors.
“Small-holder farmers often live in poverty and have little choice. They must adapt or will starve – Adaptation is a matter of global food security, but also geopolitical stability. Rising food prices, hunger and poverty led to forced migrations and conflicts,” said Lario. “.”
Climate change is already a key driver of hunger. In 2023, about 735 million people have suffered from hunger in part due to the effects of increased heat, droughts, floods and extreme weather events. Climate change could push an additional 132 million individuals into extreme poverty.
In Uganda where Agriculture is the backbone of the country’s economy to a tune of over 80%, the Organization of African Instituted Churches(OAIC), together with the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda have embarked on an initiative to help small holder farmers to understand the science of climate change, its effect to the agricultural systems and plan for adaptation to fight hunger especially in the, Northern and Eastern parts of the country.
The initiative has brought together climate experts, local leaders, the media and religious leaders whose task is to develop adaptation strategies together with the farmers.
Rev. Nicta Lubaale the General Secretary of Organization of African Instituted Churches(OAIC), says small holder famers in Uganda are frustrated by a number of factors from the changing and unstable weather conditions, poor, expensive and fake agricultural inputs, to poor markets, – All these affect the farmers’ productivity, and thus it’s important and urgent to reach out to them, and amplifying their voices in shaping the Adaptation Policy
Robert Kibwika a senior meteorologist in the department of meteorology under the Ministry of Water and Environment, points out that since Uganda’s economy depends on rain-fed agriculture, provision of timely and precise weather information is key in reducing the vulnerability of people to weather and climate risks.
He adds, as a meteorological department they endeavor to disseminate weather forecasts daily, weekly monthly and even quarterly and beyond through different media platforms to enable not only farmers to plan effectively but the same data is used cross all other sectors because climate changes affect them all in different ways.
Early warning systems alert farmers when a disaster is imminent, while weather services inform them about current conditions, optimal sowing times and crop management. Additionally, they provide advice on tackling pest and diseases.
Joshua Kitakule, Secretary General of the Interreligious Council of of Uganda explained that this initiative will greatly rely on journalists and religious leaders that have been trained on the issues of climate change, to break down and pass on required information to the farmers from the experts whose science diction in most cases in hard to understand in a layman’s language.
The over 20 trained journalists and local leaders from North, East and Central Uganda have developed adaptation strategies that wills strengthen social accountability, and policy engagement on climate change for small holder farmers.
IFAD’s call for targeting small holder farmers in climate spending and ambitious financing for adaptation comes at a time when extreme weather events, rising heat and unusual and unpredictable rain patterns are increasingly becoming the norm and have a devastating impact on crops and the rural communities making a living from farming – And It is estimated that climate change could reduce crop yields by up to a quarter by the end of the century. By 2035 – just a decade from now – climate change could be adding up to 50 per cent to the rate of food inflation across the board.
Many solutions exist to help small-scale farmers adapt to climate change. They include, for example, climate smart irrigation, water collecting techniques and infrastructure, drought tolerant crops, agroforestry, agroecology and improved soil management.
IFAD’s engagement at COP29 is focusing on; Empowering communities for resilience, transforming food systems for climate action and Calling for increased investments from the private sector.
About The Author
