Ethiopia continues making substantial investments to mitigate the impacts of climate change
Ethiopia to observe World Food Day 2016 in Arbaminch.
World Food Day 2016 will be celebrated in SNNP Regional State’s Arbaminch town on 15 and 16 October 2016 with the theme of “Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too”.
During a press conference to announce the celebration of the event, on behalf of the State Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Wondimu Filate said, “In spite of the recent pressure from the impacts of climate change and natural disasters, Ethiopia has continued building climate resilient green economy, and ensure sustainable development and food security of particularly smallholder farmers and pastoral communities.”
We have a reason to celebrate he added, “The government’s commitment to build climate resilient green economy has already paid off by lifting millions of farmers out of poverty.”
However, including the recent drought conditions and floods, Ethiopian farmers face growing challenges of the effects of climate change that tested the sustainability of agricultural programs. As the impacts of climate change is growing, Wondimu added, we need to change our agricultural practices to help smallholder farmers adapt agricultural practices that are resilience to extreme weather conditions.
Smallholder farmers are the hardest hit by the effects of the climate change in sub-Saharan Africa where they represent 80 percent of the farming population. They suffer disproportionately in the face of droughts, floods and other weather-related events.
Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and more severe, threatening the reliability and productivity of agriculture, exacerbating already extreme levels of poverty, and reinforcing persistent inequity and chronic under-nutrition, said Amadou Allahoury, FAO Representative in Ethiopia, during the press conference. These problems can only be solved through the widespread adoption of more resilient, productive, sustainable, equitable and increasingly efficient farming practices, he added.
Beyond the effects on the farming communities, climate change has also a massive economic impact. In the last thirty years alone, it cost the global economy close to 40 trillion dollars. This is why a massive investment is needed to strengthen national response capacity and build the resilience of the poorest people help adapt their farming practice to climate change, said John Aylieff, WFP Country Director in Ethiopia. The good news in this country is that added Mr. John, Ethiopia has made and is making substantial investments to mitigate the impacts of the climate change.
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Contact: Tamiru Legesse l National Communication Offcicer l [email protected]