Stakeholders call for effective sustainable natural resources management to tackle the effects of climate change
17 October 2016, Arbaminch – Sustainable watershed-based management and protection of natural resources is instrumental to cope with the effects of climate change and build the resilience of the most vulnerable communities was the key message came from key stakeholders during the 2016WFD celebration in southern Ethiopia’s beautiful city of Arbaminch with attendance of more than 300 farmers, government officials, young people and the media.
Erratic rainfall, recurrent droughts, and even floods have been affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of Ethiopians. These challenges have been exacerbated by the climate change including the most recent floods and El Nino-induced droughts. Ethiopia is struggling to build its resilience capacity to reduce its vulnerability to these impacts.
“Our success with watershed management has shown that we need to strengthen and widen soil and water conservation activities,” said Wondirad Mandefero State Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “We learned that these good practices have enriched water availability for irrigation that supported vulnerable communities to grow enough food and build their resilience.”
His Excellency Mr. Tilahun Kebede, Deputy Administrator of SNNPR and Head of Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resources said, “We need to change our rain-dependent agricultural system to adapt to the changing climate. Building climate resilient is all about survival during these growing impacts of climate change. Integrated natural resources management practices have already paid off by building the coping capacity of farmers and pastoralists against erratic rainfall and drought conditions.”
The Ethiopian Livestock sector is an integral part pastoral and farming community, yet highly threatened by the effects of climate change. A pastoral livelihood is also one of the hardest hit by the effects of climate change.
“We cannot continue our agricultural practices doing business as usual,” said His Excellency Mr. Sileshi Getahun, Minister Livestock and Fisheries. He added, “We need to change our approaches and speed of progress and move faster than the effects of climate change. This requires that we work very hard to transform our agricultural and livestock production practices to mitigate the effects of climate change and produce at a level that enables us to substantially reduce the vulnerabilities of the livestock and human population.”
The slogan for WFD2016 – “Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too” highlights how food and agriculture need to adapt to climate change in order to feed a growing population in a sustainable way.
In his keynote address to over 300 farmers, government officials, young people and the media, Mr. Amadou Allahoury, FAO Representative in Ethiopia noted, “Climate change is a fundamental threat to global food security. Climate change is already undermining crop yields in many parts of the world including Ethiopia.”
Ethiopia mainly relies on smallholder agriculture to provide food and income. However, it is highly vulnerable and hardest hit by the impacts of climate change.
Mr. Allahoury went on, “If we fail to act now, recurrent droughts could become the new normal. Investments in productive, sustainable and resilient agricultural development can enhance agricultural productivity, output and income; build resilience; contribute to sustainably managing natural resources such as water; and deliver mitigation benefits by easing the pressures that drive deforestation and enhancing soil organic carbon.”
WFD2016 was celebrated with key note addresses, exhibition of agricultural products, coffee ceremony, cultural show and music, panel discussion, farmers’ testimonies, students’ quiz contest and field visit to watershed management site, organic banana farming and marketing, fish multiplication centre, and silkworm production enterprise.
WFD 2016 was celebrated in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, SNNP Regional State, and UN agencies including WFP and UNEP.
Contact: Tamiru Legesse l National Communication Officer l [email protected]