Climate change and food security in Africa

Climate change in Africa is reducing its food security. Climate change at the global, continental, and sub-continental levels has been observed to include an increase in air and ocean temperatures, sea-level rise, a decrease in snow and ice extent, an increase and decrease in precipitation, changes in terrestrial and marine biological systems, and ocean acidification. The agricultural industry is responsible for more than 60% of full time employment in Africa. Millions of people in Africa depend on the agricultural industry for their economic well-being and means of subsistence. A variety of climate change-related factors such as worsening pests and diseases that damage agriculture and livestock, altered rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, droughts, and floods are having a negative impact on the agricultural industry in Africa. Many African populations access to food is being impacted by these climate change effects on the agricultural industry, which result in a trend of decreasing crop yields, animal losses, and rising food prices.

Effects of climate change on African food security
Since 1961 in Africa, anthropogenic climate change has been attributed to a 34% loss in agricultural total factor productivity, which measures agricultural production as well as livestock. The reduction in crop yields brought on by altered precipitation patterns and increased temperatures is one of the most significant effects because it causes variable periods of drought and flooding. In 2010-2011, Somalia, a country on the Horn of Africa, experienced the East African Drought, which led to mass livestock fatality, and poor crop harvests. During the famine (October 2010- April 2012), the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) estimated that Somalia experienced around 258,000 deaths attributable to the emergency, 52% of which were estimated to be children. Somalia experienced drought again starting in 2020 and continuing through 2023, resulting in millions of livestock deaths, and poor/ failed harvests from 5 consecutive missed rainy seasons. The WHO (World Health Organization) estimated that in 2022, 43,000 people died in Somalia because of the drought.

The El Niño weather effect can severely alter climate in Africa, having the strongest effect on precipitation, it caused by the shifting of warm water in the Pacific Ocean, and was responsible for widespread drought, crop loss, and food insecurity in Southern Africa between 2015 and 2017. In a statement in 2016, the SADC (Southern African Development Community), comprising 16 member states in Southern Africa, estimated that around 40 million people within Southern Africa were experiencing or at risk of experiencing food insecurity because of the El Niño event, they also estimated that 9.3 million tonnes of cereal crops were lost. Climate change has also boosted the prevalence of pests and illnesses, endangering agricultural output and livestock production. In 2020 and 2021 East Africa experienced a Desert Locust crisis, the worst of which Kenya and Uganda had seen for 70 years, that was caused by extreme weather events in the form of two tropical cyclones and increased precipitation in the region that provided circumstances apt for breeding. Desert Locust swarms consume crop land at an alarming rate, a study conducted by the FAO in 2020 surveyed 7800 households in Uganda, and found that 15% of all households reported over 75% of their crop had been damaged due to the swarms. Between 2003 and 2005 the Sahel region of Africa experienced a Desert Locust upsurge, which the FAO estimated to be responsible for a 80-100% loss in cereal crops, and a 85-90% loss in leguminous crops, in the countries Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Mali. The FAO estimated that 8,380,000 people from the countries Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Chad were affected in some capacity from the upsurge.

Similar to agriculture, for many people in Africa, livestock is a vital source of food, income, and labor, which increases these communities vulnerability too, and exacerbates the food security situation. In Nigeria and Kenya, drought and desertification are destroying grazing land at an increasing rate, leading to competition and violent conflict between livestock owners over grazeland. Many Africans now find it difficult to afford food due to rising food prices brought on by these losses, as of 2020, 77% of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa cannot afford to eat a healthy diet. Additionally, because of the nutrition needs of adolescent women compared to men, more expensive foods are required to meet the nutrition baseline. Because of the increasing lack of these foods, in some places in Africa like Ghana, the cost for a nutrition adequate diet for women is three times that of a similar aged man. Climate change poses a serious challenge to food security in Africa, where agricultural yields have been gradually dropping, and where population growth and increased demand for food, water, and forage increase the possibility of hunger and under-nutrition.

Africa's vulnerability to climate change related food insecurity
The main sources of Africa's 3.6% share of the world's Carbon dioxide emissions are gas flaring in the Niger Delta and coal-fired power plants in South Africa. But, the continent's forests are rapidly disappearing because of desertification and deforestation, which has negative consequences for both Africa and the climate at large. Despite having very low carbon dioxide emissions in comparison to other places, Africa is more vulnerable than other continents to the damaging effects of climate change because of its unique vulnerabilities and reliance on climate sensitive resources. In West Africa's arid and semi-arid regions, dry terrain or desert makes up three-quarters of the continent's surface. The Sahel is a region that stretches from East Africa to West Africa, and is a transition zone between the dry Sahara Desert in North Africa to wetter areas in the south. Economic activity in the Sahel is largely dependent on climate-sensitive industries, such as rain-fed agriculture and Forestry, which are responsible for over 60% of employment as well as 40% of the regions GDP. A study in 2014 on local communities near the Kahuzi-Biega National Park near Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, found that 94% percent of respondents relied on rain-fed agriculture for income. Agriculture contributes around 70% of employment, 30% of GDP, and 50% of exports in a rain-fed economy.

All countries combined, Africa relies on imports to meet around 85% of the food requirements of its countries citizens. Therefore, Africa is highly vulnerable to food price shocks, and especially crop price seasonality, which climate change is expected to further worsen. A study measured the percentage of seasonal gap in food prices in 13 different foods, in 7 African countries (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Niger, Tanzania, and Uganda) between 2000 and 2012. The study found that maize experienced a 33.1% seasonal price gap and sorghum and millet to have 22% and 20.1% seasonal gaps, however, the largest seasonal price gaps could be found in fruit and vegetables, such as tomatoes (60.8%). The agriculture industry serves as a safety net for rural poor people. People are increasingly susceptible since drought and flooding are more frequent and intense in many areas, including the nations surrounding the Rift Valley, the plains of Mozambique, Senegal, and The Gambia.

African food security and climate change adaptation strategies
Numerous adaptation measures are being implemented in Africa to mitigate the impact of climate change on food security. Among the most crucial strategies is the development and adoption of climate-resilient agricultural techniques. This involves utilizing crops that are resistant to drought, enhancing soil and water conservation, and utilizing integrated pest management. Additionally, diversifying sources of income is another adaptive technique that can be employed. Many African communities rely heavily on a single food or livestock source, making them particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. By diversifying income sources, such as through off-farm revenue-generating activities, a buffer against climate shocks can be created. Furthermore, enhancing food distribution and storage methods may contribute to reduced food waste and increased food availability. Farmers may invest in climate-resilient practices and technologies by having better access to credit and financial services.

The following adaptation strategies are being developed by individuals, groups, and institutions to mitigate climate change risks:


 * Climate-smart agriculture production
 * Diversification of sources of income and alternative livelihoods
 * Decentralization of local resource control
 * Alternative eco-friendly energy sources
 * Infrastructure development
 * Information on the climate
 * Early warning systems
 * Insurance program