Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), a non-profit international organisation, says it has trained three rice farmer groups in Nasarawa State on the production of briquette from rice husk, an alternative fuel source to the use of firewood.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State
The rice husk briquette is being produced using the Tromso grind mill machine, a Japanese technology.
Dr Moshood Suleiman, Programme Officer, Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture of SAA, told newsmen on Friday, April 5, 2024, in Assakio near Lafia, that the training was part of its project for the revitalisation of rice cooperatives and decarbonisation of rice production and processing in the state.
He said that the project was funded by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs with support from Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme (NADP).
According to him, part of the project is the construction of two rice aggregation centres – Assakio and Agwatashi communities in the state with installed rice processing facilities including rice mills and briquette making machines.
Suleiman said that the idea of the production of the briquette from rice husk was to provide an alternative to the use of firewood as a source of energy, thereby discouraging the indiscriminate felling of trees leading to deforestation.
He noted that the briquette production would help to reduce the environmental nuisance posed by heaps of rice husk to rice producing communities.
He explained that the briquette was purely made from rice husk without any binding component.
The programme officer said: “We brought these experts from Tokyo, Japan to train the rice farmer groups on how to operate and maintain the briquette machines.
“The briquette production is a value addition activity. The briquettes are very efficient and durable energy source because the burning rate is very slow and eco-friendly.
“The rice producers will use the husk from the milled rice to produce briquette, which will still be used to power the rice parboiling process.
“They can also sell to members of the community in order to make money and discourage the use of firewood as domestic fuel.”
Suleiman explained that eight operators were trained from Agwatashi community in Obi Local Government Area as well as Shabu and Assakio in Lafia Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Oboshi Osko, one of the trainees, appreciated SAA for the opportunity, saying the project had greatly impacted on their rice production capacity.
New York State Emergency Management has warned that residents might experience aftershocks of the 4.8 magnitude earthquake, which occurred in the city and New Jersey on Friday, April 5, 2024.
New York
The earthquake, which occurred at 10:23a.m. local time, eight miles northwest of Bridgewater, New Jersey, affected some areas in New York.
It rattled skyscrapers and buildings across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.
The emergency agency, in a safety alert issued, urged the public to call 911 if they were experiencing an emergency.
“An earthquake occurred in New Jersey. The earthquake has been felt throughout New York State. Aftershocks may occur. Call 9-1-1 only if you or others are injured or have an emergency.’’
An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 is generally considered moderate, though it appears to be among the biggest earthquakes to ever affect New York City.
In addition to New York and New Jersey, the quake was felt in parts of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts .
New York governor Kathy Hochul said that the impact of the earthquake was being assessed.
“My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day,” she wrote on X.
The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has called on the Federal and Nasarawa State Governments to carry out proper oversight functions to stop illegal miners now trooping into Uke district in Karu local government area of Nasarawa in search of solid minerals.
The mining landscape
RDI request is informed by findings from an investigation carried out by its field monitors in Uke district in Karu LGA where community members complained about the unchecked influx of foreigners into the community and the likelihood of insecurity in the district due to the illegal mining activities. They revealed that the situation has escalated following the recent announcement by the state government that it had obtained a license from the federal government to mine gold and lithium in the district.
Governor Abdullahi Sule had disclosed during the state executive council meeting in January 2024 that the state government had secured three licenses for exploration of gold and lithium, and expressed optimism that the state would benefit immensely from the exploration of the mineral deposit in terms of revenue generation and job opportunity for its teeming youths.
But RDI Board member, Tobias Dapam Lengnan, said that the team that visited the district noticed that though the mining activities in the area were crude and lacked semblance of proper regulation, the miners stopped anyone from coming into the environment with video recording equipment or those intending to use their phones for the same purpose. They also barred anyone claiming to be a journalist from entering the mining sites.
The team also learnt that the horde of young miners consisting of mainly non-natives and nationals from other countries in West Africa do not respect the culture of the people and displayed aggressive tendencies when they are challenged.
It was alleged that aside from the poor state of the environment, prostitution is now a serious challenge in the district as the miners allegedly lure young girls away from their homes and schools with cash in exchange for sex, promises of procuring them mobile phones and other favours.
In a statement issued in Abuja, RDI Executive Director, Philip Jakpor, said: “The situation in Uke and surrounding mining communities in Nasarawa reflects a growing and disturbing pattern of violation of the environment in mining communities across the country from Zamfara to Kaduna, Plateau, Ebonyi and elsewhere allowing the miners to operate unchecked while the local landowners and farmers lose out.”
Jakpor explained that the findings exposed the stark reality that the kind of crisis in communities where fossil fuel extraction occurs is now being replicated in communities where the exploration and extraction of supposed green minerals like lithium are ongoing.
He argued that the lack of proper oversight functions and monitoring of mining activities and its actors by the government are responsible for the challenges that locals near the mining sites are complaining about, even as he added that, suddenly, all the mining sites in the country had become no-go areas.
“In some cases, there is clear collusion between the miners and unscrupulous government officials who allow them to terrorise and force communities and farm owners from their ancestral lands so that they can continue their environmentally unfriendly practices.”
Going further, he demanded that the Nasarawa and Federal Governments compel the mining companies operating in Uke district to comply with regulations in Nigeria’s Minerals and Mining Act 2007 which stipulates that no reconnaissance activity shall be carried out and no mineral title shall be granted under the Act over any area that is designated as closed to mining.
In the field report from the investigation, see here: https://renevlyninitiative.org/2024/03/25/how-lithium-and-gold-mining-fuel-insecurity-prostitution-in-nasarawa-community/ RDI urged government to carry out comprehensive environmental audit in Uke district to ascertain the level of destruction of the environment, pollution of farmlands and ground water that the locals consume to be followed by restoration of the environment and commensurate compensation for local community members.
“Unless these measures are taken, the fanfare that has greeted Nigeria’s recourse to green minerals will evaporate before our own eyes and the communities that had welcomed government initiatives in this regard will start experiencing what their counterparts in the Niger Delta are experiencing. We cannot allow that to happen,” he stated.
Nigeria has begun the implementation of Hydrochlorofluocarbons Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) project to completely phase out its 2010 baseline consumption of 344.9 Tonnes of HCFC by 2040.
Delegates at the Sacral Industries Limited event in Lagos
Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State, Federal Minister of Environment, made this submission in his keynote address delivered at the official commissioning of the ozone and climate-friendly air conditioning manufacturing line at Sacral Industries Limited in Lagos on Thursday, April 4, 2024.
The Minister said: “Nigeria is a party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, this is a multilateral environmental agreement that regulates the production and consumption of man-made chemicals referred to as Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).
“Under the treaty, parties have specific responsibilities related to the phase-out of different groups of ODS. In September 2007, parties to the protocol decided to accelerate their phase out schedule for Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) which are gases used worldwide in refrigeration, air conditioning and foam applications, being ozone-depleting substances and powerful greenhouse gases. Developing countries, including Nigeria, agreed to their phase-out process in 2013 and are now following a stepwise reduction until complete phase-out by 2040.”
Speaking further, Dr. Salako opined: “The project is being implemented in stages and, having completed stages 1 and 2 under the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) component of the project, the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol approved stage 3, which we are currently implementing, focusing on the conversion of eligible companies in the refrigeration and air conditioning manufacturing sector from the use of HCFCs to ozone-friendly and low global warming potential alternatives such as Hydrocarbons, to help Nigeria meet its target of 67.5% reduction in HCFC baseline consumption by 2025.
“This project will assist Nigeria in its compliance with the Montreal Protocol provisions, thereby raising the country’s status among the Committee of Nations as a model of success in the implementation of the Montreal Protocol. The converted line will lead to the phase-out of 10.93 Metric Tonnes of HCFC-22, thereby contributing to the achievement of Nigeria’s 67.5% reduction target of HCFC baseline consumption by 2025.”
The Minister also reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and its ODS phase-out programme and also reiterated that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda and Skills Up Acquisition programme of promoting indigenous production, will put in place all necessary policies and enabling legislations that will sustain the phase-out of HCFC-22 in the refrigeration and air-conditioning manufacturing sector in Nigeria.
The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, who highlighted the significance of Daikin Air Conditioners, noted that the product would directly tackle the pressing issue of climate change.
He said: “One of the priority issues at Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), a conference that we first hosted over 30 years ago aiming to tackle various issues that Africa faces along with African continent.
“The start of this production line in Nigeria serves as a hopeful sign expected to greatly contribute to Africa’s effort in combating climate change. We look forward to seeing positive effects it will bring to Nigeria and across the continent.”
Rajeev S. Girglani, Managing Director, Sacral Industries Limited, in his submission, noted that the launch of a new manufacturing line is a transition from environmental harmful gases to cleaner and greener future.
“It has been our goal all along to make sure that we are able to meet climate change challenges and achieve a green future which we all benefit from.
“Our 32-unit product, apart from being environmentally friendly, also consumes vastly low electricity in comparison to previous units,” he stressed.
Oluyomi Banjo, National Programme Coordinator, Energy and Environment for UNIDO, noted that their involvement in the project is in partnership with National Ozone Office of the Federal Ministry of Environment and it is geared towards upgrading and changing the technology of the air conditioners manufacturing line in Nigeria.
He stressed that manufacturing and assembly of the products can be done in Nigeria using new technologies that are globally accepted.
“This technology is environmentally safe with low ozone depleting potential and also low climate change potential with lots of potentials of creating additional jobs for Nigerians,” he declared.
Between 23 and 27 March, the 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) was held in Geneva, Switzerland. The IPU, founded in 1889, is the world’s oldest parliamentary body, predating even the United Nations. It has 180 members, 14 associate members, and six geopolitical groups (Africa Group, Arab Group, Eurasia Group, Asia-Pacific Group, Group of Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Twelve Plus Group). The IPU, which focuses on advocating for parliamentary actions for the global good, has recently begun to use its vast platform to address climate change issues, particularly the role that parliaments can play in addressing climate change.
Professor Chukwumerije Okereke
Indeed, parliaments are central to the achievement of not only the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and associated climate change resolutions and targets. Aware of this, the UN Convention on Climate Change approved the formation of the Parliamentary Group as one of the Informal Groups of the Convention, with the Parliamentary Group bringing together Members of Parliaments and Parliamentary networks since COP26 in Glasgow, to ensure the greater and more impactful participation of MPs, first in the COP processes, and also in their own respective constituencies.
The important roles of parliaments in driving climate action are framed by their constitutional duties of representation, legislation, and oversight. MPs, as representatives of the people, are best positioned to communicate with their constituents and advocate for their needs to the government.
As the world grapples with climate change, parliamentarians have continued to play a critical role in driving climate action. For example, parliaments have passed legislation to guarantee that countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The first of such was the Climate Change Law of the United Kingdom of 2008. Subsequently, several other countries, including Mexico, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, etc., have enacted their own climate change laws. All of these laws have one thing in common: each parliament’s focus has always been on the country’s unique peculiarities and approaches to meeting its climate change obligations. Thus, for high-emitting countries, the focus has been on mitigation, while low-emitting countries have often focused on adaptation measures and leveraging climate action for sustainable growth.
Yet, legislation is not all that parliaments do in terms of climate action. In developed countries, parliaments have been conspicuously active in driving the ambitions of their governments through debates, summons to committee meetings, interrogation of actions during oversight missions, and through the appropriation of funds. For instance, between 2023 and now, the European Union Parliament has adopted a number of rules and policies to help meet the Union’s long-term climate change goals. Some of these include a broadening of the scope of the Net-Zero Industry Act to include the entire supply chain; a new rule to help with the decarbonisation of the transport sector, etc.
Closer home, in Africa, as part of its Post-Legislative Scrutiny, the Kenyan Parliament, in the build-up to Africa Climate Week 2023, amended the country’s Climate Change Act to make provisions for carbon market mechanisms, in line with the country’s new vision of finding the intersection between climate action and sustainable development.
In Nigeria, the parliament passed the Climate Change Bill in 2021, which was later signed into law by the President. Through this action, the Nigerian Parliament provided the country with the legal framework for a push for net zero between 2050 and 2070. Furthermore, the creation of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) by the Act helps the country in its drive for coordinated action in order to meet its climate change goals, in the context of the country’s economic diversification and sustainable development.
While experts work to figure out pathways to achieve these, the Nigerian Parliament has a critical role to play in ensuring that all stakeholders do their parts. This could take the form of oversight and the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the processes. It is also the role of parliament to ensure that the funds necessary to drive action are appropriated annually. To this end, every annual Appropriation Bill and Supplementary Appropriation Bill submitted by the Executive ought to be rigorously vetted to be sure that climate change considerations are mainstreamed.
Evidently, then, the Nigerian Parliament, like other parliaments, has a huge role to play in ensuring that the country meets its long-term climate ambitions. However, the path ahead demands more than legislative frameworks and oversight. It calls for a paradigm shift in how Nigerian MPs perceive their role in climate action. The urgent need for education and technical support for these MPs cannot be overstated. Their enlightenment is crucial for Nigeria to not just meet but exceed its climate ambitions. This is where the narrative must evolve — from awareness to action, and from participation to leadership.
This is necessary because, despite the critical role of parliaments in climate action, not many of the MPs in Nigeria are knowledgeable about climate change and the important role they have to play in driving action. If the country’s long-term goals are to be achieved, Nigerian MPs must be fully aware of their responsibilities and roles and judiciously play their part.
Chukwumerije Okereke is professor of Global Governance and Public Policy, University of Bristol UK, and Director, Centre for Climate Change and Development, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Nigeria
In the vast arena of sports, where the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat play out, the intertwining of gambling and match-fixing has occasionally cast long shadows over the field of play. The chronicles of sports history are marked by instances where the allure of financial gain has tempted individuals to cross ethical boundaries, leading to some of the most notorious scandals in sports.
Bangbet
Yet, these historical episodes serve not only as stark reminders of the pitfalls of unethical behavior but also as pivotal learning moments. They underscore the critical importance of integrity in sports betting, a principle that Bangbet, Nigeria’s premier sports betting platform, embodies and champions.
A Journey Through Time: The Intersection of Ethics and Sports
The narrative of sports is replete with cautionary tales of gambling and match-fixing, from the early 20th century Black Sox Scandal to more recent controversies surrounding figures like Pete Rose. These incidents reveal the vulnerabilities of sports to the corrupting influence of money, challenging the integrity of games and the trust of fans worldwide. Yet, they also highlight the evolution of sports betting from a stigmatized activity to one that is more regulated and accepted, provided it adheres to ethical standards.
Bangbet emerges as a beacon of integrity in this landscape, illustrating how sports betting when conducted responsibly, can enhance the enjoyment of sports without compromising ethical values. By promoting transparency, fairness, and responsible gambling, Bangbet sets the benchmark for ethical sports betting in Nigeria. Engage with a platform that respects the integrity of sports by starting with Bangbet’s easy registration process, and stepping into a world where betting is both thrilling and principled.
Embracing Modern Safeguards for Sports Integrity
The digital era has introduced sophisticated technologies that offer new safeguards to protect the integrity of sports betting. Bangbet is at the forefront of employing advanced security measures and algorithms to ensure betting fairness and prevent unethical practices. This commitment to leveraging technology enhances the betting experience, ensuring that users can place bets with confidence in the system’s integrity.
Follow Bet: Pioneering Ethical Betting Strategies
Bangbet distinguishes itself with the innovative Follow Bet feature, which embodies the platform’s commitment to ethical betting. This feature allows novice bettors to replicate the strategies of experienced bettors, fostering a transparent and learning-oriented betting environment. Follow Bet is not just a tool for making informed bets; it is a testament to Bangbet’s dedication to upholding sportsmanship and integrity in the betting community.
Follow Bet is said to be a testament to Bangbet’s dedication to upholding sportsmanship and integrity in the betting community
The Role of Education in Promoting Betting Integrity
Knowledge is a cornerstone of ethical betting, and Bangbet places a strong emphasis on educating its users about the nuances of sports betting, the importance of integrity, and the pitfalls of unethical behavior. Through resources and guides available on Bangbet’s news and guide section, bettors are empowered with the knowledge to bet responsibly, making informed decisions that reflect a deep respect for the sports they love.
At Bangbet, bettors have access to competitive odds, enhancing the betting experience with fairness and transparency
Conclusion: Shaping the Future of Sports Betting with Integrity
The narrative arc from the historical scandals to today’s era of regulated and ethical sports betting underscores a collective journey toward integrity and responsibility. Bangbet stands as a pillar in this evolving landscape, championing the principles of fairness, transparency, and responsible gambling. By integrating lessons from the past with modern technological safeguards and educational initiatives, Bangbet not only provides a secure and ethical betting platform but also contributes to the broader effort to preserve the integrity and spirit of sports.
Engage with Bangbet, where the legacy of integrity in sports betting is preserved through innovative features, educational resources, and a steadfast commitment to ethical practices. Here, betting transcends mere entertainment, embodying the values of sportsmanship and integrity that are essential to the true spirit of competition.
This expanded article delves deeper into the ethos of Bangbet as a leader in promoting integrity within the sports betting industry in Nigeria. Through historical insights, technological advancements, and the pioneering Follow Bet feature, Bangbet exemplifies how sports betting can be both exciting and ethically grounded.
A new report by InfluenceMap using the Carbon Majors database quantifies the contribution of the world’s largest oil, gas, coal, and cement producers to global carbon emissions, which are the primary driver of climate change. The report shows that the majority of global CO2 emissions produced since the Paris Agreement can be traced to a small group of high emitters who are failing to slow production.
Greenhouse gas increases are leading to a faster rate of global warming. Photo credit: earthtimes.org
These 57 corporate and state entities can be linked to 80% of fossil fuel and cement CO2 emissions from 2016 through 2022. Nation-state producers account for 38% of emissions in the database since the Paris Agreement, while state-owned entities account for 37%, and investor-owned companies for 25%.
The Carbon Majors dataset contains emissions data from 1854 through 2022. New analysis of the whole dataset reveals that over 70% of global fossil fuel and cement CO2 emissions since the Industrial Revolution can be traced to 78 corporate and state producing entities. Over the same period, just 19 entities contributed 50% of these CO2 emissions.
Top 10 entities historically (1854–2022) are: China (Coal) (14% of global CO2 emissions), Former Soviet Union (6.8%), Saudi Aramco (3.6%), Chevron (3.0%), ExxonMobil (2.8%), Gazprom (2.3%), National Iranian Oil Co. (2.2%), BP (2.2%), Shell (2.1%), and Coal India (1.5%).
Top 10 companies since Paris Agreement (2016–2022) include: Saudi Aramco (4.8%), Gazprom (3.3%), Coal India (3.0%), National Iranian Oil Co. (2.8%), Rosneft (2.1%), CNPC (1.7%), Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (1.7%), ExxonMobil (1.4%), Iraq National Oil Co. (1.4%), and Shell (1.2%).
Daan Van Acker, Program Manager at InfluenceMap said: “The Carbon Majors database is a key tool in attributing responsibility for climate change to the fossil fuel producers with the most significant role in driving global CO2 emissions. InfluenceMap’s new analysis shows that this group is not slowing down production, with most entities increasing production after the Paris Agreement. This research provides a crucial link in holding these energy giants to account on the consequences of their activities.”
The Carbon Majors dataset is said to have proven crucial in holding fossil fuel producers to account for their climate-related impacts in academic, regulatory, and legal contexts. Examples include quantifying the contribution these entities have made to global surface temperature, sea level, and atmospheric CO2 rise; and establishing corporate accountability for climate-related human rights violations in the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines’ 2022 National Inquiry on Climate Change.
President and CEO of the Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Carroll Muffett, said: “Richard Heede’s landmark Carbon Majors research transformed the landscape of climate accountability by using the fossil fuel industry’s own reported production and operation figures to calculate and expose the true scale of its role in the climate crisis. By updating and extending that research – and making it more widely accessible and usable for researchers, decisionmakers, and litigators alike – InfluenceMap’s new Carbon Majors database will transform that landscape yet again.
“The Carbon Majors database makes it dramatically easier to document, calculate, and visually demonstrate the growing chasm between the urgent demands of climate reality and the continued reckless and intentional growth of oil and gas production. Critically, it enables us to track changes in corporate behavior and production across discrete and clearly defined timescales that will be relevant to investors, investigators, and litigators alike. It is a vital and powerful new tool in the work toward climate action and climate accountability.”
International Programme Director at Stand.earth and Chair at Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, Tzeporah Berman, said: “The Carbon Majors research shows us exactly who is responsible for the lethal heat, extreme weather, and air pollution that is threatening lives and wreaking havoc on our oceans and forests. These companies have made billions of dollars in profits while denying the problem and delaying and obstructing climate policy.
“They are spending millions on advertising campaigns about being part of a sustainable solution, all the while continuing to invest in more fossil fuel extraction. These findings emphasise that, more than ever, we need our governments to stand up to these companies, and we need new international cooperation through a Fossil Fuel Treaty to end the expansion of fossil fuels and ensure a truly just transition.”
María Mendiluce, CEO, We Mean Business Coalition: “The Carbon Majors database highlights just how deeply entangled our economies and societies are with fossil fuels. The good news is that a new paradigm is emerging. Ahead of COP28, hundreds of companies came together to call for the phase out of fossil fuels.
“We Mean Business Coalition’s Fossil to Clean campaign has shown that a rapid transition away from fossil fuels is possible and makes good business sense. As that demand signal continues to grow louder, those most exposed to the fossil fuel industry are going to be left behind.”
Other key findings from the analysis include:
The top five investor-owned companies, Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, and ConocoPhillips are responsible for 11.1% of historical fossil fuel and cement CO2 emissions (196 GtCO2).
The top five state-owned companies, Saudi Aramco, Gazprom, the National Iranian Oil Company, Coal India, and Pemex, are responsible for 10.9% of historical fossil fuel and cement CO2 emissions (194 GtCO2).
Coal supply since 2015 has shifted from investor-owned to state-owned entities. Investor-owned coal production emissions dropped by 939 MtCO2e, a decrease of 27.9%, from 2015 to 2022. However, emissions from nation-state and state-owned producers grew by 2,208 MtCO2e and 343 MtCO2e between 2015 and 2022, increases of 19% and 29%, respectively.
Most fossil fuel companies totaled higher production in the seven years after the Paris Agreement compared to the seven-year period before. 65% of state-owned companies and 55% of investor-owned companies showed higher production in 2016–2022 than in 2009–2015.
The increase in production by state- and investor-owned companies after the Paris Agreement compared to before is most prevalent in Asia. All five Asian investor-owned companies and eight out of the 10 Asian state-owned entities are linked to higher emissions in 2016–2022 compared to 2009–2015. This is primarily shaped by rising emissions from Asian coal production.
In Nigeria’s Niger Delta and elsewhere in the world, water access, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) continues to be sacrificed daily on the altar of oil money. When will we stop the organised/legalised climate crimes?
The United Nations has pledged to assist Zimbabwe in mobilising resources to address the El Nino-induced drought crisis.
Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe
This commitment follows President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s declaration of a state of disaster due to the drought, which has significantly reduced cereal output and affected critical food security resources for rural communities.
“The UN pledges its support to the government of Zimbabwe in mobilising resources to tackle the El Nino-induced drought, and efforts are underway to finalise a response plan.
“The response plan would focus on food security, health, education, shelter and other essential areas to address the needs of those affected by the crisis,” said Edward Kallon, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Zimbabwe.
As part of its anticipatory action and early response, the UN allocated Zimbabwe $5 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund in December 2023, targeting areas such as water, hygiene and sanitation, health, food security and nutrition.
Noting the severe impact of the dry spell in Zimbabwe and the southern African region, Kallon said that in Zimbabwe, the crisis has far-reaching consequences across various sectors of the economy.
In declaring the disaster, Mnangagwa said that Zimbabwe requires over two billion dollars to respond to the drought.
Despite planting 1,728,897 hectares of maize crop and other cereals this year, which should have guaranteed a bountiful harvest, only 868,273 metric tonnes of cereal are expected in this season’s harvest.
This leaves the nation with a cereal deficit of nearly 680,000 metric tonnes of grain, according to Mnangagwa.
Zimbabwe has an annual cereal requirement of 2.2 million tonnes for both human and livestock consumption.
An agronomist, Mr Joseph Kaltungo, has raised concerns over the impact of climate change on food security efforts, urging government at all levels to intensify investment in dry season farming.
Flooded farmland
Kaltungo said in Gombe on Thursday, April 4, 2024, that climate change issues must be taken seriously if the country was to make progress in food security.
According to him, the impact of climate change on agriculture can result to major food crisis in the country as well as discourage farmers from the vocation.
He stated that climate change impact on agriculture was gradually affecting the incomes of farmers and gradually pushing many of them into poverty.
“In my life as an agriculturist I have never seen a dry spell in September as witnessed in 2023. This had severe impact on all crops and caused farmers to have great loss.
“The rain stopped in September for three to four weeks at a level of translocation of photosynthesis.
“This is when all crops were about removing all the foods that have been formed in the plant and depositing them either as grains, rice, ground nuts and cassava amongst others.
“And this process requires water medium, soil moisture for translocation and there was no water, so translocation was impacted negatively,” he said.
Mr Kaltungo, the former acting programme manager, Gombe State Agricultural Development Programme, said the challenge affected the yield for 2023 cropping season.
According to him, hectares of farmland where farmers could have 100 bags of rice under normal condition produced only 10 bags, adding that the same was happened to maize and other crops.
He said climate change, amongst other factors was gradually leading to food insecurity, hence the urgent need for governments to invest massively in agriculture, particularly in dry season farming.
“As an agriculturist I can tell you that the major solution to addressing the impact of climate change on agriculture is to increase investment in dry season farming.
“In dry season farming all factors are regulated and you can have better harvest per hectare than in wet seasoning farming.
“In dry season flood, dry spell and other issues associated with weather and climate change have no impact on crops,” he said.
