Synergies in Fight Against Desertification , Climate Change
via-globalissues.org. Climate change aggravates soil degradation, but sustainable use of land resources can, in turn, mitigate global warming, according to participants at the United Nations conference on desertification in the Argentine capital.
Ahead of the Climate Summit to be held in Copenhagen in December, representatives of 193 governments are meeting this week in Buenos Aires for the Ninth Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 9) to the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
From now on, it will be difficult to speak of climate change without talking about the need to replenish the soil, said Namibia's Environment and Tourism Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah after the second day of discussions at the COP 9 high-level group, made up of ministers of the states party and international officials.
Participants at this ninth session, which runs through Friday, debated the role land use will play in the negotiations on new climate change mitigation measures in the Danish capital. Nandi-Ndaitwah said there has never been such a clear link, based on scientific evidence, between climate change and degradation as there is now.
Delegates from Latin America and Africa insisted on the relevance and importance of the Convention to Combat Desertification, which has a different mandate from the Climate Change Convention. Seeking synergies, in complementary ways, is the path toward meeting the Convention's goals, said the Namibian minister.
The high-level meeting was opened by the Convention's executive secretary, Luc Gnacadja of Benin, who said that sustainable soil management must be part of the negotiations at Copenhagen. 'Carbon in the atmosphere is a pollutant, but in the soil, it is a commodity and a common good,' he said.
Gnacadja read a message from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the assembled delegates, in which Ban maintained it was necessary to 'take into account the intrinsic linkages between desertification, land degradation and climate change.'
'Sustainable land management can make a critical contribution through carbon sequestration, land reclamation and efforts to combat soil loss and restore vegetation,' said Ban, adding that 'when world leaders gather in Copenhagen in December, the land agenda should be part of the picture.' He encouraged country representatives to make their deliberations a model for the delegates to the climate change conference.
Soil degradation, caused by climate effects as well as human activity, affects over two billion people around the world. In Latin America and the Caribbean, 25 percent of the land is degraded, accentuating poverty, hunger and migration.
According to scientific research, intensive agriculture, deforestation and soil degradation produce greenhouse gases that heat up the atmosphere. But by reversing the process, that is, by enriching degraded soil through sustainable management practices, carbon can be fixed in the soil instead of released into the atmosphere.
If soil degradation continues unchecked, causing loss of productivity, emigration and food insecurity, the impacts of climate change, like longer and more severe droughts in dry areas, will exacerbate the problems of poverty and hunger, the research indicates.
The head of the U.N. Forum on Forests, Jan McAlpine, who is attending the conference, told IPS the issue of soil degradation definitely has a role to play in discussions on climate change, although the relationship is a complex one.
The UNCCD is not only about the contribution of soil to fixing carbon, but also concerns the protection of biodiversity, water, and the welfare of people living in fragile ecosystems like dryland areas.
The delegates also discussed the need for more resources to combat soil degradation. A greater financial commitment for soil renewal projects is needed, which according to some delegates might be provided under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Industrialised countries can offset greenhouse gas emissions under the Climate Change Convention by paying for reforestation projects elsewhere, which could contribute to replenishing degraded soil.
Desertification's effect on Nambia's food security
via- desertification.wordpress.com Namibia produces about a third of its food requirements, and imports the rest to meet the remaining two-thirds. The country does not have any significant influence on global food prices, thus in economic terms Namibia is a ‘price taker’.
The general trend of cereal prices all over the world shows prices go upward. Unfortunately, this impact is being felt here in Namibia by our consumers. Factors of production such as land, labour and capital investment are all increasing, and have contributed as well to high food prices. The world fuel/crude oil price that has been on the increase also has an influence on food in respect of competition for land to produce crops and bio-fuel from jatropha, sunflower, sugar, cassava, castor and palm oil has also contributed to the global fod shortage.
Even though the country’s food is secured mainly through commercial imports of cereals and other food commodities, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAFW) is vigorously pursuing policies, initiatives, programmes and projects that are aimed at increasing food production. Programmes such as Support to Dry Land Crop Production (N$25 million), Green Scheme (N$55 million); National Horticulture Development Initiative (N$17,408 million) are aimed at ensuring Namibia’s food security and in reducing food imports.
MAWF is aware of the increase of food prices in the world and in Namibia in particular. The MAWF is doing all it can, given the financial and human resources available, to increase food production. To mitigate the effects of food price increases, the Government of Namibia has taken some emergency measures to counter the threat to human life. Government has implemented a zero-tax on beans, cooking oil and fat, bread and cake flour after the VAT Amendment Bill was supported in the National Assembly. The purpose of exempting these foodstuffs from value added taxe is to lessen the burden on consumers.
Programmes Aiming at the Increase of Food Production The following programmes implemented by the MAWF will lead to increased production and the stabilisation of yields, and will contribute towards the attainment of household food security and a reduction in the need for food imports.
Crop Production Enhancement Programme The MAWF is currently implementing a dry-land crop production programme for subsistence farmers. The aim of the programme is to increase maize and mahangu production by providing quality seeds, fertilisers and ploughing services.
The dry land crop production programme is complimented by the construction of silos in crop growing areas. Government will buy grains from the producers and store them in silos. As part of the programme, the MAWF renders support to smallholder farmers, broadens access to finance and invests in research to promote agricultural growth, which is critical to agricultural production. Mechanization of agricultural activities, provision of extension services and appropriate technologies amongst others are very critical to food production.
Government Irrigation Projects Government has established irrigation projects that are in production. Not all of them are at the desired level of production yet. These projects amongst others are Shadikongoro, Vungu-Vungu, Mashar, Shitemo, Muses in Kavango region, Eersbegin in Kunene region, Etunda in Omusati region, Hardap in Hardap region, ORIP, Naute in Karas region and Katima Farm in the Caprivi region.
Furthermore, plans are in place to develop projects such as the Ndonga Linena, Sikondo, Katonfo in Kavango region and Tandjeskoppe in the Karas region. There are also plans to expand Etunda Phases 5, 6, 7 and 8 in the Omusati region. The construction of irrigation systems, accommodation and office blocks at Ndonga Linena has already commenced. The ministry is also busy with studies and preparatory work involving several other irrigation projects which will be developed or put into production.
There have been challenges that delayed the development of these projects, such as lack of technical capacity to implement the irrigation projects as well as government procurement procedures which are cumbersome. The current total food production can be increased If the ministry can fully operationalise and expand the area under production at those projects. In this way, Namibia will be able to produce its own food, reduce imports and earn foreign exchange.
Productive agricultural land should be given to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry by the Tribal Authorities and Land Boards, for the ministry to develop it and to make it available to potential producers without alienating it as state land.
Food Storage and Conservation Increased production could be possible if there is a guaranteed market. Strategic Food Reserve is a key component of any national food security strategy and at the same time provides a market to local grain producers.
The Government of the Republic of Namibia is constructing strategic storage reserves in the six (6) grain producing regions. Silos with a storage capacity of 4 500 tonnes have been constructed at Rundu in the Kavango region. Other silos of 4 500 tonnes are constructed at Katima Mulilo (Caprivi region); 3 000 tonnes at Okongo (Ohangwena region); 3 000 tonnes at Omuthiya (Oshikoto region) and 3 000 tonnes at Tsandi (Omusati region) during this financial year 2008/09.
Together with these silos, we will have a strategic reserve storage capacity of 18 000 tonnes. In addition, other silos with a combined storage capacity of 9 000 tonnes will also be constructed, bringing the total strategic reserve storage capacity of Namibia to 27 000 tonnes. The strategic storage facilities will store cereals such as millet (mahangu), maize and wheat. The overall objective is to enhance emergency and disaster preparedness and to ensure that at any given time, the country has enough food grain stock to feed its people.
The National Strategic Food Reserve Facility is also part of the SADC Dar-Es-Salaam Declaration that calls for the establishment of a National Strategic Grain Reserves and a Regional Food Reserve Facility. As a result of the continued threats to SADC food security, it is imperative for the Region to secure its food supplies. The SADC Secretariat carried out a study in February 2007 and developed modalities for establishing and managing a Regional Food Reserve Facility. The study proposed that SADC should build up an initial reserve of 500 000 tones of cereal in the regions.