Introduction:
Climate
change and agriculture are interrelated processes, both of which take place on
a global scale (Jeremy, 2008), Climate according the World Meteorological
Organization (2007) is the average atmospheric condition of a place. Climate
can change over a period of time ranging from months to thousands or millions of
years, the classical time period is 30 years.
The
climate change referred to, may be due to natural causes e.g. Change in the
earth’s weather including change in temperature, wind pathern, rainfall and
change in the sun out pat or due to human activities for example changing the composition
of the atmosphere (Albrillon, 2001). Any human induced changes in climate will occur
against the background of natural climate variation.
Impact of climate change on agriculture varies
based on the wide variety of agricultural practices employed around the world. Global
warming is projected to have significant impact on conditions effecting agriculture
including temperature, precipitation and glacial runoff. The conditions
determine the carrying capacity of the biosphere to produce enough food for the
human population and domesticated animals (Marcoux, 2000). Rising level of Carbon-dioxide
would also have impact, both detrimental and beneficial on crop yield. Assessment of the impact of global changes on
agriculture might help to properly anticipate and adapt farming to minimize
agricultural production.
Climate change will impact agriculture and food
production around the world due to the effects of elevated Co2 in the
atmosphere, high temperature altered precipitation regimes, increased frequency
of extreme events, pest and pathogen pressure. (Easterling, 2007). In general, low latitude areas are at most
risk of having decreased crop yields (Schneider, 2007). Changes in crop phenology
provide important evidence of the response to recent regional climate change
which Ebonyi State is among (Parry, 2007) phenology is the study of natural phenomena
that reoccur periodically, and how these phenomena relate to climate and seasonal
change (Parry, 2007).
Agriculture
and small holder farming sector dominate Ebonyi State’s economy. Agriculture
provide foods, employment and livelihood, for about 70& of their population
because of the three rice mill cluster processing machine, feed mill machine, poultry
farm, Fertilizer company and other Agro
processing companies that are functioning in Ebonyi State. All these industries
depend on the raw material from agriculture if there is favourable climate. Climate
is the primary determinant of agricultural productivity and livestock
production. Climate change is expected to influence crop and livestock production
in Ebonyi State.
There is a growing consensus in the scientific
literature that in the coming decades, the world will witness higher
temperature and changing precipitation levels. The effect of this will lead to low/poor
agricultural productivity. Evidence has shown that climate change has already
affecting crop yield in Ebonyi State and
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