Climate change threatens small farmers as demands for more climate finance grow
19 November: Small farmers in many countries of the Global South are facing increasing problems due to an intensifying climate. Driven by climate extremes such as droughts, heatwaves and typhoons, crop damage and potential loss of livelihoods have been inevitable for millions.
Countries attending this year’s United Nations Climate Summit, COP29, are being called to invest further in supporting smallholder farmers, who feed billions of people, amid the efforts to adapt to climate change. Agriculture, one of the sectors most prone to climate disruptions, is only receiving less than 1% of global climate finance, according to a report by Climate Policy Initiative.
Agriculture and Climate Change: A Two-Way Problem
Agriculture is affected by climate change, but it also significantly contributes to it. Food systems-comprising farming, transportation, and waste management-account for around one-third of the global greenhouse gas emissions. However, lack of investment in climate-resilient farming practices has left small farmers unprepared to face temperature increases and erratic weather.
Key demands at the summit include providing funds to recover from extreme weather, farmers’ insurance against long-term droughts, and investments in climate-smart farming techniques: improved seeds, fertilizers, and water infrastructure.
The Funding Gap
Developing nations require around $1 trillion annually in climate finance to adapt to climate change and hinder its impacts. However, the funding committed by wealthier nations falls short by a considerable margin in comparison to this requirement. This financial gap has flared up controversy over resource allocation, particularly between sectors such as agriculture and initiatives focused on reducing fossil fuel-related emissions.
Even though there is a call to increase funding for agricultural adaptation, others advocate that the emission of fossil fuel should be the priority. Still, supporters of agricultural investment believe there is an opportunity to deal with a sector that contributes quite enormously to emissions while at the same time supporting millions of livelihoods.
Investment in Agricultural Technology
Some progress was seen in the mobilisation of funds for agriculture: Last year at COP28, there was an announcement of $9bn for a US/ UAE-backed initiative aimed at the development of agricultural technology to boost climate resilience and diminish emissions. Those technologies, which will seek to optimise food output, reduce wastage, and improve soil health, hence counter both food security and environment challenges.
Although these initiatives are promising, however, experts continue to ensure that agricultural solutions cannot solely replace the requirements of reducing fossil fuel emissions. Studies also suggest that even though improved land management practices reduce greenhouse gas emissions with an appreciable margin, it still appears meagre in relation to its annual annual emission level of 40 billion tons.
Soil Health and Adaptation Strategies
Central to climate-smart agriculture is soil health restoration and maintenance. Improved land management practices can store carbon and improve fertility of soils, meaning farmers can increasingly grow crops in more sustainable ways. However, there are challenges, such as the lack of certainties regarding the permanence of carbon storage and limited large-scale adoption.
Experts call for the upscale of best practices in agriculture and investment in technologies addressing the dual challenge of adaptation and emission reduction. Some of these measures include climate-resilient seeds, better irrigation systems, and organic farming practices that have worked well in most of these regions.
Challenges in Policymaking and Implementation
Despite agriculture’s critical role in food security and emissions reduction, it has often been sidelined in international climate negotiations. Advocates argue for stronger representation of farmers in climate policies to ensure their challenges and solutions are adequately addressed.
High stakes: smallholders are the backbone of world food production. Most of the food eaten in the world is produced by smallholder farmers. Their ability to adapt to a changing climate will be crucial for food security in the decades ahead.
Conclusion
Agriculture should be another sector of focus as climate negotiations continue. Diverting additional funds to this sector will empower more farmers to adapt, protect livelihoods, and contribute to global climate goals. How to balance the focus between agriculture and the need to reduce fossil fuel emissions will always remain a critical challenge.
Source: Associated Press (AP).