FAO supports Nigeria, others to mitigate effect of climate change

The Food and Agriculture Organisation is supporting some countries, including Nigeria, in efforts to mitigate the consequences of climate change on food production.
Ahmed Matane, Assistant FAO Country Representative (Programmes) for Nigeria, made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.
He said that the focus of the support was aimed at boosting the production of smallholder farmers and making the livelihoods of the rural populations more resilient.
Matane said that the measure became imperative because climate change had been having profound consequences on the diversity of life and the peoples’ lives across the world.
He said that more intense droughts had threatened freshwater supplies and crop growing, while endangering ongoing efforts to feed a growing world population.
Matane warned that without prompt action, the changing climate would seriously compromise food production in countries and regions which were already facing food security challenges.
He said that if nothing was done, climate change would also seriously affect food availability by reducing the productivity of crops, livestock and fisheries and hindering access to food, while disrupting the livelihoods of millions of people in the rural setting.
He said: “It will expose both urban and rural poor to higher and more volatile food prices.
“Ultimately, it will jeopardise the progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.’’
Matane stressed that more resilient agriculture sectors and sustained investments in smallholder farmers could deliver transformative change.
He said that the adoption of such approach would also enhance the prospects and incomes of the global poorest, while buffering them against the impacts of climate change.
Matane added: “The benefits of climate change adaptation outweigh the costs of inaction by very wide margins.’’