1.

Introduction

The discussion about climate change has an impact on every society. It is stated that
the earth is warming, that rainfall is decreasing, that winter is more intense and that
certain phenomena, such as windstorms, hurricanes, hailstorms, “never seen before”,
occur with greater frequency. Man's ability to pollute the atmosphere has increased
greatly since the beginning of the industrial revolution in 1780. Forests and other
types of natural vegetation have been cut down at an accelerated pace and replaced by
arable areas (EMBRAPA, 1997)

In most cases, forests are replaced by pastures or agriculture, after burning, pollution
and deforestation are two factors that positively influence global warming and
consequently climate change (INPE, 2006). Such climate changes will have broad
effects across the world, affecting diverse areas, such as water resources, agriculture,
energy, urban and coastal infrastructure, transport and health, among others.

Climate, soil, relief, among others, are the natural physical factors that influence the
agricultural production of vegetables and animals. Climatic influence is the most
important, exerting itself as a result of variations in temperature, humidity, sunshine,
etc. This work aims to talk about challenges facing African agriculture due to climate
change e potential solutions

1.1. Objectives

1.1.1. General objective

Talk about the challenges faced by African farmers in the face of climate change

1.1.2. specific objectives

Describe the importance of agriculture for human development

Indicate the effects of climate change on agriculture
Analyzing Mozambican agricultural development and challenges
1.2. Methodology
In order to carry out this work, documentary research was carried out on subjects
related to the topic in question, in the most acclaimed books and websites
2. The importance of agriculture for human development
Agriculture is the practice of cultivating natural resources to sustain human life and
provide economic gain. It combines the creativity, imagination, and skill involved in
planting crops and raising animals with modern production methods and new
technologies. available at https://www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-
impacts-agriculture-and-food-supply accessed on September 20, 2024

Agriculture is also a business that provides the global economy with commodities:
basic goods used in commerce, such as grain, livestock, dairy, fiber, and raw materials
for fuel.
The key to the importance of agriculture for man lies in the fact that its product is
indispensable for man's survival, from producing raw materials to contributing to the
global supply chain and economic development.

2.1. Supply of raw materials

Raw materials are a fundamental element of the global economy. Without access to
raw materials, manufacturers cannot produce products. Non-agricultural raw materials
include steel, minerals and coal. However, many raw materials are derived from
agriculture - from wood for building materials to herbs to flavor food. Corn, for
example, is used to produce food and serves as the basis for ethanol, a type of fuel.
Another example is resins, vegetables used in various industrial applications, such as
adhesives, coatings and paints used in construction. (available at
https://www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-impacts-agriculture-and-food-
supply accessed on September 20, 2024)

2.2. Encourages economic development

Agriculture has an impact on global trade because it is linked to other sectors of the
economy, supporting job creation and encouraging economic development. Countries
with strong agricultural sectors experience job growth in other sectors, according to
USAID. Countries with agricultural productivity growth and robust agricultural
infrastructure also have higher per capita incomes, as producers in these countries
innovate through technology and farm management practices to increase agricultural
productivity and profitability.
(available at https://www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-impacts-
agriculture-and-food-supply accessed on September 20, 2024)

2.3. Provides fruit and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are essential sources of fiber, protein and carbohydrates in the
human diet. Vitamins, such as A, C and E, and minerals, such as magnesium, zinc and
phosphorus, are naturally present in many fruits and vegetables. In addition to their
health benefits, fruits and vegetables add flavors to the human palette.

2.4. Natural rubber production

The number of vehicles in the worldExternal link:open_in_new is over 1.4 billion,
according to a market study by Hedges & Company. Every one of them runs on
rubber tires. According to GEP, the main rubber-producing countries are Thailand,
Indonesia and Malaysia - collectively accounting for around 70% of the world's
natural rubber production and around 90% of suppliers are small farmers. (Available
at https://online.maryville.edu/blog/why-is-agriculture-important/ accessed on
September 20, 2024)

2.5. Biofuels
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports on the favorable economics
of external biofuels: produced from biomass sources including agricultural products
such as corn, soybeans, sugarcane and algae. The benefits include reduced greenhouse
gas and pollutant emissions and the potential to increase farmers' incomes. However,
biodiesel production requires the use of land and water resources which can affect the
cost of food. (Available at https://online.maryville.edu/blog/why-is-agriculture-
important/ accessed on September 20, 2024)

2.6. Pharmaceutical products

For thousands of years, human beings have turned to plants to help treat what ails
them. For example, ginger, a plant root typically consumed in tea, can help with
digestion. Substances derived from plants and herbs can also help with healthcare. For
example, chemicals extracted from the foxglove plant are used for digoxin, a
medicine used for heart failure. Another example is polylactic acid (PLA), a chemical
produced when glucose is fermented into lactic acid in green plants. PLA has
applications in tissue engineering, cardiovascular implants, orthopaedic interventions,
cancer therapy and the manufacture of surgical implants, according to a study
published in the journal Engineered Regeneration. (Available at
https://online.maryville.edu/blog/why-is-agriculture-important/ accessed on
September 20, 2024)

2.7. Importance of Agriculture in Everyday Life

Today, the importance of agriculture in everyday life can’t be minimized. Without the
agriculture sector, activities such as getting dressed for work and cleaning the home
wouldn’t be possible. Here are examples of the agricultural products we use in our
everyday lives:

2.7.1. Shelter.
Wood and plant-based materials, such as bamboo, can be used for indoor décor and
construction materials.
2.7.2. Morning routine.
Mint is often an ingredient in toothpaste, adding flavor while brushing your teeth, and
the caffeine in coffee that keeps you awake is derived from the coffee bean.
2.7.3. Dressing up
In addition to cotton, clothing can be manufactured from hemp, ramie, and flax. Bio-
based materials can be used to produce grooming products such as skin creams and
shampoos.
2.7.4. Cleaning
Two types of chemicals used in detergents, cleaning products, and bath or hand soap
— surfactants and solvents — can be produced from biomass.
.
2.7.5. Entertainment
Paper from trees enables you to write, and some musical instruments, such as reed
instruments, require materials made from plants.
2.7.6. Education
From pencils (still often made of wood) to paper textbooks, students rely on
agricultural products every day.

3. Effects of climate change on agriculture

Climate is an important factor of agricultural productivity. The fundamental role of

agriculture inhuman welfare, concern has been expressed by many organizations and
others regarding the potential effects of climate change on agricultural productivity.
Interest ofthis matter has motivated a substantial body of researchon climate change
and agriculture over the past decade (Charoensilp, et all, 1998).

Climate change is expected to agricultural and livestock production, hydrologic

balances, input supplies and other components of agricultural systems.

Climate change is caused by the release of ‘greenhouse’ gases into the atmosphere.
These gases accumulate in the atmosphere, which result warming. The changes in
global climate related parameters such as temperature, precipitation, soil moisture and
sea level. However, the reliability of the predictions on climate change is uncertain
(Charoensilp, et all, 1998).

There are no hard facts about what will definitely be the result of increases in the
concentration of greenhouse gases within the atmosphere and no firm timescales are
known. Agriculture is one sector, which is important to consider in terms of climate
change. The agriculture sector both contributes to climate change, as well as will be
affected by the changing management (Charoensilp, et all, 1998).

3.1. Impact of climate change on agriculture

The climate farming change effects on agriculture will differ across the world.
Determining how climate change will affect agriculture is complex; varieties of
effects are likely to occur (Matthewset al 1994).
Changes in temperature as well as changes in rainfall patterns and and the increase in
CO2 levels projected to accompany climate change will have important effects on
global agriculture, especially in the tropical regions. It is expected that crop
productivity will alter due to these changes in climate and due to weather events and
changes in patterns of pests and diseases. The suitable land areas for cultivation of
key staple crops could undergo geographic shifts in response to climate change
(Matthewset al 1994).

3.2. The possible positive effects:

The some changes in soil moisture, increases in temperature and shifts in patterns of
plant diseases and pests could lead to decreases in agriculture productivity. However,
CO2 fertilization could lead to some increases in agricultural productivity.
Atmospheric CO2 levels are expected to have a positive effect on some plants,
increasing their growth rate and cutting transpiration rates. Crop plants may also be
able to use water more efficiently under higher CO2 levels (Matthewset al 1994).

Plants can be classified as C3, C4 or CAM, depending on the photosynthetic

pathways they employ. C3 plants such as potato, rice, soybean, wheat and vegetables,
including most trees are likely to benefit from extra CO2. The results of many
experiments have confirmed that elevated CO2 concentrations generally have
beneficial effect on most crops. Factors known to in pastoral affect the response
include the availability of plant nutrients, the crop species, temperature, precipitation
and other environmental factors. C4 plants a 2 re mainly tropical origin and include
grasses and agriculturally important crops such maize, millet, sorghum and sugarcane.
C4 plants are expected to benefit less from increasing of CO2 . CAM plants are a
variant of C4 plants and these plants are not likely to be affected ( Matthewset al

1994).

Increasing of temperature may also bring beneficial effects in some areas of the
world. An important effect of an increase in temperature, particularly where
agricultural production is currently limited due to low average temperatures, would be
the extension of the growing season available for plants and the reduction of the
growing period required by these crops for maturation (WRI, 1998).
This would benefit not only high altitude farming, where increases in yields and the
variety of crops grown can be achieved, but also high latitude regions, where the
poleward shift of the thermal limits of agriculture would increase the productive
potential. However, soils and other factors may not enable much of this potential to be
realized. Higher rainfall in some areas might also enable higher production and
provide more water for irrigation (Matthewset al 1994).

3.3. The possible negative effects Climate change

The yields of different crops and geographic limits may be altered by changes in soil
moisture, temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, as well as increases in CO2
concentrations. The lowest rainfall and high temperature could reduce soil moisture in
many areas, particularly in some tropical and mid-continental regions, reducing the
available water for irrigation and impairing crop growth in non-irrigated areas of the
many regions (WRI, 1998).

The changes in soil properties such as the loss of soil organic matter, leaching of soil
nutrients, salinization and erosion are a likely consequence of climate change for
some soils in some climatic zones. The risk of losses due to weeds, insects and
diseases is likely to increase. The range of many insects will change or expand and
new combinations of diseases and pests may emerge as natural ecosystems respond to
shifts in temperature and precipitation profiles. The effect of climate on pests may add
to the effect of other factors such as the overuse of pesticides and the loss of
biodiversity, which already contribute to plant pest and disease outbreaks (WRI, 1998).
Agriculture in low-lying coastal areas or adjacent to river deltas may be affected by a
rise in sea level. Flooding will probably become a significant problem in some
already flood-prone regions of Asia such as China and further south in Eastern Asia.
Decreases in productivity are most likely in these regions, which are already flood-
insecure. The summer monsoon is predicted to become stronger and move north-
westward. However, this increased rain could be beneficial to some areas. In addition
to changes in the frequency of extreme climatic events, changes in rainfall and
temperature could be damaging and costly to agriculture.
4. Mozambican agricultural development and challenges

Despite the advantages of agricultural development, agricultural productivity in

Mozambique remains low and on a downward trend (MPD/DNEAP, 2010; Mosca,
2011). Low agricultural productivity is related to several factors, such as (Cunguara &
Moder, 2011): irregular distribution of rainfall, low use of improved poor state of road
infrastructure, especially the poor connection between the south and north of the
country. Between the south and north of the country, and relatively little investment in
agriculture. This is the CAADP, a comprehensive program for agricultural
development in Africa, which aims to achieve a Africa, the aim of which is to achieve
an annual growth rate in agricultural production of 6%.

CAADP is based on four pillars of development, namely: i) increasing the cultivable

area and arable area and effective management of water resources; ii) improvement of
rural infrastructure and in rural areas and capacities related to trade and access to
markets; iii) increasing food supply, reducing hunger and improving responses to food
crises and and; iv) improving agricultural research, the dissemination and adoption of
improved technologies. Improved technologies. It is difficult to talk about one pillar
independently of the others. In other other words, the four pillars are not mutually
exclusive, but complementary to each other. Each other. For example, investments in
roads (pillar 2) will certainly affect the agricultural products and consequently the
food security of peasant families of peasant families (pillar 3)

The increase in agricultural productivity would affect the Mozambican population

through various mechanisms. Firstly, it can reduce inflation by reducing the import of
agricultural products, which is often subject to rising fuel prices on the international
market (Arndt et al.international market (Arndt et al., 2008). Secondly, increased
productivity, combined with better storage and processing better storage and
processing conditions, can increase food availability throughout the year, improving
throughout the year, thereby improving the food and nutritional security of families.
Thirdly, combined with improved marketing infrastructures, increased productivity
results in higher family incomes (Cunguara & Darnhofer, 2011). It should be noted
that improving infrastructure is a major challenge in this process, mainly to dispose of
the agricultural surplus from the northern part of the country to the deficit provinces
in southern Mozambique.

5. Conclusion

Throughout this work it can be concluded that:

Today, the importance of agriculture in everyday life can’t be minimized. Without the
agriculture sector, activities such as getting dressed for work and cleaning the home
wouldn’t be possible. Here are examples of the agricultural products we use in our
everyday lives.

Climate, soil, relief, among others, are the natural physical factors that influence the
agricultural production of vegetables and animals. Climatic influence is the most
important, exerting itself as a result of variations in temperature, humidity, sunshine,
etc. This work aims to talk about challenges facing African agriculture due to climate
change e potential solutions.

Agriculture is the practice of cultivating natural resources to sustain human life and
provide economic gain. It combines the creativity, imagination, and skill involved in
planting crops and raising animals with modern production methods and new
technologies.

The some changes in soil moisture, increases in temperature and shifts in patterns of
plant diseases and pests could lead to decreases in agriculture productivity. However,
CO2 fertilization could lead to some increases in agricultural productivity

The yields of different crops and geographic limits may be altered by changes in soil
moisture, temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, as well as increases in CO2
concentrations. The lowest rainfall and high temperature could reduce soil moisture in
many areas, particularly in some tropical and mid-continental regions, reducing the
available water for irrigation and impairing crop growth in non-irrigated areas of the
many regions.
6. Bibliographic Reference

Charoensilp, N., P. Promnart and P. Charoendham, 1998. An Inter-regional Research

Programme on Methane Emission from Rice Fields. Paper presented at Thailand-
IRRI Collaborative Research Planning Meeting on June 25-26, Bangkok.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),1996. Climate change 1995:

Impacts, adaptations and mitigation of climate change: Scientific-Technical Analyses.
Contribution of Working Group II to the Second Assessment Report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Matthews, R.B., M.J. Kropff and D. Bachelet, 1994. Climate Change and Rice
Production in Asia. Entwicklung und Landlicherraum, 1: 16-19.

Matthews, R.B., M.J. Kropff, D. Bachelet and H.H. van Lar, 1994. The impact of
global climate change on rice production in Asia: A simulation study. Report
No.ERL-COR-821. Corvallis, OR: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvallis.

World Resources Institute (WRI), 1998. World Resources 1998/99. A joint

publication by The World Resources Institute. The United Nations Development
Programme, The United Nations Environment Programme and The World Bank.
New York, Oxford University Press.

Cunguara, B. and J. Hanlon (2010) Poverty is not being reduced in Mozambique.

Working Paper No 74. London: London School of Economics and Political Science.
Arndt, C., James, R., and Simler, K. (2006) Has Economic Growth in Mozambique
been ProPoor? Journal of African Economies, 15(4): 571-602.
https://www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-impacts-agriculture-and-food-
supply
https://online.maryville.edu/blog/why-is-agriculture-important/