By Abigael Joshua

Civil Society Groups on Monday in Abuja deliberated on ways for adaptation and mitigation of the effects of climate change on the agriculture sector.

They spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during a four -day inaugural conference on Accelerating Agricultural Adaptation in Africa which commenced from Oct. 16 to Oct. 19.

Dr Augustine Njamnshi, Chairman of Political and Technical Committee, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) Board urged all stakeholders to put adaptation at the centre of all discussions.

“Adaptation remains key for the whole continent. Our people are really suffering from the impact of climate change.

“Climate action can be in two phases; either by mitigation reducing the green house gas emissions or by adaptation.

“Coping with the situation that has been caused by climate change is very important,” Njamnshi said.

He added that unfortunately climate finance has been mitigation sentric and this leaves Africa in a very jeopardised situation.

Njamnshi called for strong proactive policies and actions on agriculture to adapt to climate change.

The chairman urged Nigeria as a country to take the issue of adaptation seriously, not only in Africa but also at the international level saying that in Africa adaptation is key.

Rep. Sam Onuigbo, a Parliamentarian, sponsor of Nigeria Climate Change Act 2021 said that agriculture is one of the pillars of development.

“The north-east itself is an agrarian area, north-east constitutes one third of the land mass of the entire nation but we also know that even though agriculture is the mainstay of their economy they are threatened by the devastating effects of climate change,” Onuigbo said.

The Parliamentarian said that climate change has caused drought, desertification, drying up of the Lake Chad, forced migration.

“When people lose their livelihoods they look elsewhere for their survival. Forced migration which now fuels insecurity and insurgence demands an holistic approach.

“The north- east development commission is not just going to do the reconstruction of buildings, they are also going to handle the physical security and the human security which has to do with the well-being of the people,” Onuigbo assured.

Prof. Ibrahim Choji, Board Chairman Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevnet) said that the conference was looking at the effects of climate change which is increasing daily on agriculture.

“Agriculture we all know is the mainstay of Africans where over 70 per cent depend on.

“It is a source of livelihood, it is a source of products for industries on which many depend on.

“So with the increasing threat of climate change to the sector we decided as civil society organisations to come together with stakeholders within Africa to rescue this sector,” Choji said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Razak Owolabi