Rain fed agriculture increases food insecurity

Climate change and dependence on rain-fed farming has led to a reduction in yields of 10-50% for staple cereals, increased water scarcity for crops, livestock and domestic use in Botswana and the region, said experts at the ongoing National Agricultural Show. Furthermore, the imperatives of climate change impose serious challenges on nations’ ability to feed themselves, thus requiring alternative innovative ways to combat the adverse effects of such impositions. The Minister of Agriculture, Patrick Ralotsia when opening the show encouraged farmers and urged locals to embark on climate smart agriculture. He spoke against over-reliance on rain fed agriculture, and poor soil but called on farmers to adopt conservation methods and techniques such as the use of drought tolerant crop varieties and livestock breeds. “Total dependence on rain-fed agriculture and poor soil increases vulnerability of farming systems and predisposes rural households to food insecurity and poverty, thus eroding their productive assets and weakening their coping strategies and resilience,” he said.continue