The Impact of Climate Change on the Agricultural Sector: Maize Production

Agriculture is the major source of livelihood in many African and Asian countries. Large numbers of the rural population are dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods.

Approximately 90% of rural households are involved in farming activities, while in Asia and Latin America, 50% of the income is from farming activities. 

The World Bank estimated that 2.5 out of 3 billion rural inhabitants in developing countries are involved in agriculture, with 1.5 billion in smallholder households. Climate change has been labeled as a new security threat globally. 

Effects of Climate Change on Rural Livelihoods 
A significant fraction of rural households live in areas that are challenged by arduous agro-climatic conditions such as low rainfall, poor soils, and inadequate infrastructure projected a negative universal and comprehensive impact of climate change on agriculture it is still possible to experience an increase in crop yield in some certain parts of the world. 

Rural livelihoods in Zimbabwe, like those in most other sub-Saharan countries, revolve around farming activities. It is also important to note that farming in Zimbabwe is largely dependent on rainfall patterns. Any negative changes in these patterns are likely to negatively impact rural livelihoods. The reduction of precipitation resulted in inadequate soil moisture for crops, leading to wilting.

Villagers noted that unpredictable rainfall patterns have led to some villagers not planting at all in some seasons because they would have to wait for the right rainfall frequency and until then, it is too late to plant. Also, consecutive drought years had now discouraged them from planting at all.

Effects of Climate Change on Crop Production
China is the world's second-largest producer (20%), second-largest consumer (20%), and fifth-largest importer (5%) of maize, yet the nation is adversely affected by the impact of climate variability. Global agricultural production is challenged by climate change. 

United States is the largest producer of maize in the world, and as such accounts for over one-third of the world market share in terms of exports. The future of maize production even in the region is threatened by the impact of climate change, which has consequently given rise to a concern for the global maize economy and future food security. 

Climate change is unfolding as a central challenge to the advancement of agriculture in Africa. Considering the increasing pace and possibility of climate variability in Africa, maize production is bound to decrease. Maize yield in Africa will likely reduce by 10–20% by 2050. The reduction may even degenerate to 50% due to climate change. The agricultural sector will encounter a persistent period of droughts and floods.

Certain areas in the sub-Sahara are likely to emerge as the most vulnerable to climate change by 2100, coupled with the plausibility of agricultural losses of between 2–7% of affected countries’ Gross Domestic Product. 

Western and Central Africa are expected to experience losses ranging from 2– 4% and Northern and Southern Africa are expected to have losses of 0.4–1.3%. The regions of sub-Saharan Africa where maize is cultivated will experience escalatory rises in temperatures and the occurrence of droughts. 

Effects of Climate Change on Financial Capital Livelihood
The impacts are underscored in the decrease in income, grants, and credit, with causal poverty. Poverty continues to be a major problem in many parts of the world, and it cannot be ignored. In the whole region, rural poverty still accounts for 90% of total poverty, and about 80% of the poor rely on agriculture or farm labor for their livelihood.

The impact of climate change on livelihood could result in loss of profit, unemployment, and poverty. Poverty is more pronounced in rural areas as the majority of rural households spend less than the international poverty line per day. The increased rate of poverty among farming households can be connected to the adverse effects of climate change. 

According to the World Bank, in 2015 it was reviewed that the international poverty line was US $1.90 a day. Nearly 90% of the total poor live in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Asia accounts for about two-thirds of the world's poor, with South Asia accounting for 43%. The number of malnourished people in sub-Saharan Africa increased significantly, to an estimated 180 million people.

Climate Change Adaptation Measures
Improving the agricultural farming system would minimize the negative impacts of climate change, concurrently improving food production irrespective of variable climate. Adaptation to climate change will certainly demand the alterations of some practices to step down the marked vulnerability of climate change and simultaneously improve the sustainability of economic and social activities.

African Ministerial Conference on Climate-Smart Agriculture held in Johannesburg, emphasized that a call for adaptation is needed at this particular time of climate change, in which feeding Africa and the world at large pose a major challenge. It was stated that by 2050, global food production must increase by 70% to feed over 9 billion people around the world.

Crop varieties and livelihood diversification are some of the major adaptation measures adopted by farmers throughout the continent. In India, the Eastern coast of Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and Tanzania there are some noticeable changes in the agricultural practices (maize farming) where adaptation strategies include: groundwater for irrigation, the use of polyvinyl chloride pipes to transport water on farms, the use of early matured cultivars, use of crop varieties that are of high yield, change in planting date and harvesting, crop diversification, mix-cropping, and agroforestry. 

In Southern Africa, some adaptation measures are used to improve the yield of maize. The use of water recycling on the farm, the indigenous method of water conservation, and practicing spiritual exercises requesting rain were all used. Farmers engage in adaptation by planning to adapt, using forecasting and weather reports.

Conclusion
Agriculture still represents the main economic livelihood activity for the majority of rural households. National commitment may entail putting climate change issues as immediate priority such as poverty reduction and economic development.