Africa-Press – Eswatini. The country’s heavy reliance on agriculture as a vital sector of its economy and livelihoods is at stake as the contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) has been declining over the past two decades.
This is according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) recently published ‘Baseline Needs Assessments and Situational Analyses for the Transfer and Adoption of Mitigation and Adaptation Technologies for Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development in Agriculture Value Chains in Eswatini’ report.
It highlights that climate change poses significant challenges to agricultural production, and the associated value chains in the country.
It indicates that the contribution of agriculture to the country’s GDP has been declining over the past two decades from 12.3 per cent in 2000 to 8.2 per cent in 2020, according to FAO (2022) and the World Bank (2023).
The report states that agriculture, however remained an important sector of the economy, employing about half of the workforce and accounting for a significant portion of exports. “The third National Communication estimates about 30 per cent decline in rain-fed agriculture,” reads the report.
It cited that the decline in rain-fed agriculture was likely driven by a combination of factors, which include climate change, land degradation and water scarcity.
It is further reports that changes in rainfall patterns have been observed, with increased variability and a higher frequency of extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods. Therefore, these events are cited to have had a profound impact on crop growth, soil erosion and water availability for irrigation.
“Droughts can result in crop failures, reduced harvests, and decreased food availability, while floods can cause soil erosion, crop damage, and post-harvest losses,” reads the report in part.
Climate change was predicted to further exacerbate rainfall patterns in Eswatini, which would have an adverse effect leading to increased variability and changes in the timing and distribution of rainfall.
“This can result in prolonged dry spells, droughts and erratic rainfall, affecting crop yields, water availability, and livestock production. Insufficient rainfall can lead to reduced crop productivity, water stress, and increased vulnerability to pests and diseases,” reads the report.
The report gives a number of examples, such as the drop of 67 per cent, which was experienced in maize production dropped between the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 planting seasons because of El Nino droughts. “The drought further resulted in the death of over 47 000 head of cattle valued at E264 million,” reveals the report.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
