Agriculture

Volume 1 | Issue 2
11/10/2017


In today's blog-post the effects of climate change on agriculture will be discussed. Agriculture is an integral part of any economy. The Caribbean's  year-round tropical climate facilitates year-round agricultural production which is a great source of income to many countries by exporting these goods. For instance, the livestock, seafood and crops produced in Jamaica generates more than 200 Million US to the economy annually. Additionally,  many Caribbean people are employed in the agricultural sector.

Agriculture is tremendously dependent on the climate. Even though the foretold upsurge in average temperature is only small, it could pose serious consequences to agriculture. The swift change in the earth’s temperature may result in hot weather, wild fires, drought, further intense rainstorms, more dangerous and powerful hurricanes, a rise in sea levels, shifts in ecosystems and possible extinction of species.  

Some of the more serious famines in the world have been caused by droughts. Heat waves cause life-threatening heat stress in crops, which usually limit yields if they transpire during certain times of the plants' life-cycle, that is during pollination or fruit set.  Additionally, heat waves may result in wilted plants due to their pre-eminent transpiration rates, which in turn can cause yield loss if not neutralized through irrigation.

 Heavy rains that frequently result in flooding are damaging to soil structure and by extension, the crops. Most plants cannot endure lengthy waterlogged conditions as their roots must breathe.  Moreover, flooding usually erode topsoil from chief growing areas which results in permanent habitat mutilation. Furthermore, large trees, barns, houses and other structures that are usually involved in the production of agriculture are destroyed in the event of torrential rains accompanied by heavy winds, better known as hurricanes.
The picture below shows damage in Dominica after hurricane Maria. According to the United Nations, 65,000 people on the island were affected and 100 percent of its crops were damaged.

Wismin Wright carries her belongings out of her damaged home on September 23, 2017 in Wesley Village, Dominica.
Source: Jose Jimenez/ Getty Images)

Adaptations and Mitigation Methods

There’s no need to panic as there are ways to rectify such problems. Below is a link demonstrating an advanced adaptation to climate change in Italy where vegetables are grown in air tight pods. Caribbean nations should seek out ways to adapt such a method as it could create possible food security. 

References

• “Climate Impacts on Agriculture and Food Supply.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 6 Oct. 2016, 19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climate-impacts/climate-impacts-agriculture-and-food-supply_.html.
• Jose Jimenez
•          Montoya, Roberto Hernández, et al. “Dominica Receives More International Aid After Hurricane.” News | TeleSUR English, www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Dominica-Receives-More-International-Aid-After-Hurricane-20171013-0014.html.
• Nemo's Garden
• Ocean Reef Group
• “Sector Profile.” Sector Profile | JAMPRO, 2017, www.jamaicatradeandinvest.org/investment/sectors/agriculture/sector-profile.