Food Security and Climate Change in Sub-Saharan West Africa (James Adejuwon, Department of Geography, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria)

The primary objective of the project is to undertake a study of the vulnerability of food crop production to inter-annual climate variability and extreme weather events in West Africa and to assess how extended weather and climate forecasts could be employed as a basic adaptation strategy to ameliorate the impacts. This project will build on the existing capacity to predict climate variability on time scales ranging from weeks (intra-seasonal) to months (inter-seasonal), to years to improve management and decision-making in the production of food crops in West Africa. EPIC (Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator) will be introduced as a crop model most suitable for relating the climatic factor to economic yield of crops. The model will be used to assess the impacts of climate variability on the major crops. Based on demonstrated sensitivity of the major crops to climate variability, a suite of options will be developed and evaluated as responses to the various categories of predictable upcoming seasonal and annual weather to enhance crop yields and food production. The outlook for food security within the context of climate change, and adaptive capacity during the 21st Century will also be assessed on the basis of the results of the climate variability study.

Countries and sectors: Nigeria and Niger Republic in particular, Sub Saharan West Africa in general. Agriculture and food security.