Climate Change Mitigation: The Role of Agriculture

Abstract

The paper examined available information on the contribution of agriculture toward climate change, the effect of climate change on agriculture and the mitigation potentials of agriculture on climate change. Findings reveal that agriculture contributes to climate change majorly by the emission of methane, nitrous oxide and carbon (iv) oxide. Climate change affects agriculture through temperature rises which affect both crop and animal production, rising sea levels which causes farm land salinization and flooding and pests/diseases infestation. The mitigation potential of agriculture relies on sustainable agricultural practices which include organic farming, agro biodiversity, better land and water management practices, composting, vermicomposting, integrated pest management, cover cropping, mulching, use of bio fuel/bio energy, reduction of fertilizer use, crop rotations and soil conserving tillage which reduce soil erosion. For effective climate change mitigation through agriculture, the following recommendations were made (i) there is need for a systematic redirection of investment, funding, research and policy focus towards sustainable agriculture (ii) agricultural policies that encourage farming by subsidizing safe and sustainable farm inputs should be encouraged (iii) extension services should promote awareness-raising about sustainable agriculture and (iv) sustainable agriculture should be integrated into all level of the education system.