UNRAVELING THE FACTORS: ACCESSING THEIR IMPACT ON CROP PRODUCTION
Climate change refers to the long-term changes in the average weather patterns of a given region over a significant period. It is usually associated with global warming, which refers to the rise in temperature that persists for a decade or longer.
Climate change is caused by both human activities and natural sources. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere like carbon dioxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide, and ozone trap heat. These gases affect climate change based on their amount of Global Warming Potential (GWP) and end up having a huge impact on the food supply.
Climate changes tend to affect the quality and quantity of crops in terms of productivity, growth rates, photosynthesis, transpiration rates, and moisture availability. High concentrations of carbon dioxide may reduce transpiration as plants reduce their stomatal apertures. When transpiration is reduced, nutrient uptake may be compromised, affecting the quality of the crop.
Lower transpiration also leads to increased temperatures around the plant, potentially having an effect on photosynthesis and overall growth. While some crops benefit from high carbon dioxide levels, others may experience negative effects. The availability of water and soil quality are important factors in determining crop productivity. Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also reduces the nutritional quality of the crops such as wheat and rice, by decreasing their protein and mineral content.
Also, rising temperatures and changes in precipitation rate shift the time for planting and harvesting making it difficult for farmers to predict their crops and potentially reducing crop yield. Planting too early or too late may expose crops to unfavorable conditions, which goes on to affect crop development. Harvesting at the wrong time leads to reduced yield and crop quality.
The rising sea levels are usually caused by water from melting ice sheets and glaciers, and the expansion of seawater as it warms may result in making lands unsuitable for agriculture and threatening rice and other crops grown in low-lying regions.
Changes in precipitation patterns and increases in evaporation lead to water scarcity and availability of moisture, which affects irrigation, a factor needed for crop production. Extreme climate change scenarios like drought, flood, and heatwaves also disrupt crop production and crop yields.
The impact of climate
change on food supply leads to food shortage, which causes inflation in
food prices, poor quality of food products, and inconsistent weather patterns
which affect the growth and harvest of plants.
Written By: Koomson Nancy
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