Gweru (The Times-New Ziana) – The department of Climate Change Management has called on farmers to adapt to climate change to skirt around its multi-faceted challenges.

Speaking during a climate change mainstreaming provincial sensitization workshop, the director in the department of Climate Change Management, Washington Zhakata said in response to the changing climate, a number of adaptation options exist which include diversification of livelihoods.

“There must be campaigns where farmers must be taught conservation agriculture and rainwater harvesting and supplementary irrigation,” he said.

He said farmers must be well aware of the climate changes so they can shift to climate resilient crops and livestock.

“It is up to us as a nation to prevent future disasters that may affect the next generation.”

Farmers, he said, must be warned early about the climate changes so that when the times comes, they will be prepared and will not have to suffer losses and end up in poverty.

“Climate change is a global issue that concerns every individual, group, organization, community and nation, thus we must develop and adopt disaster risk management plans,” said Zhakata.

“There is low adaptive capacity due to limited adaptation planning which has resulted in high levels of vulnerability accompanied by reduced crops, livestock, and wildlife production.”

He said climate change comes with opportunities such as better coordination, more inclusive planning and climate smart development pathways.

The impact of climate change include flooding and droughts, all of which negatively affect rain-fed agricultural production.
The Times-New Ziana