How Climate Volatility Affects The Economy

Since the majority of the population in Niger is rural and heavily dependant on agriculture, climate volatility is a threat to their economic stability and food security. If food supply is low, the price of food will increase. An increase of prices results in less access to food for the poor rural society. In the smaller urban population of Niger, climate change worsens the existing lack of infrastructure. Urban populations in Niger lacks access to clean water and proper plumbing and other commodities. With the presence of increased droughts, clean water and plumbing would be jeopardized due to water shortages. Climate volatility not only affects the economy, but social groups. Based upon the role of women in Niger, they are expected to look …show more content…
These techniques would work to combat desertification and soil infertility. Traditional farming techniques of West Africa are not very sustainable due to the apparent issue of soil degradation. The nutrient depleted farms could potentially become more fertile if methods like agroforestry, crop rotation, cover crops, use of fertilizer derived from livestock manure, and shelterbelts are to be implemented. These sustainable methods can be demonstrated through organizations such as the Climate-Smart Agriculture organization. This organization could contact state governors of Nigerian states and hold educational workshops for farmers where they demonstrate sustainable methods. Agroforestry, the use of trees and shrubs in farms, improves conditions of the soil and also contributes to biodiversity. Farming methods like crop rotation and planting cover crops increases soil fertility by adding more nutrients into the soil. Manure from livestock is a natural fertilizer that could also be used to improve soil quality. Furthermore, most rural farms already have livestock so it would be easily obtainable to fertilize crops with manure. To combat desertification, shelterbelts, rows of trees or shrubs aligned to protect from wind erosion, would be ideal. This way, the soil would be protected from wind erosion and the soil would be protected from erosion. For this plan to be …show more content…
Organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) could lead programs in educating Nigerian states about new irrigation technologies and update and revamp current irrigation techniques. The FAO could contact local governments and hold educational workshops during the span of the rainy season. Irrigation technologies like drip and sprinkler irrigation systems and irrigation pumps are already used in farms in rural Niger. However, the FAO could teach the farmers currently using these techniques how to maintain the irrigation systems properly and more