Sunday, 7 October 2018

FOOD SECURITY & NIGERIA'S CHANGING CLIMATE

On the 4th of October 2018, The Nextier Security Dialogue Series in collaboration with the Yar'Adua Foundation held a dialogue that examined the 'Depoliticisation of the conflict/relations between farmers and herders' while 'Re-thinking the economic models' that could improve relations. It was made abundantly clear at the outset that the dialogue was to seek solutions to the challenge at hand. Therefore 'emotional outbursts' were unwelcome. It was Patrick Okigbo who set the pace with the ground rules.

Then came the fascinating 'Mentimeter (MM) Survey', which is a free audience response system that allows the use of mobile phones or tablets to vote on any question specified. This improves the meeting between a presenter and an audience. Amara Nwankpa, Director, Public Policy Initiative, Yar'Adua Foundation conducted the survey with questions like: 'What is the major cause of tension between farmers and herders?'. The overwhelming response to this question (by the audience) was 'conflict'. Another question: Private Ranches or Government Ranches? The majority voted for Private Ranches since herding is a private business! Here is the link for the use of the MM - https://www.scoop.it/t/into-the-driver.../mentimeter-a-free-audience-response-system   www.menti.com (code for the event: 91 17 21).

The answers from the audience, as projected on the screen, set the pace for the rest of the meeting. Prof. Oshita Oshita, Technical Committee on Farmer-Herder Conflict presented a paper on the work of his committee, where various options like private ranches and government-owned ranches were discussed. Dr. Chris Kwaja, Senior Lecturer/Researcher, Centre for Peace & Security Studies, Modibbo Adamawa University of Technology, Yola prefers the term: Farmer-Herder 'relations' to 'conflict'. The discussants - Olubukola Ademola-Adelehin (Senior Programme & Policy Analyst, SFCG/EVC), Dr. Saleh Momale (Pastoral Resolve - PARE) and Edward Ujege (President General, Mdzough U Tiv) were on the same page as regards solution to the problem viz; government should put in place measures for assuaging the devastating effects of climate change while ensuring that healthy farmer-herder relations are sustained.

I, Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, in my capacity as a Conflict Transformation Expert and Member, Forum on Farmer-Herder Relations (FFARN) of Search for Common Ground (SFCG) commented that modalities for mitigating the Farmer-Herder crisis, which has claimed so many lives should be made a major campaign issue for anyone who wishes to become President of Nigeria come 2019. I also said we need to interrogate who exactly the 'new herders' are, who now kill and maim with careless abandon. Are they really the same ones who have lived in peace with sedentary farmers for decades? See for example - dayokusa.blogspot.com/2017/11/forum-on-farmer-herder-relations-in.html

Another commentator was Khalli Mohammed Bello, President, Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers' Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) who alluded to the fact that herders are willing to settle down if they are in settlements where they can feed their cattle and water is also readily available. Oliver Hout (EU Delegation to Nigeria & ECOWAS) did a comparative analysis of how the farmer-herder crisis was solved elsewhere. He said the EU was ready to support Nigeria in the quest for an amicable solution to the problem, but the Federal Government of Nigeria should also do her bit.

The consensus at the parley was that the Farmer-Herder issue is a conflict over diminishing natural  resources - land and water which has been infiltrated and complicated by politics, ethnicity, religion, etc. These 'external factors have rendered the conflict intractable with negative consequences for the sanctity of human life while 'conflict merchants', who do not want the conflict to end are smiling to the bank! We need to go back to the good old days when farmers and herders lived together harmoniously. The quest for this desired state of tranquility continues with the promise by the organisers for follow up meetings...

Related Links

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*Gender lens essential to addressing linked climate change and security   https://t.co/j8XcLV5DN?amp=1
*Climate-conscious venture capitalists are back: Can they both make money and protect the planet?   theeconomist.com   https://t.co/mDWQd7EN4z?amp=1
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*Heightened alert of famine in 4 countries (Nigeria, Burkina Fasso, Sudan, Yemen), UN Food Agencies warn   wfp.org
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*The EU & climate security: Towards ecological diplomacy     carnegieeurope.eu 
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*Swedish teenage climate activist, Thunberg, turns 18    reut.rs/3b5SAHC
*Solving the challenge of food security key to pace-building in the Sahel  https://copese.org/book/solving-the-challenge-food-security.../
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*Why 'biodegradable' isn't what you think   https://bit.ly/3cWJ7I5
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*Tropical rain-forests may begin pumping out carbon dioxide by 2050    newscientist.com
*African cities must prepare for climate migration    issafrica.org
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*How should the media talk about climate change?   newyorker.com
*Games to address climate change challenges   https://lnkd.in/g7xw4YG
*Why 'Monocultures' (in agriculture) are not as bad as you think   newscientist.com
*Nonoclay: The liquid turning desert to farmland   https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/follow-the-food/the-spray-that-turns-deserts-into-farmland.html
*Between 'Blade Runner' & Utopia: Where we're headed 50 years after the first Earth Day   edition.cnn.com/2020/04/21/opinions/earth-day-pollution-fossil-fuels-sutter/index.html
*Earth Day: Women's empowerment is key to reducing climate change   earthday.org/womens-empowerment-key-to-reducing-climate-change/
*7 pillars of agribusiness development in Africa   unido.org/resources/publications/creating-shared-prosperity/agribusiness-and-rural-entrepreneurship/agribusiness-africa.../
*Australia: Study finds 14 million metric tons of microplastics on the seafloor   edition.ccn.com
*How did we get here? A history of climate negotiations   libsyn.com
*'Zombie fires' & other strange events are happening in the Arctic   bit.ly/3nmw94U  #ClimateChange  #WeirdWeather
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*From Farmcrowdy to ThriveAgric, here are 6 agriculture investment platforms for you - Farmcrowdy/ThriveAgric/EZ Farming/FarmKart/FarmFunded/ChubiAgro    technext.ng/2020/03/04/from-farmcrowdy-to-thrive-agric-here-are-6-agric-investment-platforms/
*Climate change has already made parts of the world too hot for humans   newscientist,com/article/2242855-climate-change-makes-heat-too-hot-for-humans/
*Melting Antarctic ice will raise sea level by 2.5m - even if Paris climate goals are met - Study   https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sept/23/melting-antarctic-ice-will-raise-sea-level.../
*Afforestation & Reforestation   https://carbonremoval.economist.com/afforestation-reforestation/
*Killer heat and humidity combination not experienced before is becoming more common   edition.cnn.com/2020/05/08/weather/killer-heat-climate-change-study/
*Billions of people could live in areas too hot for humans by 2070   edition.cnn.com/2020/05/05/world/global-warming-climate-niche-temperaturs-intl-hnk/index.html
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*Making conservation profitable for small scale farmers   wrld.log/pOdj50Beik9  #ClimateActionWBG
*Covid-19 & food in Africa: Food is power   africasacountry.com/2020/04/food-is-power/
*The Central Sahel: Scene of new climate wars?   https://bit.ly/africab154
*Heat-trapping gases broke records in 2018 - Climate report   www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/12/climate-crisis-heat-trapping-gases-broke-records-2018-report
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*The UN and climate related security risk   https://t.co/xfdC6hfaF6
*First all-ages Global Climate Strike in Abuja   https://act.350.org/event/globalclimatestrike/18043/
*Why ignoring Africa's climate change problem could have devastating effects   https://time.com/5669059/africa-climate-justice/
*The past, present & future of climate change: Replacing the fossil-fuel technology which is reshaping the climate remains a massive task   https://t.co/90qqBDWzIB
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*A floating device created to clean up plastic from the ocean is finally doing its job   dition.cnn.com/2019/10/02/tech/ocean-cleanup-catching-plastic-scn-trnd/
*Nigeria must lead in climate change   https://t.co/OZQ2IUnVtQ
*Climate crisis: 11,000 scientists warn of untold suffering   https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/05/climate-crisis-11000-scientists-warn-of-untold-suffering/
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*Italy to become 1st country to make learning about climate change compulsory for students in schools   edition.cnn.com/2019/11/06/europe.cnn.com/2019/11/06/europe/italy-climate-change-school-intl-scli-scn/
*Aviation Chief criticises Greta Thunberg & 'flight shaming movement'   newscientist.com/article/2227664-aviation-chief-crticises-greta-thunberg.../
*The implications of climate change for conflict dynamics   https://lnkd.in/dcHFqJC
*6 must-reads on climate change   knopfdoubleday.com/2020/01/07/must-reads-on-climate-change/
*Water wars: Early warning tool uses climate data to predict conflict hot spots   theguardian.com
*Oceans are warming at the same rate as if 5 Hiroshima bombs were dropped in every second!   edition.cnn.com/2020/01/13/world/climate-change-ocean-heat.intl/
*We have 10 years to save Earth's biodiversity, UN warns   edition.cnn.com/2020/01/14/world/un-biodiversity-draft-plan-intl-hnk-scli-scl/
*Planting a trillion trees can really help us fight climate change   newscientist.com/article/mg24532640-800-planting-trillion-trees-fight-climate-change/
*6 must-reads on climate change   knopfdoubleday.com/2020/01/07/must-reads-on-climate-change/
*Victoria Falls: World's largest waterfallis running out of water and might disappear   indiatimes.com/trending/environment/worlds-largest-victoria-falls-running-out-of-water-devastating-drought.../
*Microsoft says it will cut emissions to be carbon negative by year 2030   newscientist.com/article/2230504-microsoft-to-cut-emissions-to-be-carbon-negative-by-year-2030/
*Net zero goals are galvanising action on climate change at last   newscientist.com/article/mg24532682-900-net-zero-goals-are-galvanising-action-on-climate-change-at-last/
*The ozone layer is healing and re-directing wind flows around the globe   newscientist.com/article/2238542-the-ozone-layer-healing-redirecting-wind-flows-around-globe/
*My generation is fighting to keep Africa green   https://africasacountry.com/2020/03/my-generation.../
*Warming oceans are causing marine life to shift towards the poles   newscientist.com/article/2238538-warming-oceans-causing.../
*Between 'Blade Runner'& Utopia: Where we are headed 50 years after the 1st Earth Day   edition.cnn.com/2020/04/21/opinions/earth-day-pollution-fossil-fuels-sutter/index.html
*Earth Day: Women's empowerment is key to reducing climate change   earthday.org/womens-empowerment-key-to-reducing-climate-change/
*Can higher carbon dioxide levels boost plant life enough to dent global warming?   newscientist.com/article/mg24632820-700-can-higher-carbon-dioxide-levels-boost-plant-life/
*Algae now growing on melting Antarctic snow due to climate change   newscientist.com/article/2243918-algae-now-growing-on-melting-antarctic-snow-due-to-climate-change/
*How CoV shows us we can beat global warming   newscientist.com/article.mg24632842-700-climate-chief-how-cov-shows-us-we-can-beat-global-warming/
*We need action, not hope, on fighting climate change - Greta Thunberg   https://lnkd.in/gdrCVBj
*We can 'change' climate change   https://lnkd.in/dUWzY46
*Covid-19 & climate change make international cooperation more important than ever   bit.ly/2YHXqA
*What happens if you cut down all the city's trees?   t.ted.com/jRot5m
*Prince William: We need an 'Earth-shot' to save our planet from irreversible climate change   http://t.ted.com/wpYHpM5
*The end of the oil era: How will the energy transition transform geopolitics?   bbc.co.uk
*Exploring sustainable development in hot and arid climates   https://www.timeshighereducation.com/hub/qatar-university/p/exploring-sustainable-development-in-hot-arid-climates/
*Carbon Mineralisation: Accelerating reactions that permanently store removed CO2 as rocks   https://carbonremoval.economist.com/carbon-mineralisation/ 
*Food crimes: Why the WFP does not deserve the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize   https;//africasacountry.com/2020/10/food-crimes.../
*The world is woefully unprepared for climate-driven natural disasters   worldpoliticsreview.com
*'My plan for Climate Change' - Bill Gates   https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-plan-climate-change/
*'Sleeping giant': Arctic methane deposits starting to release - Scientists   https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/october/27/sleeping-giant...//2020/10...
*AI reveals that there are 1.8 billion trees in the Sahara Desert    weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/ai-billion-trees-sahara-desert-technology.../
*Agribusiness trends & opportunities in Nigeria: Demographics during food demand     https://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/agribusiness-trends-opportunities/
*Climate change is the defining crisis of our time which particularly impacts refugees and IDPs    unhcr.org
*How the US can lead the world on climate change innovation    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/heres-how-to...bill-gates/
*Planting trees can be the tool to fight climate change, if we do it right    bit.ly/39MspVK
*Global heating is compounding threats for people already living with conflict and insecurity    bit.ly/39OffL
*Plants are soaking up far less extra CO2 than we thought they would    newscientist.com
*Universities essential to climate action    universityworldnews.com
*Mitigating the impact of extreme climate change events    universityworldnews.com
*Ancient humans might have hibernated to survive brutal glacial winters    newscientist.com
*US: 2020 state of the student: Covid-19& food insecurity    https://www.chegg.org/coid-19-food-insecurity-2020/
*Hindsight 2020: 20 stories that shaped food & agriculture    worldbank.org    wrld.bg/LCsE50CJsio
*World Bank Group announcements to support countries to take climate action    https://wrld.bg/qgFo50CIVIE   #ClimateActionWBG
*'When the flood came, it destroyed everything I had' https://lnkd.in/dGFEXg5   #oil #climate #environment #humanrights #oil&gas
*Record heat breaks Middle East as temperatures top 125 degrees Fahrenheit     washingtonpost.com

*Manual for Climate Change Adaptation - Nigeria Erosion & Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP)     guardian.com
*Advancing research in climate change: World Bank grants $60m to help Africa    worldbank.org
*Wanted: A sound global environmental policy   econ.st/3mnOVa4
*Climate change: Recognising the impact on West Africa    https://cddelibrary.org/.../climcte-change-impact-on-west-africa/
*4 ways the US can re-assert leadership on climate change    https://www.gatesnotes.com/energy/4-ways-us-reassert-leadership-climate-change/
*Biden orders US to re-join Paris Climate Accord - WHO    https://www.voanews.com/usa/us-politics/biden-orders-us-back-to-paris-accord/
*Biodiversity report urges nations to consider nature as economic asset    newscientist.com
*Make peace with nature: Restoring the ocean's ability to nurture humanity & regulate the climate is a defining challenge - UN Chief @ Ocean Decade launch    news.un.org
*IOM & UNHCR call on states to strengthen the protection and assistance for people displaced on the front-lines of climate emergency    bit.ly/3oGBVOA
*The 6-sector solution to climate change    unep.org
*Blueprint for a climate breakthrough    https://fortune.com/packages/blueprint-for-climate-change/
*How to avoid a climate disaster by Bill Gates    gatesnot.es/377JOBa
*Aircraft controls are a climate menace. Can we rid the sky of them?     newscientist.com
*Covid-19 paused climate emissions - but they are rising again     bbc.co.uk
*Climate action    un.org
*Ocean benefits increasingly undermined by human activity    new.un.org
*How can businesses survive climate change?    youtube.com
*Victory against Shell: Judge forces polluter to cut its CO2 emissions    actionaid.org





 

 


 
      



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