The croplands, pastures and forests that occupy 60 per cent of the earth's surface are progressively being exposed to threats from increased climatic variabilities. Abnormal changes in air temperature and rainfall are resulting in increasing frequency and intensity of drought and flood events that in turn have long-term implications for the viability of the ecosystems. As climatic patterns change there comes change in the distribution of agro-ecological zones, habitats, distribution patterns of plant diseases and pests, fish populations and ocean circulation patterns which can have significant impacts on agriculture and food production. The main cause of climate change has been attributed to anthropogenic (human) activities such as the increased industrialization in the developed nations which led to the introduction of large quantities of greenhouse gases (GHGs) including carbon-dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) into the atmosphere. The developing world already contends with chronic food problems. Climate change presents yet another significant challenge to be met. In order to sustain the agricultural sector that plays pivotal role in human existence in terms of the provision of food, fibre, fuel and income strategies of change need to be urgently initiated to cope with the changing climate. Agricultural system has key role to play in initiating this change. This is because adaptations to climate change require changes in knowledge, attitudes, resilience capacities and skills of the people and agricultural extension system can bring this change. There is need to strengthen the extension system that can put forward the adaptive strategies to mitigate the climate effects. The strategies required include training of extension staff to acquire the new knowledge and skills in climate risk management, setting up of emergency management unit by extension agencies, dissemination of innovations strategic research on best practices and building resilience capacities of vulnerable people in climate risk management, providing feedback to government and interested agencies with situation reports on various causes of climate change and its effects, use of technology demonstrations in farmer trainings on the measures used to mitigate or adapt to the effects of climate change, organizing seminars, exposure visits, workshops and field days on climate risk management, use of farmer-to-farmer extension strategy to promote awareness and adoption of best practices such as adoption of zero or minimum tillage, use of weather forecasts etc, use of information communication technologies eg Kisan Mobile Advisory Services (KMAS), ICTs to create awareness on the climate change issues, formation of Young Farmer Clubs (YFC) and organize farmer field schools to educate and encourage farmers in learning about climate change issues with a view to reduce human causes and improving adaptation options.
Climate change, extension, agriculture, strategies
