EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN

ZAMBIA

Dr. SAMUEL JOHN NDHLOVU Veterinary Officer

Epidemiology and disease control

Department of veterinary and tsetse control

Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock

ZAMBIA’S LOCATION

CLIMATIC SEASONS

1. DRY SEASON (May – October/November)

a). Cold (May – August)

b). Hot season ( September – October/November)

2. RAIN SEASON (November – April)

INTRODUCTION

The negative impact of climate change is

severely felt by poor people in developing areas

who rely heavily on agriculture and livestock

keeping that are amongst the most climate-

sensitive economic sectors

AREAS

1. LIVESTOCT PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY

2. HUMAN POPULATION (social economic effects)

Zambia greatly dominated by small scale farmers who

depend on rain – fed agricultural activities

ECOLOGICAL REGIONS

Since 1960 1.Zambia National Adaptation Programme of Action on climate change (2007)

2. Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa, Policy Note no. 27,

August 2006

Rainfall Temperature

1.9mm per month

decreased (2.3% per d)

1.3 since 1960

EFFECTS ON LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY

Overgrazing

Drought and shortage of drinking water

1. Drought

THERMAL STRESS

Increase thermal stress for animals and thereby

reduce animal production and profitability by

lowering feed efficiency, milk production, and

reproduction rates ( Affect the reproductive

functions)

REDUCED FEED INTAKE

POOR GROWTH PERFORMANCE

SPREAD OF DISEASES

BLUE TONGUE

HUMAN AND ANIMAL MIGRATIONS

WARS/CONFLICTS

LONG DISTANCE

DEVELOPMENT OF PATHOGENS

Higher temperatures increase the rate of development

of pathogens or parasites that spend some of their life

cycle outside their animal host, which may lead to

larger populations. Other pathogens are sensitive to

high temperatures and their survival may decrease

with climate warming.

Revolution of pathogens

EFFECTS ON HUMAN POPULATION

- an increase in the incidence of hunger due to destruction of

crops, reduction in

cultivatable land and increased soil erosion;

- an increase in the incidence of health epidemics such as

malaria and waterborne diseases

and;

- reduced nutrition and natural resource based livelihoods

including livestock

DISPLACEMENT OF PEOLPLE

FLOODS

Destruction of the basic infrastructure

Shortage of electricity: Kariba hydroelectric dam

DEFORASTATION

MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION

Manure Management and CH4 and N2O

emissions

Be mindful of temperature, moisture levels, time

of storage, and other factors that lead to higher

emissions

Give livestock easily digestable feed to control

manure contents

MITIGATION MEASURES

Enteric Fermentation and CH4 emissions

Increase production efficiency

Decrease the number of animals

Decrease the time they are emitting methane

Increase nutrition

Decreases the amount of methane produced

ADAPTATION MEASURES

INTEGRATED FARMING

KEEPING DROUGHT TOLERANT LIVESTOCK

Small ruminants ( Goats, sheep)

CROSSBREEDING OF LIVESTOCK

CROSS BREEDING

CONSERVATION FARMING

AGRO-FORESTRY PRACTICES

HEAT TOLERENT PLANTS E.G CASSAVE

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

To promote organic farming, sustainable land management and agro-forestry Introduction of climate change syllabi in schools

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION