Taking the Heat
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African Farm Leaders Speak to Canadians
December 2007
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Rachel Bezner-Kerr, Mamby Fofana, and Joshua Mukusya at parliament Hill to discuss climate change |
African farmers are better equipped to combat climate change than we think, says Mamby Fofana, but there’s still one way they need our help: they need us not to ignore the problem.
Fofana is a USC board member and former director of the Seeds of Survival (SoS) program in West Africa. Along with Kenyan NGO leader Joshua Mukusya, and Malawi-based researcher Rachel Bezner-Kerr, Fofana was in Canada for a series of USC-supported events called Taking the Heat: African Farmers and Climate Change.
The team brought their message to media, to the public at an open forum, to policymakers at a roundtable discussion, and to Parliament at the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development: The devastating impact of climate change is happening now.
“If we continue to ignore climate change, we will negate other development work – efforts to improve nutrition, for instance, or to combat disease,” says Fofana.
Fofana says the heat is now on Canada’s politicians to support those most affected by climate change, including farmers. “By encouraging use of their proven methods, knowledge, and courage – through programs like SoS – farmers can better respond to this threat to their livelihoods.”
Women and Seeds Intimately Connected
Farmers’ knowledge of local conditions and the local seed varieties they preserve makes them better able to sense and adapt to changing conditions, like variable rainfall patterns. That’s part of the reason USC stresses the role of women farmers in the SoS approach.
“Women are often more intimately connected to seeds, and breed plants for a broader variety of traits,” says USC’s Executive Director, Susan Walsh. Walsh spoke alongside Fofana, emphasizing the central role women play both in agriculture and the fight against climate change.
Climate Justice
Fofana echoed that position, saying women’s efforts are making it possible to continue farming – at least for now – despite the ongoing change. But those efforts must be seen in the context of climate justice. Developing countries have a responsibility to limit greenhouse gas emissions, but that shouldn’t divert attention from the responsibilities of rich nations. According to the 2007 UN Human Development Report, if everyone in the developing world had the same carbon footprint as the average Canadian, current global emissions would be nine times the sustainable limit.
“Canada has a moral responsibility to help those most affected by the actions of Canadians,” says Fofana. It is imperative that Canadians take some heat now and help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
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Rachel Bezner Kerr (Malawi), Joshua Mukusya (Kenya), Adrian Harewood (CBC), Mamby Fofana (Mali), and Susan Walsh (USC) in discussion at the public forum. |
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USC Canada
was founded by
Dr Lotta Hitschmanova in 1945. Our award-winning Seeds of Survival program promotes vibrant family farms, strong rural communities, and healthy ecosystems around the world.
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Hello. Your site displays incorrectly in Firefox, but content excellent! Thank you for your wise words:)