Based on Agenda 2063 of the African Union, Agricultural development is considered to be at the peak of the policy agenda for African countries. However, agricultural development frequently clashes with biodiversity when it is required to reduce hunger and poverty, but it is now diminishing at a turbulent rate. The loss of biodiversity could lead to reduction of food security through the weakening of ecosystem services such as sustainability of water supplies, pollination and nutrient cycle. As a result of this, there might be loss of wild food sources.
According to a recent paper, researchers in ecology, economics and agronomy stated the significance of biodiversity-smart agricultural plans. They also argued using the account of a Zambian farmer that such strategies require a close attention to the dynamics of the agricultural labour. There is a loss of biodiversity when farming is more intense and the land expands. Statistically, 75 percent of agricultural growth is sourced from the expansion of farmlands into savannahs and forests in Africa. Thus, this results in loss of habitat and fragmentation.
Adoption of technologies reduce heavy labour for farmers.
Intense farming prevents expansion, but there may be less biological diversity in terms of landscape which often require more usage of chemicals and pesticides. The significance of biodiversity-friendly agriculture is getting more attention, however, the strength to encourage its practice frequently disregard trade-offs with the needs of farm labour. There was an argument that negligence of these needs will jeopardise the achievement and efforts of biological diversity conservation. The adoption of technologies such as herbicides and mechanisation will aid farmers in reduction of heavy labour.
Previous research in Zambia indicated that there is a reduction of time used by tractors to plough on land — from 226 to 10 hours per hectare. Also, herbicides are known or referred to as “mothers’ little helpers” in Burkina Faso because they reduce the workload of the women in the fields. Nevertheless, biodiversity can be negatively affected by the labour-saving technologies through spillover effects, farmland expansion, land degradation and farmland simplification. For instance, an earlier study in African countries like Mali, Benin, Kenya and Nigeria, showed that there are sometimes total removal of trees and hedges and changed plot sizes and shapes through mechanisation.
Farmers adopt technologies for high yields with low labour.
Hence, there is loss of healthy habitats, and farm diversity. Also, the consequences of pesticides can endanger water systems, insect populations and soil life if badly managed and regulated which is often the case. The functionality of biodiversity technologies have a contrary problem. Farmers do not always adopt the strategies as a result of the burden it adds to the labour. For instance, inter-cropping which is the planting of various crops very close to each other, and the growing of basins, the provision of good crops environment through shallow indentations in the soil.
A study in Zimbabwe observed that the planting of basins could require hard labour without frequently adding more yields. Usually, there is the adoption of technologies by farmers to provide stable and high yields but low labour, but they can be toxic to the conservation of biodiversity. The possible solution is to get machines adapted to the farm size. There can be easy manoeuvre around trees for smaller machinery and other landscape features needed for biodiversity. The combination of smart mechanical solution — precision spraying — and biological solutions — crop rotation — is a method to reduce the use of pesticide.
There is a need for a shift in policy making, and research and development.
Also, there is a reduction in the costs of biodiversity conservation, in aspects of yield and labour, for individual farmers by biodiversity-smart technologies which enhances the tendency of adoption. Financial compensation may be required if the conservation cost is higher than its benefits. The compensation could be in form of payment for ecosystem services or certification schemes. Additionally, a study in Ethiopia observed that there can be strategised multi-functional landscapes to work for people and biological diversity. It was argued that the development of biodiversity-smart agriculture needs a change in research and development, and a shift in policy making.
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Biological diversity conservation in Nigeria – Loss of biodiversity could lead to reduction of food security. – Express your point of view.
The loss of biodiversity in Nigeria should be of major concern. The pattern of farming in the country reveals that if we continue with these style there is every possibility that we will loss our Biological diversity conservation in Nigeria which will result to shortage of food, desert encroachment and erosion. It is therefore important that agencies responsible for regulating farming activities should create awareness to mitigate against such practice.
Biodiversity is very important in our ecosystem. The adoption of technology for food security will help to make it easy for us to have enormous food supply. We should also continue to help farmers establish this.
I completely agree. Conserving biological diversity is crucial not just for the health of our planet, but also for our own well-being. When we lose biodiversity, we risk losing important resources that we rely on for food, medicine, and other essential needs. This can have a major impact on our food security and overall quality of life. By taking steps to protect and preserve biodiversity, we can help to ensure that these resources remain available for future generations.
Nigeria’s declining biodiversity should cause serious concern. The country’s farming pattern makes it clear that, if we keep up this trend, we run the risk of losing Nigeria’s biological diversity, which would lead to food shortages, desert expansion, and ruin. Therefore, it is crucial that organizations in charge of overseeing agriculture raise awareness to help prevent such a practice.
The biodiversity in ecological systems is crucial. The use of technology to secure our food supply will make it simpler for us to have a large food supply. Provision of good equipment should be provide so the farmer can be able to produce good food for us
The diminishing biodiversity in Nigeria should be of great concern. We run the risk of losing Nigeria’s biological diversity if we continue on our current course, which would result in food shortages, desert growth, and general destruction. This is evident from the country’s farming patterns. As a result, it is essential that agencies in charge of regulating agriculture spread awareness to aid in the prevention of such a behavior.