Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 1
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
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CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
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Subject: Agricultural Science
Class: SHS 1
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 1
Grade code: 1.4.1.LI.2
Strand code: 4
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: 1.4.1.CS.1
Indicator code: 1.4.1.LI.2
Theme: AGRICULTURE AND CLIMATE
Subtheme: CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
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Welcome, students. We often hear about "climate change" on the news, but what does it really mean for us here in Ghana? How does a slightly warmer year affect the maize your mother grows in the village, the price of yam in the market, or the future of our country's cocoa? Today, we will explore the direct and serious impacts of climate change on our farms. We will focus on three major challenges that farmers across Ghana are facing right now: not enough water (drought), more insects and diseases (pestilence), and smaller harvests (decreasing crop yields). Understanding these problems is the first step to finding solutions for our food security and our future.
This lesson focuses on how climate change negatively affects our ability to grow food. We will break it down into three interconnected problems. A. The Problem of Increasing Drought Definition: Drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water. It's not just a week without rain; it's a long, damaging dry spell that affects soil moisture, rivers, and groundwater. The Link to Climate Change: Higher Temperatures: As the Earth's average temperature rises due to climate change, more water evaporates from the soil, rivers, and lakes. Think of leaving a bowl of water outside on a very hot day versus a cool day; the water disappears much faster on the hot day. This means even if the rainfall amount is the same, the land dries out faster. Erratic and Unreliable Rainfall: Climate change disrupts traditional weather patterns. Our grandparents knew exactly when the rainy season would start and end. Today, the rains may come late, stop too early, or fall in very heavy, short bursts that cause erosion and run-off instead of soaking into the soil where crops need it. These unpredictable patterns create periods of drought where there used to be consistent rain. Ghanaian Example: The Northern, Savannah, and Upper East/West regions are particularly vulnerable. Farmers there traditionally rely on a single rainy season to grow staples like millet, sorghum, and maize. When this rainy season is delayed or shortened by just a few weeks due to climate change, it can lead to total crop failure. The drying of Lake Chad, which affects the entire Sahel region, is another large-scale example of climate change-induced water scarcity. B. The Problem of Increasing Pestilence Definition: Pestilence refers to widespread and destructive attacks by pests (like insects) and diseases on crops. The Link to Climate Change: Favourable Conditions for Pests: Many insects thrive in warmer temperatures. Warmer weather speeds up their life cycle (they can reproduce more times in a year) and allows them to survive through winters or dry seasons that would have previously killed them. Wider Geographic Range: Pests that were once confined to hotter, tropical areas can now expand their territory northwards or to higher altitudes as these places warm up. Stressed Plants are Weaker: Plants suffering from drought or heat stress are like people with a weak immune system—they are much more vulnerable to attacks from pests and diseases. A healthy, well-watered plant can often fight off minor infections, but a thirsty, heat-stressed plant cannot. Ghanaian Example: The Fall Armyworm (FAW) is a perfect example. This invasive pest, which devastates maize crops, has thrived in the warmer and more erratic weather conditions seen in Ghana in recent years. Before, weather patterns might have helped control its population. Now, it is a year-round threat to one of our most important food staples, causing massive economic losses for farmers. Similarly, warmer, more humid conditions can increase the spread of fungal diseases like Black Pod on cocoa plants. C. The Problem of Decreasing Crop Yields Definition: Crop Yield is the amount of a crop (e.g., kilograms of maize) harvested per unit of land area (e.g., per acre). Decreasing crop yield means farmers are getting less harvest from the same plot of land they have always farmed. The Link to Drought and Pestilence (This is the final result): Decreasing crop yield is not a separate problem; it is the direct consequence of drought and pestilence. Drought's Impact on Yield: Germination Failure: Seeds may not sprout without enough soil moisture. Stunted Growth: Plants need water for photosynthesis (to make their food). Without it, they grow slowly and become small and weak. Poor Grain/Fruit Formation: For a maize plant to produce a full cob, it needs water, especially during the pollination and grain-filling stage. Drought at this critical time can result in small, empty cobs or no cobs at all. Pestilence's Impact on Yield: Direct Consumption: Pests like the Fall Armyworm literally eat the leaves, stems, and grains, reducing the amount left to harvest. Damage to Plant Health: Pests and diseases weaken the plant, reducing its ability to produce fruit or grain. For example, a virus transmitted by an insect can stunt a cassava plant, leading to very small tubers.
Summary Flowchart:
Climate Change (Higher Temperatures & Erratic Rainfall) ↓ Leads to → 1. Increasing Drought (Less water for plants) AND Leads to → 2. Increasing Pestilence (More pests/diseases, weaker plants) ↓ Both result in → 3. Decreasing Crop Yields (Less food harvested)
Guided Practice (With Solutions)