A Google News search for the term “climate change” today turned up this story from Thomson Reuters titled “No trees, no crops, no jobs: Burkina Faso’s women fall back on hard labor.”
The story claims desertification is increasing in Burkina Faso due to climate change which is undermining its economy—an economy largely based on agriculture.
The Thomson Reuters assertion that Burkina Faso’s farm sector and economy are collapsing would likely be news to most residents of the country because data show crop production is in a long-term growth cycle with new production records frequently being set as the earth continues its modest warming.
“[C]limate change, tree losses, and desertification mean farming no longer pays … [c]hanging rainfall patterns are making farming less viable,” writes Thomsen Reuters.
Trees help secure soil, and tree loss is almost certainly occurring in Burkina Faso, but it is not due to climate change. Almost everywhere outside of Burkina Faso’s major cities lacks a modern electric power system.
Absent electricity to heat and light homes, and for cooking, it is common for rural people across Africa, including in Burkina Faso, to cut down trees to make charcoal to heat their homes and to cook food.
Even so, data show any loss of trees and attendant desertification has not hampered crop production or economic growth. Both are increasing.
While economic growth in Burkina Faso swings wildly from year to year, the trend has been positive since 1990.
Data from the World Bank shows Burkina Faso’s annual GDP growth rate was -0.6 percent in 1990; topped 1.8 percent in 2000; exceeded 2.9 percent in 2010; was approximately 5.7 percent in 2019.
Agriculture is Burkina Faso’s largest economic sector and a large reason for the country’s economic growth since 1990.
United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization records show Burkina Faso has set new crop production records 14 times since 1990. Indeed, cereal crop production grew 241 percent between 1990 and 2018.
Poverty is rife in Burkina Faso, as is true in so many African nations with limited property rights, poor infrastructure, marginal governments, and energy poverty. As a result, many of its women undoubtedly undertake hard labor to survive each day.
This being said, contrary to Thomson Reuters’ claims, there is no evidence climate change is making life in Burkina Faso harder for women or anyone else by harming agricultural production or economic growth because both are growing.
Read more at Climate Realism
Do they still have problems with Boll Weavels?
The present is easily the best time in human history by almost any metric. That was largely accomplished by substituting generated energy for human and animal work. I deeply resent efforts to undermine that progress with scary fables.
March 17, 2021 Media Claims Climate Crisis in Ghana – As Crops Set New Records
The article blames climate change for the asserted increase in erratic weather and more difficult farming conditions.
https://climaterealism.com/2021/03/media-claims-climate-crisis-in-ghana-as-crops-set-new-records/