Public Sector Strategies for Climate Change and Microbial Disease Management in Nigerian Agricultural Systems

Résumé

Climate change is imposing profound selective pressures on agricultural ecosystems worldwide, with significant implications for crop and livestock health. In Nigeria, a nation with high climate vulnerability and an economy deeply reliant on agriculture, understanding the adaptive responses of microbial pathogens is critical for food security. This review synthesizes current evidence on how climate change variables, primarily increased temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and elevated atmospheric CO₂, are driving adaptations in pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses within Nigerian agricultural systems. We examine observed and projected shifts in pathogen geographic ranges, virulence, life cycle dynamics, and host-pathogen interactions. Key findings indicate an expansion of suitable habitats for thermotolerant pathogens, increased sporulation and survival rates under erratic rainfall, and the potential emergence of novel strains. Furthermore, climate-induced abiotic stresses on plants and animals often compromise host immunity, exacerbating disease incidence and severity. The convergence of these factors threatens to intensify outbreaks of endemic diseases (e.g., bacterial blight, maize streak virus, avian influenza) and facilitate the establishment of new ones. This review highlights the urgent need for integrated, climate-resilient disease surveillance systems, adaptive breeding programs for resistant crop and livestock varieties, and sustainable agricultural practices. Proactive adaptation strategies are essential to mitigate the escalating risk of microbial infections and safeguard agricultural productivity in Nigeria under a changing climate.

Citer ce document

Accès au document

Texte intégral en lecture en ligne, réservé aux abonnés SPHAERO et aux membres de l'institution. Se connecter

Auteur(s)

Statistiques

Consultations : 2

Téléchargements : 0