Food for Thought Learn about… Climate Change Primary

Become an active Global Citizen! Learn Think Act

Aims To understand the impact climate change is having on small farmers diets To identify ways small farmers can be supported to adapt to climate change To explore who can help small farmers to do this and how  

Ethiopia

Lekea’s family

The family story 30 years ago, rain would fall for approximately 6 months every year. Usually starting in March until the end of September. Some years there would be an occasional drought but the following year, generally the rains would come as expected. The family would grow peppers, corn, lentils, peas, white sorghum, lots of corn and beans. They would grow up to 70kg of food each year, selling 35kg at the market to pay for other food and things like clothes. The past few years, the rain has been irregular and for shorter periods of time. Last year the rain didn’t come until July, which meant that planting was delayed. These changes have meant they can only now grow about 19kg of food a year, with no surplus.

Key questions How did Lekea’s family get money before? What did they use it for?   Would they be able to do that now? If not, why not? What has happened?

A balanced diet? This image is a work of a United States Department of Agriculture employee, taken or made during the course of the person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MA_Food_Pyramid.gif

A balanced diet?

A balanced diet?

A balanced diet? Using the crop cards, work out what the diet of Lekea’s family was like in the past. What was missing from their diet? How would they have got this?  Next look again at the cards and work out what their diet will be like now there is frequent drought. What problems will this cause?

Pre-drought diet… Did they have all the food groups? What was missing? How could they have got the missing food?

Use the information on the cards to decide what Lekea can grow now… Drought affected diet… Use the information on the cards to decide what Lekea can grow now…

Drought affected diet… Now do they have all the food groups? What is missing now? How can they get the missing food? If they can’t, what will this mean for the family?

Extension… What is the link to this? Changes in March-September rainfall for whole of Ethiopia: 1959-2009 1959 1969 1979 1989 1999 2009 730 630 530

What’s the alternative?

How to adapt? Decide in your group what would be good about your alternative Could Lekea’s family do this? What help would they need? Who should help them?

Climate change hearing Imagine you are going to a climate change hearing… © Aubrey Wade/Oxfam

If you were Lekea What would you say? what is the problem? what change do you want? who should help? © Aubrey Wade/Oxfam

Make a change… If you have one, complete a section of your wallchart!

Class for change And when you have learnt about the food system, thought about how it could change and planned and done something yourself, share what you have learnt at www.classforchange.org A space for active global citizens!

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