Smallholder Farmers and the Climate Crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa

JUSTIN SALANI

Imagine this: a mother in rural Zimbabwe, her face etched with worry, watches her crops wither under the relentless sun. She’s not alone.

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, millions of smallholder farmers, the backbone of the region’s food system, are grappling with the devastating consequences of a drought fueled by El Niño and exacerbated by climate change.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), smallholder farmers account for approximately 90% of the food consumed in many sub-Saharan African nations. Their contributions are vital for national food and nutritional security, providing sustenance for families and communities across the region.

However, this essential agricultural sector is now teetering on the brink of collapse. The disruption caused by extreme climate events is plunging already vulnerable rural communities deeper into poverty and chronic hunger.

The reality is stark: these climate crises are not merely natural phenomena; they are exacerbated by human actions that interfere with our climate systems. Southern Africa in particular is witnessing a disturbing trend characterized by severe mid-season dry spells, premature cessation of rainfall, and delayed planting seasons—all occurring alongside devastating floods and tropical cyclones.

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The catastrophic impact of Cyclone Idai in 2019 serves as a chilling reminder of this reality, claiming over 1,500 lives and affecting more than 3 million people across Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Many regions are still grappling with the aftermath, struggling to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

Addressing these interconnected challenges requires immediate and concerted action. Investment in climate change mitigation and adaptation is not just a necessity; it is an urgent imperative. There is a need for accelerated advocacy for climate finance, release of loss and damage funds, and the implementation of broader interventions through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Smallholder Farmers and the Climate Crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa

Governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), bilateral and multilateral banks, and the corporate sector all have a crucial role to play in strengthening resilience to climate change—not just in Africa but globally.

There are glimmers of hope amid this crisis. Organisations such as the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the OPEC Fund for Agricultural Development (OFID) are making strides to combat hunger exacerbated by climate change in developing countries such as Zimbabwe.

Programs such as the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalization Programme (SIRP) in Zimbabwe, funded by IFAD, OFID and the government amongst others have seen the rehabilitation of approximately 152 smallholder irrigation projects, enhancing resilience to climate shocks and ensuring food security in the face of recurring droughts.

But these efforts must be scaled up. The time for action is now. We cannot afford to let our smallholder farmers—the very lifeblood of food production—become collateral damage in a climate crisis we can mitigate. It is our collective responsibility to advocate for policies and funding that support these farmers and empower them to adapt to an increasingly volatile climate.

Justin Salani is from Bulawayo, Bulawayo Province, Zimbabwe; he is a Correspondent of Mahabahu from Zimbabwe. He is a Climate Activist.

[JUSTIN SALANI about himself: I am a science communicator with a passion for climate change mitigation and adaptation advocacy, wildlife conservation, eco-tourism and sustainable agriculture. In 2021, I was awarded the prestigious Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Award for being the overall best student in the Faculty of Communication and Information Science at the National University of Science and Technology. In 2023, I was admitted into the Global Youth Climate Training Programme facilitated by the Global Youth Coalition in partnership with Oxford Net Zero. In July 2024, I completed a Climate Leadership Training, courtesy of the African Union Chairperson’s Youth Envoy I am also a freelance writer, editor, and researcher at Saight Scholarly Publishing]

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