Climate change and farming in North KivuCEFR B2
17 Mar 2026
Adapted from Laura, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Tim Mossholder, Unsplash
Farmers in North Kivu, eastern DRC, are adapting as climate change alters the timing and intensity of rainfall. A 2012 Geo‑Eco‑Trop study shows annual rainfall remains close to 1,500 mm but finds a slight rise in average daily intensity (+0.1 mm/day), about three more days per year with over 10 mm of rain, and a shortening of the rainy season from nine to seven months. The study attributes increased flooding largely to rapid, uncontrolled urbanization and calls for better urban planning and infrastructure.
Local research from ENRA Beni, ITAV Butembo and INERA Yangambi confirms more frequent extreme episodes such as hail and violent storms, sometimes occurring in normally dry periods. These events damage seedlings and crops, and unstable weather favors mildew and other fungal diseases that reduce yields. Most smallholders depend on rain: CAID describes two wet seasons and two very short dry seasons, while agricultural experts identify a short cropping season (March–May) and a long one (August–November). Irrigation is limited by finance, technical capacity and rugged terrain, and communities often cannot capture or manage existing water sources.
Researchers, NGOs and authorities promote measures to protect production, including planning, irrigation, crop diversification, climate‑resilient seed varieties, agroforestry, agroecology and reforestation. One expert calls for a regional network of weather stations to build a reliable farming calendar. Data show an average temperature increase of 1.8 °C over fifty years, and scientists warn that continued greenhouse gas emissions could put smallholder farming at serious risk.
- Improve irrigation and water management
- Develop resilient crop varieties
- Adopt agroforestry and digital tools
Difficult words
- urbanization — Growth of towns and cities with more buildings
- infrastructure — Basic public systems like roads and water networks
- intensity — Strength or force of something, here rainfall
- irrigation — Artificial supply of water to crops or land
- diversification — Adding different crops or activities to reduce riskcrop diversification
- mildew — A fungal disease that attacks leaves and plants
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Which of the suggested measures (for example irrigation, resilient seeds, agroforestry) would you prioritise for smallholders in North Kivu, and why?
- What practical problems might communities face when trying to build a regional network of weather stations and a reliable farming calendar?
- How could a rise of about 1.8 °C over fifty years affect smallholder farming in the region, and what changes would farmers need to make?
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