Researchers at the Global Burden of Crop Loss (GBCL) say crop losses linked to climate shocks, pests and diseases are increasing food insecurity across Africa. Their analysis highlights erratic rainfall, flooding and biological threats as key drivers that reduce yields, lower farmer incomes and affect national food supplies and global commodity markets.
In Kimilili, western Kenya, subsistence farmer Salome Kibunde farms five hectares and supports a household of nine. In 2025 rainfall in March allowed planting but then disappeared for nearly two weeks in April, disrupting germination. Short rains were unreliable and drought returned during early crop growth. Excess rainfall at harvest caused maize to rot. Kibunde reports losses on her five hectares rose from two bags of rotten maize last year to about six bags in 2025. She says women farmers often pool small harvests and that training from CABI has helped her manage, though it cannot eliminate the risks.
In Nigeria, flooding has emerged as a major driver of crop loss. Yunusa Halidu, secretary of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria and a medium-scale farmer with more than 50 hectares across Abuja and Nasarawa State, says flooding has increased markedly over the past 30 years and became one of the biggest challenges in the past two years. He adds that rising input costs leave few farmers able to break even and that many stay in farming because they have no alternative livelihoods.
At regional scale, Komlavi Akpoti of the International Water Management Institute notes climate shocks can cut national crop production by nearly a third in bad years, and around one-third of smallholders lose crops during extreme dry or wet seasons. Pests also cause heavy losses: CABI researcher Edward Onkendi cites studies across 12 countries where potato cyst nematodes and soft rot Pectobacteriaceae cause annual losses of up to US$208 million and US$35 million respectively, in a potato sector valued at about US$500 million. GBCL modelling aims to map losses and guide targeted investment, insurance and early responses, while researchers call for more small-scale irrigation, water storage, credit for resilient seeds and better seasonal data.
Difficult words
- insecurity — lack of reliable access to enough food
- erratic — not regular or predictable in timing
- germination — process when a seed begins to grow
- subsistence — farming that provides only basic family needs
- rotten — bad and not safe to eat
- input — goods or services used to produce crops
- smallholder — small farmers who own little landsmallholders
- irrigation — supplying water to crops by human methods
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How do irregular rains and flooding affect a farmer's income and food for their family?
- Which of the suggested actions (irrigation, water storage, credit for seeds, better seasonal data) do you think would help local farmers most, and why?
- What local or government steps could help farmers who cannot leave farming when prices and costs change?
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