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With rain-fed agriculture becoming increasingly unreliable, farmers across Africa and beyond are turning to more adaptive and resilient practices to survive the challenges of a changing climate.
In Zambia’s Meheba refugee settlement, Manifesto, a farmer featured in a report by Caritas Czech Republic, responded to erratic weather patterns by switching to drought-resistant crops, building his own irrigation system, and learning to make organic fertilizer. With support from Caritas, he now feeds his family and sells surplus produce locally.
“I had no choice,” he said. “The rains don’t come like they used to. If I waited, I’d have nothing. I had to find a new way to farm.”
In northern Nigeria, similar shifts are underway. Farmers in Borno State are adapting through a combination of improved seed varieties, revised planting schedules, and indigenous early warning signs, according to Mathias Bwala, a former field officer at the National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
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At the policy level, NESREA is scaling up support through initiatives such as the Control of Forest Fires and Bush Burning Regulation and the Climate Change Desertification Mitigation Program.
“These policies are designed to shield farmers and mitigate climate impacts,” said Lawan Aliyu, NESREA’s Yobe State Coordinator.
The stakes are high. According to the FAO, over 4.4 million people in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states face food insecurity, and more than 2.2 million have been displaced by conflict.
“The rainy season used to last six months. Now it’s just three,” said Aliyu. “Agricultural yields have dropped by up to 50 percent. Pastoralists, in search of pasture, often encroach on farmlands, increasing conflict and reducing harvests,” he added.
“As a result of reduced rainfall, areas like Bwari and Geidam have been impacted by overgrazing, which has stripped the land bare—no crops, no vegetation, nothing for livestock,” Aliyu warned.
Read also: Climate-resilient agriculture and lessons for Nigerian farmers
To reverse the decline, Bwala called for urgent action: “We must make climate-resilient seeds affordable, support farmers hit by floods and droughts, and raise awareness on climate-smart agriculture. Sustainability is not optional—it’s vital for food security and livelihoods.”
John Alamu, group managing director of Johnvents Group, reinforced the urgency: “Helping farmers adapt to climate and conflict shocks is critical. By building their resilience, we empower them to feed their communities and secure their future.”
Global efforts to adapt
Around the world, countries are stepping up to face climate challenges.
In Mexico, over a third of the country’s river basins—covering nearly 50 million hectares—have been designated as protected water reserves, securing access for 45 million people, according to the Global Center on Adaptation.
In Chad, with help from the UN World Food Program, communities have shifted from firewood to liquid natural gas, curbing deforestation and protecting soil from erosion.
Somalia is using early warning systems and weather forecasts to reduce the effects of drought, while Central American countries are adopting hydroponics—soil-less farming using water—as a solution to extreme water scarcity.
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FAO guidance on soil and water management
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) emphasizes the importance of improving soil porosity to increase rainwater infiltration and retain moisture for crops. This can be achieved through surface covers like dried grasses or leaf litter, which protect soil from compaction and maintain air spaces for water to pass through.
These covers also reduce surface runoff and erosion by absorbing the energy of raindrops, preserving vital pore spaces, and slowing water movement to allow better infiltration.
The FAO also recommends additional soil conservation strategies, including planting shrubs or herbs, closely spacing ridges and furrows, and creating small indentations on ridges to act as mini reservoirs—practices that promote long-term water retention and soil health.
