South Kivu: Farmers in Kalehe struggle with Water Stress That Strangles Crops
In the cassava fields of mukwija in kalehe territory on South kivu, stalks are turning yellow before producing any cobs. Farmers watch helplessly as their plantations wither during what should be the rainy season. An unusual scene that illustrates the climate disruptions hitting several territories across South Kivu.
Sitting on a tree stump, Mama Furaha, a farmer for more than twenty years, points at her stunted beans. “We planted as always, but the rain did not come at the right time. The plants stopped growing, some have already died. We don’t know what we will eat by harvest time,” she says with worry in her eyes.
A few kilometers away, another farmer shares the same distress. “We work hard, but the land no longer responds. Even if we manage to harvest something, it is too little to feed the family. And in the market, everything is becoming expensive,” laments Jean-Pierre, a father of six.
This reality is confirmed by agricultural engineer and researcher at INERA Mulungu, N’naka Rudahaba Arsène. For him, the phenomenon is not a coincidence but a direct consequence of climate change. “Today, many areas of South Kivu experience drought right in the middle of the rainy season. The problem is that it happens when crops are still fragile or just planted. Many crops are sensitive to water stress, and when they dry before maturity, they produce almost nothing,” he explains.
The impacts go far beyond the fields. Food scarcity drives up prices, affecting the entire community. “If food becomes scarce, it will be very expensive. Even those who do not farm feel this crisis,” warns the researcher.
To address the situation, N’naka Rudahaba recommends revising the agricultural calendar to adapt to new climate realities, strengthening agricultural value chains to support farmers, and launching an ambitious reforestation policy. He also encourages the use of drought-resistant seeds, although access to them remains limited.
For now, peasant families in South Kivu continue their struggle, caught between unpredictable droughts and the fear of tomorrow. For them, the future remains tied to the shifting moods of an increasingly uncertain climate.
