Extreme weather is disrupting traditional farming cycles and threatening food supplies across Africa, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), farmers are experiencing falling yields, devastating floods, and growing uncertainty, which is intensifying food insecurity in regions already strained by ongoing conflict and economic challenges.
Achille Nzundi, an urban farmer growing vegetables on the outskirts of Kinshasa, described how staple crops like pondu and gangai—common in many Congolese households—have been heavily affected by shifting weather patterns in recent years.
“The weather conditions have really changed,” Nzundi said. “In the past, we used to have very little rain in February, but nowadays it rains heavily, causing a lot of flooding that has destroyed our crops. We can’t do much about it because it’s all God’s plan.”
He added that the changing weather has disrupted what was once a predictable agricultural cycle, making it harder for farmers to plan their harvests. “This lack of certainty, as well as new weather extremes, is particularly challenging.”
Fellow urban farmer Germaine Makimuna echoed these difficulties: “During dry spells, the sun is so hot and when it rains, it is very heavy. Recently, rain water flooded this area and destroyed all my crops. I had to start from scratch.”
A new study by the Food and Agriculture Organization warns that extreme weather conditions are posing a serious threat to traditional African crops such as sorghum, maize, millet, and rice.
Environmentalists in the region point out that the impacts extend beyond crops. Jean Mangalibi, Coordinator for Friends of Nature and Gardens, highlighted the disappearance of local wildlife.
“Once upon a time, we used to have hippos in the Ngaliema Bay, but we can’t find any now,” Mangalibi said. “This shows that it’s not only vegetation that’s disappearing, but also animal species.”
The situation is particularly dire for thousands of farmers in eastern DRC, where livelihoods are already devastated by armed conflict. Humanitarian organizations are providing food aid, but they report being overwhelmed by the rising needs.
David Stevenson of the World Food Programme explained the compounded crisis: “On top of the conflict-related hunger and food insecurity, loss of production that we have, we also have climatic effects—either too much rainfall, not enough rainfall. And you can imagine when they don’t have the predictability of climate, and they’re also moving—the farming communities—this is really a double or a triple hit.”
As weather patterns continue to shift, many farmers are rethinking their approaches to agriculture. Some have appealed to the government for climate-resilient seeds and fertilizers, though many have yet to receive support.
Unpredictable weather has significantly reduced crop yields for farmers across the DRC. In recent months, torrential rains combined with the country’s poor drainage systems have triggered serious flooding that has washed away not only crops but entire livelihoods.