Improved seed varieties, and farming on river banks and in swamps is mitigating the situation.

The stress of climate change is not helping matters in the North West Region where farmers and households in general are at a loss with little or no rain and water for their farms, kitchens and livestock. The consequence is evident, with poor harvests in recent times and people overstretching to fetch water.

Most taps have since run dry and flowing rivers are rare to find. Water catchments have little to offer. Yet, many more mouths need food from farmers. Staring the people in the face is the very harsh climate change conditions. The North West Regional Delegate of Agriculture and Rural Development, Godfrey Nutoto, acknowledges that climate change has an ugly impact on farmers.

While waiting for rains without knowing when they will be come, the planting of tubers is on course in the region while the other seeds may suffer if the rains delay. It is against this backdrop that farmers have become active in various ways to adapt to the situation. It emerges from the Regional Delegation of Agriculture and Rural Development that many farmers begin the farming season by cultivating in swampy areas or along river banks. Hillsides or slopes and areas far away from swamps are cultivated later when farmers are sure that the rains are around to stay.

Away from this, the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, IRAD, is around with innovative measures that include adapted beans and maize seeds. It is all about improved seed varieties to cope with water stress conditions. Elsewhere, irrigation systems are helping matters whereby farmers no more depend solely on rains. Mechanised agriculture is also encouraged with the use of organic manure to improve soil water holding-capacity.

Reservoirs to help farmers harvest water for off-season production also feature in some of the main food production areas of the region like Santa and Ndop. In the short and long of it, the North West Region is not spared from the adverse impact of climate change. Farmers have started overstretching to have food in markets and kitchens with climate change to blame.