Over the past two years, southern Africa has been hit hard by an El Niño-related drought that has led to some of the driest conditions in more than three decades for farmers across the region. Crop failure and livestock losses have been accompanied by concerns over water scarcity and growing pressure on food security. Though weather patterns have since normalised, bringing increased rainfall, the drought’s after-effects continue to affect the region’s agricultural economy.
Small and micro-level farms are faring the worst. With livelihoods that hinge on the output of a handful of livestock, or a limited plot of crops, the impact of severe weather events can be debilitating. These difficulties have stalled growth prospects for many, and accentuated the need to build resilience among low-income communities across the continent.
