Climate Change is Putting East Africa’s Crops, Culture, and Commerce at Risk

Why These Crops Matter

Food is more than a source of nutrition. For communities, these crops are closely linked to culture, identity, and daily life.

In Ethiopia, buna brings together friends, families, and neighbours over cups of coffee and torn injera to foster connection and show care for one another.

Pressure on Teff and Coffee in Ethiopia

Most farmers rely on rainfall rather than irrigation systems to grow teff. Despite being a resilient plant, this makes teff highly vulnerable to high temperature and dry weather extremes —with severe water stress shown to reduce yields by as much as 40%.

Because of this, climate change is changing where teff can be grown, with warmer lowland areas quickly becoming unsuitable.

Growing Threats to Cassava in Tanzania

Cassava thrives between 25-30°C, but extreme heat can hinder its growth and reduce productivity.

Rising temperatures are also helping pests spread into new areas, with vector-borne diseases like Cassava Brown Streak Disease (spread by Cassava Whitefly) predicted to spread—putting 55% of East Africa’s land area at risk by 2050.

Because cassava is commonly grown from stem cuttings, diseases can spread quickly if infected cuttings or contaminated tools are used.

Banana and Plantain Production at Risk in Uganda

Bananas and plantains grow best within a narrow temperature range, and even small increases in temperature can affect plant development and reduce yields. Changing climate conditions are also increasing the spread of damaging diseases—like banana bunchy top and black leaf streak (black sigatoka)—that are affecting banana crops.

What Can Farmers and Businesses Do?

Protecting East Africa’s most important crops will require joined-up action from farmers, businesses, governments, institutions, development partners, and local communities.

Several practical approaches can help reduce climate-related risks and protect East African mealtimes for future generations.

Use More Climate-Resilient Crop Varieties

Adopting and developing crop varieties that can better withstand drought, heat, and disease is one of the most effective ways to protect future crop production. This includes drought-tolerant tea varieties, early maturing maize, and disease-resistant cassava strains, as well as ensuring genetic diversity through crop breeding.

Improve Access to Finance and Climate Information

Access to weather forecasts, early warning systems, affordable insurance and microfinance programs can help farmers and small businesses make informed decisions and recover more quickly from climate-related shocks. For SMEs operating in agricultural value chains, these tools can support better planning, investment, and risk management.

Strengthen Pest and Disease
Management

Early detection of crop diseases and improved farm hygiene can help reduce the spread of pests and diseases. Training and access to advisory services can help farmers respond quickly to threats.

Expand Agroforestry

Integrating trees into farming systems can help moderate temperature and moisture extremes by creating shade that cools the soil, reduces plant water-loss, and sequesters carbon back into the soil. Trees can also provide supplementary income for farmers through fruit and timber, supporting long-term business sustainability.

Improve Water and Soil
Management

Water management practices help farmers cope with increasingly unpredictable rainfall. Solutions include irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting, terracing, and mulching to protect against long dry spells.

What’s Next?

Climate risks to crops are not just agricultural challenges—they affect traditions, livelihoods, and the foods communities grow, share, and celebrate. Save the Flavours explores how stories of climate-threatened foods can help build support for the people working to protect them.