Africa is a continent that has faced countless social and economic challenges over the years, but the climate change has intensified most of these problems, particularly affecting agricultural production, which forms the economic base of many of its countries.
In places like Uganda, tea cultivation is of paramount importance to both the local economy and food security. However, the current crisis environmental is undermining farmers’ ability to produce this essential commodity. Climate change is disrupting traditional weather patterns, directly affecting tea production and leaving hundreds of thousands of people in extreme vulnerability.
The importance of tea in Uganda
Uganda has historically been one of the main tea producers in Africa, after Malawi and Kenya. Thanks to its lands mountainous and fertile, the African country has been able to produce high-quality teas, which has allowed it to integrate into international markets with ease. Tea, along with coffee, represents the pillars of the country's agricultural exports. According to a report by the International Center for Tropical AgricultureThe tea sector provides significant local income, benefiting more than 500,000 people who depend on its production for their livelihood.
Despite its importance, tea cultivation is now in danger, with farm workers the first to suffer the consequences of prolonged drought and extreme changes in weather patterns. Today, it is estimated that around 65% of the harvests may be damaged in the coming decades if conditions continue to worsen.
Impact of climate change on tea production
Climate change has made periods of drought longer and longer, which directly affects the care and maintenance of tea plantations. Temperatures have risen and rainfall is increasingly unpredictable, creating a hostile environment for crops. According to experts, in regions such as the Northern Uganda, the change in rainy seasons has caused climatic disasters such as floods and extreme droughts, which affect the supply of tea for the domestic and foreign markets.
In Horn of Africa, the situation is even more grim. Countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya have recorded the worst drought in decades, further exacerbating food security in the region. In Uganda, poor harvests are affecting not only local incomes but also the lives of smallholder farmers who rely on tea for survival. Reduced profits have pushed many families into extreme poverty, leaving thousands without adequate access to food or resources.
A study conducted between 2011 and 2020 showed that between a 7.8% and an 70.7% of the areas adjacent to national parks in Bwindi, a key region for biodiversity and tea cultivation, have lost their vegetation cover. Advancing climate change has displaced indigenous populations, such as the Batwa, who are now struggling to find a balance between their agricultural practices and the need to preserve ecosystems.
Consequences for farmers and the economy
The consequences of climate change go beyond crop loss. The social and economic impacts are far-reaching. Approximately 6,000 people depend on tea farming in Uganda, and as conditions worsen, many of them are forced to migrate to other regions in search of better opportunities. Economic insecurity has led to increased malnutrition and poverty, while worsening the employment crisis, especially in rural areas.
On the other hand, climate change has caused a decrease in soil fertility, which generates less harvestable products. This situation has increased the use of Chemical fertilizers which, in the long term, can end up worsening the health of the soil and local ecosystems.
The impact on the social fabric The impact of drought on crops is also significant. Just as floods have devastated many rural communities near risk zones. In places like Lake Victoria, families living there have been forced to leave their homes, fuelling further forced migration within the country.
Proposals to mitigate the effects of climate change on tea cultivation
Despite serious challenges, there are viable solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change on the tea sector in Uganda. In collaboration with international organizations, climate change mitigation programs have been implemented. agricultural sustainability that seek to incorporate new farming, water harvesting and organic planting techniques to reduce chemical use and improve resilience to climate disasters.
An example of these solutions is the project of the Kayonza Tea Factory, which has been highlighted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for its focus on climate-smart agriculture and engaging local communities in forest conservation.
Another key strategy has been to increase the adoption of climate resistant tea varieties, which can tolerate extreme variations in rainfall and temperatures. Through scientific research, local farmers are beginning to farm with greater precision, improving irrigation systems and adopting regenerative practices that help capture carbon and increase soil health.
Local and global efforts to preserve tea production
Local efforts, combined with external support, have been crucial to preserving the tea industry, despite obstacles. Governments and NGOs have launched programs to reforest areas affected by deforestation, which also helps reduce the impact of climate change. Buffer zones around national parks, including the Bwindi Forest, are under increasing protection.
On the other hand, technological initiatives such as the network of weather stations that record the weather in real time are allowing farmers to better plan their agricultural production. These actions help them adapt more quickly to sudden changes in the weather, reducing crop losses.
On a global level, the Unesco has stressed the importance of conserving key biodiversity areas, such as the national park south of Bwindi. Maintaining intact ecosystems is essential to mitigate the effects of climate change and give local communities the tools they need to deal with long-term environmental threats.
For smaller farming communities, such as the Batwa, the use of indigenous knowledge and traditional soil and water management techniques are proving to be a key tool not only for preserving the environment, but also for improving adaptability to a changing climate. These communities are receiving training to share their organic practices and proliferate their low-impact farming systems.
The road to climate resilience in Uganda is long and challenging, but these communities are finding sustainable solutions through cooperation, adaptation and the use of new agricultural technologies.
While climate conditions will remain a major constraint in the coming decades, the solutions already in place provide a solid foundation for addressing the long-term effects of climate change. Investment in agricultural technologies and the adoption of new climate-resilient crop varieties will be crucial to ensuring the continued existence of tea production in Uganda, benefiting future generations both locally and globally.