Lost Worlds
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The majority of Burundians are smallholder farmers facing serious constraints that will be further exacerbated by climate change. Most agricultural systems in Burundi are highly vulnerable to climatic hazards, including floods, landslides, water deficit, drought and irregular rainfall (both in terms of movement of rainfall in time and space). and rapid coupling of drought and torrential rains in the same area) .
Over the next 10 to 30 years, changes in rainfall patterns, increased temperatures and prolonged dry seasons are expected to have significant impacts on productivity, crop suitability and food security.
Domestic demand for basic foodstuffs will continue to outstrip supply, leading to increased import dependence for most staples, especially livestock. Emergency response and resilience programs will be essential to prevent losses from extreme events and to support smallholders in creating economic, environmental, social and cultural assets. Building the capacity of early warning systems and developing or improving supply chain logistics, transport and storage systems will play a key role in these efforts. Climate resilience offers several leverage points to strengthen integration between different WFP activities. Potential programmatic and financial partnerships with other countries facing similar climate challenges, local public and private actors whose work can be scaled up to forge more robust and efficient value chains, and national experts conducting research activities and development on the ground may hold particular promise for activities that address the root causes of climate impact at a significant scale.
