42 communities abandon farming due to climate shocks: Report
The report points to a growing threat to rural livelihoods and food security, as drought, flooding, heat, poor soil quality, heavy rainfall and high winds undermine production across the Central River and North Bank regions. Among 99 locations assessed for agricultural production, 91 percent reported losses in the past two years due to environmental factors. The scale of abandonment is alarming. Of the 84 locations that provided data on abandonment, 12 reported that 76 to 100 percent of families had quit farming. Another 30 said more than half had abandoned farming, while 29 said about half had done so. The highest concentration was in Sabach Sanjal with 13 localities affected, followed by Niamina East with 12 and Niamina West with six. The impact is already being felt at household level. The assessment found that 73 percent of locations reported that the majority of families do not have enough food. In Central River Region-North, 100 percent of locations reported that the majority of families lack sufficient food. For many, leaving farming does not mean finding a better livelihood. Families are diversifying into casual labour, construction, fishing, gardening, trading and other activities to survive. But some coping strategies are creating new pressures. In Kuntaur Fula Kunda, generator-powered irrigation has pushed production costs beyond what farmers can sustain. In Kumbija and Illiassa, growing dependence on casual labour is drawing households away from farming. Livestock is also under pressure. In 31 locations where livestock rearing is practised, 97 percent reported difficulty feeding animals due to environmental factors. Of 26 locations reporting on livestock abandonment, 12 said more than half of households had abandoned livestock or transhumance. Fishing communities are not spared. Among 25 locations where fishing is practised, 88 percent reported reduced yields due to drought, flooding, low river levels and salinity. The IOM says the 42 localities where more than half of households have abandoned agriculture need targeted livelihood diversification support, along with climate-resilient practices, improved seeds, crop diversification and better post-harvest storage. The report also warns that agricultural inputs and seeds sometimes arrive after the optimal planting period, reducing the impact of assistance even when it reaches farmers.
Black News 
The report points to a growing threat to rural livelihoods and food security, as drought, flooding, heat, poor soil quality, heavy rainfall and high winds undermine production across the Central River and North Bank regions.
Among 99 locations assessed for agricultural production, 91 percent reported losses in the past two years due to environmental factors.
The scale of abandonment is alarming. Of the 84 locations that provided data on abandonment, 12 reported that 76 to 100 percent of families had quit farming. Another 30 said more than half had abandoned farming, while 29 said about half had done so.
The highest concentration was in Sabach Sanjal with 13 localities affected, followed by Niamina East with 12 and Niamina West with six.
The impact is already being felt at household level. The assessment found that 73 percent of locations reported that the majority of families do not have enough food. In Central River Region-North, 100 percent of locations reported that the majority of families lack sufficient food.
For many, leaving farming does not mean finding a better livelihood.
Families are diversifying into casual labour, construction, fishing, gardening, trading and other activities to survive. But some coping strategies are creating new pressures.
In Kuntaur Fula Kunda, generator-powered irrigation has pushed production costs beyond what farmers can sustain. In Kumbija and Illiassa, growing dependence on casual labour is drawing households away from farming.
Livestock is also under pressure. In 31 locations where livestock rearing is practised, 97 percent reported difficulty feeding animals due to environmental factors. Of 26 locations reporting on livestock abandonment, 12 said more than half of households had abandoned livestock or transhumance.
Fishing communities are not spared. Among 25 locations where fishing is practised, 88 percent reported reduced yields due to drought, flooding, low river levels and salinity.
The IOM says the 42 localities where more than half of households have abandoned agriculture need targeted livelihood diversification support, along with climate-resilient practices, improved seeds, crop diversification and better post-harvest storage.
The report also warns that agricultural inputs and seeds sometimes arrive after the optimal planting period, reducing the impact of assistance even when it reaches farmers.
