Impact of heat on farming and farmers

October 22, 2026 | Backgrounder from Resource Pack 131
AgricultureClimate changeEnvironment and climate changeHealthWater management

Backgrounder

Key information

Changes to planting (and expectations)

Maize is a staple food for more than 300 million people in Africa.. About 40% of Africa’s maize-growing area already experiences occasional drought stress, with roughly 25% facing frequent drought stress. Separately, climate projections suggest up to 15% of maize-growing area could become climatically unsuitable by 2050, rising to more than 30% by 2100 under a high-emissions scenario. Farmers can grow more drought-tolerant varieties of certain crops, such as maize or wheat.

Farmers can increase their food security by growing more drought-tolerant crops, which take less water to grow, or early-maturing varieties, which mature more quickly. This includes sorghum, cassava, sweet potato, pearl millet, and groundnut. See our backgrounder on drought-tolerant varieties: Drought-tolerant varieties

Farmers can also intercrop two or more crops together so they have another crop to fall back on when maize harvests fail because of poor rainfall.(6)  Intercropping involves planting two crops on the same field so they can grow together without interfering with each other. A good example is maize and beans, which support each other’s growth, as beans fixes nitrogen into the soil, which the maize plant consumes. The tall maize plants protect the beans, and deep-rooted legumes like pigeon pea can break through hardpans, helping the maize roots penetrate deeper soil. Additionally, cover crops protect the soil from the sun, slowing the evaporation of water. It’s important to note that farmers must carefully choose crops to be interplanted. For example, you shouldn’t intercrop two crops such as maize and sunflower, which are both “heavy feeders,”—that is, they require a lot of soil nutrients. For more information on intercropping, see our backgrounder.

For more information on intercropping:

Find Farm Radio International backgrounders on the following crops:

Farmers should focus on managing risk, rather than the maximum hectares that they can plant. With extreme heat, it may be more difficult to provide water and nutrients to large fields, and pests, plant disease, and weeds may be more prevalent. Farmers should assess soil moisture, planting dates, cultivar choice, and the amount of land they can prepare and plant if rainfall becomes erratic. All of this information will help them to make the best decisions. (7)

Using compost and crop residues can help their soil retain more moisture, making the most of what rainfall does fall. Find more information in our issue pack on soil fertility.

 

(6) Dry Delights. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/inline-files/Infographic%202_Crops.pdf

(7) Farmers face a tough season, but preparation is the best defence. African Farming. 15 August 2026. https://www.africanfarming.com/2026/08/15/farmers-face-tough-season-preparation-is-best-defence/

 

Changes to livestock rearing

Heat will also have a big impact on animals. For the most common livestock species, stress begins at above 25°C, and a bit lower for chickens and pigs, which are unable to cool themselves by sweating. (8) So livestock farmers should consider how many animals they can support if rainfall is below normal: How much grazing is available? How much feed is in reserves? Are boreholes, reservoirs, and drinking troughs ready? Feed may become more expensive to buy as demand increases. Livestock will need more access to water and shade as the heat increases. Selling animals while they are in good condition gives farmers more options. (9)

In Kenya, most livestock keepers prefer to raise cattle. But with the changing climate, some small-scale farmers in eastern Kenya have discovered that goat farming is a lucrative substitute for cows. Goats are hardy animals, especially in dry areas. They do not consume a lot of fodder, can go for several days on the water in the food they eat, do not require much land, and, if well-managed, gain enough weight to be sold in six months.

Planting fodder hedges can help ensure feed for the dry season. Farmers can plant rows of shrubs and trees and allow them to grow without cutting during the rainy season. Leguminous trees or shrubs can also help to add nitrogen to the soil. Learn more. This drama script also provides good insight.

Farmers can plant new varieties of fodder, for example a new sorghum variety called Fassa increased fodder yields in different regions of Niger by 10 – 80%. Alfalfa can provide fodder during the dry season when irrigated and can be used for in-stall feeding. Farmers can sell surplus alfalfa to generate income. Alfalfa also provides vegetative cover, helping to rehabilitate degraded soil. However, alfalfa does need to be irrigated, which can be

challenging if water is scarce. Read more about alfalfa as fodder in this two-host discussion from Niger.

Storing hay and silage can help feed livestock using less land. Hay is grass that has been cut, dried, and stored, to be used as feed for grazing animals such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Silage is fermented stored fodder that can be fed to cattle, sheep, and other grazing livestock. Read about Kenyan dairy farmers storing quality fodder.

For more information, see:

 

(8) Extreme health pushes agrifood systems to the brink. PreventionWeb. 22 April 2026. https://www.preventionweb.net/news/extreme-heat-pushes-agrifood-systems-brink

(9) Farmers face a tough season, but preparation is the best defence. African Farming. 15 August 2026. https://www.africanfarming.com/2026/08/15/farmers-face-tough-season-preparation-is-best-defence/

 

Water harvesting

To make the most of what rain does fall, there are several strategies for collecting and managing water at home and on the farm. Farmers can invest in pits or tanks to collect rainwater. A pit should be lined with heavy clay or plastic to prevent the water from soaking into the ground. This water can be used for irrigating crops, and if the pit is big enough, it can also be used for raising fish – as well as irrigating crops. These irrigation pits should be cleaned before the rainy season, and the organic matter at the bottom makes an excellent fertilizer. See our issue pack on efficient water use on the farm.

Farmers can also prepare their lands in particular ways to slow down rainwater as it runs off the field.

  • Zai pits: Planting pits measuring approximately 20 x 20 cm with a depth of 10 cm, although dimensions may vary. Farmers should adapt the size to their own soil, rainfall, and labour capacity. The hole is filled with crop residues or manure, as well as seeds.
  • Half-moon ditches (demi-lunes): Semi-circles dug into the soil across the slope of the field measuring one to five metres. They should be constructed in staggered lines, so that when water fills one, it runs off the side of the ditch and it is captured by the next. Manure is mixed into the soil.
  • Stone lines or terraces: Built across moderately- to steeply-sloped fields to slow down water runoff and protect against erosion.

Covering the soil with crop residues will also help the soil to retain moisture. Learn more about permanent soil cover in this backgrounder.

For more information, see:

 

Agroforestry

Trees give shade and help keep temperatures moderate, benefiting people, animals, and crops. They help keep the air clean. And they protect the land by holding rainwater in the ground so less is dried up by the sun. Their roots also hold down the soil. Trees reduce the damage caused by droughts and floods.

Farmers should protect trees, keeping animals from grazing on them and using less fuelwood. Many communities are collectively managing forests, identifying where and when trees can be harvested to ensure a healthy forest. Learn more about community forest management.

Farmers can also plant seedlings in their field to provide shade for the soil and crops, and perhaps provide food from fruits. And they can help encourage new growth from existing stumps using Farmer-managed natural regeneration.

For more information, see:

 

Health for humans

Extreme heat can also have a big impact on human health. For those working outside, like farmers, market traders, street vendors, and construction workers, temperatures above 32 °C can be a big risk. Heat stress occurs when the heat received by the body is greater than the body can tolerate. For workers performing physically demanding tasks under direct sunlight, these conditions can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, and even heatstroke. (10) Heat can also worsen existing conditions such as cardiovascular, respiratory and renal (kidney) disease.(11) Farmers should consider working early in the morning to avoid extreme midday heat, and all outside labourers should take breaks in the shade, drink water, and consider a shorter working day. Individuals over 65 years of age and pregnant women are at a higher risk and should take greater precautions.

Our two series of radio spots for emergency preparedness include some spots for extreme heat and heat waves. Find series 1 and series 2 here.

Heat may also increase the prevalence of insects that carry diseases, such as tsetse flies, spreading sleeping sickness, and mosquitos, spreading malaria. Additionally, people may face difficulty accessing water, relying on unsafe water sources, resulting in an increase in cholera and typhoid.(12) Find some advice on clean drinking water here.

The African Union recognized the importance of water at its 39th Ordinary Session, announcing the theme of 2026 as “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.” Learn more.

 

(10) Extreme heat is trapping workers in poverty in West Africa. The Borgen Project. 30 March 2026. https://borgenproject.org/poverty-in-west-africa-2/

(11) Extreme heat is a growing threat to health, jobs and food security in southern Africa – study looks for practical solutions. The Conversation. 3 May 2026. https://theconversation.com/extreme-heat-is-a-growing-threat-to-health-jobs-and-food-security-in-southern-africa-study-looks-for-practical-solutions-280339

(12) The African Farmers Devastated by Extreme Heat. Current Affairs. 15 July 2026. https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/the-african-farmers-devastated-by-extreme-heat

 

Radio spots

Find relevant radio spots in these other Farm Radio resources:

  1. Drought tolerant varieties
  2. Soil fertility
  3. Circular and regenerative agriculture
  4. Efficient use of water on the farm
  5. Emergency preparedness and response

 

Suggested interview questions

 For a general interview about preparing for the impact of heat and drought.

For experts (health, meteorological)

 

  1. How do you expect heat to impact people? How do you expect it to impact farmers?
  2. When it comes to the heat and prolonged heat, are there particular health impacts that farmers or people working outside for long periods should be aware of?
  3. Are there particular groups that might be most affected by the heat – either because of their work, age, or other factors?
  4. What precautions should people take to minimize the health risk from the heat?
  5. Are there related concerns, as a result of heat or drought? For example, are we seeing an increase in insect-borne illnesses or illness from poor water quality?
    1. What can be done to address these issues, on an individual or collective level?
  6. The African Union placed a focus on water and sanitation in 2026. What action are we seeing as a result? What action is needed?

For agricultural experts (choose the questions relevant to the theme of your episode)

  1. How have we seen heat affect farm production in this area? What is the impact on crops and livestock?
    1. Are we expecting an impact this year?
  2. What action do you advise farmers to take to get the best harvest despite the heat?
    1. Can you provide more details on these steps and equipment needed?
    2. Should farmers be planting different crops to find more success?
  3. What action do you advise livestock keepers to take to keep their animals healthy and get the most value from their herd?
    1. Should livestock keepers be selling their animals?
    2. Are there particular livestock that fare better in the heat?
    3. Are there particular strategies farmers can take to find more food for their animals? Water? Shade?
  4. How can farmers make the most of what rain does fall?
    1. What water harvesting practices are most common in this area?
    2. How can farmers improve their water harvesting?
    3. Are there collective efforts to better manage community sources of water?
  5. How can trees help farmers in times of extreme heat?
    1. What trees are best to plant?
    2. What benefits do these trees bring?
    3. Where can farmers get these trees?
    4. What resources do the trees take? Do they also need water? Pruning?
    5. Does agroforestry make land preparation more challenging?

For farmers

  1. How have past heat waves and droughts affected your farming business?
    A. How much do you typically harvest in a good year? What did you harvest during the last drought?
  2. Are you concerned about the forecast for this year? What impact do you think it will have on your farm?
  3. Have you done anything differently to be more resilient to heat and drought?
    1. Why did you decide to try this approach? Where did you hear about it?
    2. What steps did you take?
    3. What challenges did you face?
    4. Have you seen any impact?
  4. Have you personally adjusted your work to account for the heat? Are you avoiding certain tasks in the heat of the day, for example?

 

Additional sources of information

5 Ways to Deal with Drought in Africa and Beyond. Agence Française de Developpement. 6 September 2023. https://www.afd.fr/en/actualites/5-ways-deal-drought-africa-and-beyond

Continental and National Monitors. Hydrology@Southampton. https://hydrology.soton.ac.uk/apps/

Dry Delights. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/inline-files/Infographic%202_Crops.pdf

Mediae Company videos:

Extreme heat and agriculture. World Meteorological Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/documents-and-publications/extreme-heat-and-agriculture

Extreme Heat Portal. PreventionWeb. https://www.preventionweb.net/hubs/extreme-heat

Extreme heat is a growing threat to health, jobs and food security in southern Africa – study looks for practical solutions. The Conversation. 3 May 2026. https://theconversation.com/extreme-heat-is-a-growing-threat-to-health-jobs-and-food-security-in-southern-africa-study-looks-for-practical-solutions-280339

From Resolution to Reality: Delivering Water and Sanitation for “The Africa We Want.” United Nations Africa Renewal. 18 March 2026. https://africarenewal.un.org/en/magazine/resolution-reality-delivering-water-and-sanitation-africa-we-want%3Fdebt%3Ddebt

 

 

Acknowledgements

Compiled by: Kathryn Burnham, Manager, Radio resources

Reviewed by:  Ms. Joyce Mbingo, Country Manager, Nature Positive Foodsystems Program, Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

 

This resource is funded by the IKEA Foundation under the project “Sustainable Dialogue and Knowledge Sharing Communication Platforms”

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