Climate Change and Small Farmers

By Annie Bergman

October 3, 2019

Last Updated: May 1, 2014

Climate Change and Small Farmers

Whether it be droughts, extreme floods or super typhoons, coffee rust, plant disease or pest outbreaks, small-scale farmers already seem to be unduly burdened by the changing climate. Indeed, recent events like Typhoon Haiyan, the flooding in Bolivia or coffee rust in central America are hurting Heifer farmers. And while reports offer a grim picture, we're already working with farmers to mitigate the effects a changing climate will have on their ability to feed themselves, their families, and to ultimately produce food for their communities and the world. 

Our CEO, Pierre Ferrari, recently traveled to Kenya and saw some of these efforts in action. Check out the video clip below to learn about the terracing Kenyan farmers are utilizing to help keep top soils in place so they can continue to grow nutritious foods.

Mitigating climate change is a huge challenge for Heifer farmers globally. In Kenya, a farm-to-field school is teaching farmers how to terrace land and use other techniques to combat the impact climate change has on their farms.


Continue to check back here throughout the month as we continue this conversation during the International Year of Family Farming.