Climate change nowadays has become more and more important as everything is affected in one way or another. But basically, climate change has been defined as a change in the statistical distribution of weather over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years.
As an example in Rwanda, climate change has affected the amount of precipitation and it has also changed the distribution of rainfall through periods: There are several places, especially in East and South East, which are affected by climate change. This can be evident through the desertification tendencies, low level of lakes and water flows due to pluviometric deficit and prolonged drought. Rwandaâ€™s population and agricultural sector is highly affected by climate change. Insufficient water resources, poorly protected watersheds, erratic rainfall – which has affected Rwandaâ€™s hydro-electric power generation, cumulative impacts of high degradation of arable land due to erosion, following torrential regime of rains in the Northern regions (Rubavu, Nyabihu, Musanze, Gakenye, Gicumbi) and Central/West regions (Muhanga, Karongi, Rutsiro, Ngororero, Nyamagabe, Nyaruguru) and Floods in their slope zones are threats resulting from climate change.
Climate change has further resulted from degradation of forests and other natural features of our ecosystem.
This situation is translated into high vulnerability of high proportion of Rwandan population to climate change because it essentially leaves on biophysical support and its mode of existence highly depends on services that are directly offered by ecosystems, not only for food but also for energy. These services are currently more and more sharpened and alternated by climate change and anthropoid action.
Crops, which are restistant against drought should be promoted to face the problem of high crop failure due to climate change.