Nature
What we see is that weather patterns are getting more extreme and increasingly less predictable: Extreme droughts, heavy rainfalls, hailstorms, pests and diseases come together with socio-politic implications such as an increasing gender gap or exacerbated poverty.
Climate change affects smallholder families
Climate change is progressing faster than expected. And the effects of climate change are affecting smallholder families livelihoods and their agricultural production and the ecosystems already now in a way that demands quick reactions. Temperatures are rising, pests and diseases are spreading more and more, water scarcity gets worse, extreme weather patterns make farming a challenge and ecosystems suffer of the consequences of all these developments.
“In the last twenty-five, thirty years, we’ve seen a big difference in climate and obviously the coffee production has also been seriously affected.”
Supporting smallholder families in the face of climate change
HRNS’ work focusses on protecting the environment and restoring natural resources. It is only within healthy ecosystems, that smallholder families can thrive and achieve prospering livelihoods. All HRNS activities and practices being practiced with smallholder families in their communities contribute to reaching exactly that. Whether it is implementing climate-smart agricultural practices, promoting crop diversification, setting up agroforestry systems, foster circular economy approaches, or develop improved water management practices, these activities, among others, all contribute to the protection of nature, biodiversity, the environment, and overall well-being of people in these communities.
Developing practical solutions
Already now prolonged droughts, heavy rains or winds, water shortages, changes in crop seasons or increased temperatures are affecting smallholder families. Their farming systems need to become climate resilient and can also contribute to the mitigation of climate change.
HRNS hands-on activities include:
- Reforestation and counteracting deforestation
- Diversification
- Setting up agroforestry system
- Circular economy approaches
- Production of organic fertilizers
- Developing and sharing climate-smart agricultural practices
- Water management
- Safe use and handling of agrochemicals
Featured Projects
Get involved with HRNS
Partnering with Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung means to join hands-on and committed work with smallholder families in coffee regions. It means to be willing to bring change for them. It means to be ready to get involved and work together.