Africa faces extreme weather patterns

SIYAVONGA, ZAMBIA: Thirty-five year old Greble Mavombo is a small scale crop producer who has observed varying trends in rainfall patterns over the years. Based in Sitinkwi Village in the Lisutu area, Mavombo says the changes leave her in the lurch every year because the rains no longer come when expected. As a result, the yields are inadequate to sustain her extended family.

"I have noticed that the rainy season varies nowadays," she says. This year the rains came in January instead of beginning in November. And it was very little." The harvesting season is drawing nigh, but Mabombo will reap close to nothing, as if she never sowed. Her crops have died, scotched by the sun and burnt by heat in the ground. "I really don't know what causes these high temperatures," she continues. "We are going to die of starvation if the situation does not change for the better."