As Africa grapples with climate change, one of the biggest questions is no longer just about the environment, it is about food on our tables. Climate shocks are making farming more unpredictable, affecting production, food prices, jobs and the livelihoods of millions of people across the continent.

Can Africa feed itself if the farmers producing its staple foods are increasingly operating under uncertain climatic conditions? This question is particularly relevant for smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of food production in many African countries and are often the most vulnerable to droughts, floods and changing weather patterns.

To explore this issue from the perspective of a rice farmer in Nigeria, Mpho Sithole spoke to Zainab Isah Arah, who is also a member of the CAADP Non-State Actors Group. Arah is attending the 20th anniversary of the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.