How We Survive What the World’s Farmers Can Teach Us About Climate Resilience
Oct 29, 2025
In this conversation, Somini Sengupta, an international climate correspondent for The New York Times, highlights how farmers adapt to climate change. She shares insights on innovative practices like drought-resistant crops and agroforestry. Somini also discusses the importance of diversified crops versus monocropping, revealing lessons for industrial agriculture. Further, she examines cultural factors in meat consumption and suggests practical steps to minimize food waste. Her firsthand accounts provide a compelling look at resilience in the face of a changing climate.
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Malawian Farmer Switched To Pigeon Peas
- Somini Sengupta recounts meeting Judith Harry in Malawi who shifted from corn and tobacco to pigeon peas after droughts and costly fertilizer.
- Judith planted pigeon peas to shade soil, fix nitrogen, and protect crops in a drier climate.
Monocropping Concentrates Climate Risk
- Sengupta argues monocropping concentrates risk because climate shocks hitting major producer regions spike global prices.
- Diversifying crops and growing regions reduces systemic vulnerability to extreme weather.
Rice Faces Extreme Swings, Not Just Gradual Warming
- Rice production faces too-dry, too-hot, or too-wet years that wipe out harvests at critical stages.
- Farmers adjust planting schedules and test flood- or heat-tolerant seed varieties to cope with shifting patterns.