Climate Change Exposure, Adaptation, and Rice Production in the Ruzizi Plain, Eastern DRC: Determinants and Impacts Using an Endogenous Switching Regression Approach

Climate change is having a significant impact on rice cultivation in tropical and subtropical areas, where it is reducing productivity. This study analyzes the exposure and adaptation strategies of rice farmers in the Ruzizi plain (South Kivu, DRC) based on surveys conducted among 196 households in the Luvungi and Sange communities. Producers are mainly affected by flooding (60.82%), water erosion (57.22%) and high temperatures (50%). Their vulnerability is exacerbated by high labor costs, reduced working hours due to heat, longer dry seasons, and water shortages. To cope with these constraints, the main strategies adopted are fertilization of plots (77.84%), varietal change (69.07%), access to inputs and markets, and improvement of access roads. Luvungi appears to be more exposed than Sange. Exposure is mainly influenced by group membership, level of education, access to credit, and membership in farmers' associations, while no sociodemographic factors explain the adoption of strategies. Finally, yields show a combined effect of exposure and adaptation: households with low exposure that adapt their practices achieve the highest yields (> 2 t/ha), while exposed households that do not adapt have the lowest yields (< 0.3 t/ha). The study recommends the dissemination of improved varieties and adapted technologies to strengthen rice resilience to climate change.