Climate Vulnerability and Mining Pressure on the Local Agricultural Economy: An Analysis of Socio-economic and Environmental Impacts in the Village of Kawama (Lualaba, DRC)

Abstract

This study analyses the combined effects of climate vulnerability and mining pressure on the local agricultural economy in the village of Kawama, Lualaba Province. The aim is to assess the influence of these factors on agricultural performance, the socio-economic conditions of households and environmental degradation. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining quantitative and qualitative data collected from 394 farming households selected using stratified probability sampling. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations, analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA) and a multiple regression model. The results show that 72 per cent of households are exposed to drought and 68 per cent to erratic rainfall, leading to a decline in agricultural yields of up to 41 per cent. Mining pressure results in soil degradation (81 per cent), water pollution (74 per cent), the presence of mining dust (77 per cent) and a reduction in agricultural land (69 per cent). The correlations reveal a significant negative relationship between agricultural production, climate vulnerability (r = -0.62) and mining pressure (r = -0.71). The regression model (R² = 0.68) shows that these two factors account for 68 per cent of the variability in agricultural yields. The study concludes that the interaction between climate change and mining expansion poses a long-term threat to agricultural productivity, food security and the resilience of rural households, highlighting the need for integrated policies on environmental management, the restoration of degraded land and the adaptation of agriculture to climate change.

Keywords: Climate vulnerability, mining pressure, agriculture, Kawama, Lualaba.

Received Date: June 19, 2026

Accepted Date: July 10, 2026

Published Date: August 01, 2026

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/833