Louise Skelly, a sheep farmer in County Down, hosted Jackline Mugoboka, who farms one hectare of bananas, beans and tomatoes in rural Rwanda. The two women discussed extreme weather events affecting their farms.

Skelly has lived at Shanaghan Hill near Katesbridge on the River Bann for 44 years. She rears sheep and plans to vaccinate her ewes and lambs against bluetongue virus. The disease reached Northern Ireland in November after cases appeared in England.

Mugoboka visited farms on both sides of the Irish border. She works with Rwandan farmers, nearly 90% of whom are women, on sustainable practices. Rwanda recovered from floods and landslides in 2023 that killed at least 130 people.

Skelly noted more floods on her farm in the last 10 years than previously. Mugoboka expressed surprise at flooding in Northern Ireland and stated no region is immune to climate shocks.

Both women identified changing weather as a cause of new diseases in livestock. Skelly showed Mugoboka her planting of alder, spruce, rowan and hawthorn to reduce flood risk and provide animal shade. Bird boxes support local wildlife among the trees.