Perceptions of climate change impacts and adaptation measures used by crop smallholder farmers in Amathole district municipality, Eastern Cape province, South Africa

Popoola, Oluwabunmi Oluwaseun; Monde, Nomakhaya; Yusuf, Shehu Folaranmi Gbolahan

doi:10.1007/s10708-017-9829-0

Cited by 27 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research on climate change impacts on agricultural production activities in the study area revealed that smallholder farmers were faced with numerous production challenges caused by extreme weather events, particularly long periods of dry spells [165][166][167]. Amongst the identified impacts are water paucity, increased irregularities in planting seasons, pest and diseases, and decreased soil fertility affecting the quality and yields of crops [165]. Others include reduction in the weight, development, milk production and reproduction of livestock, coupled with reduction in vegetation and available land area for grazing [166]; and, marked decrease in the size, quantity and quality of poultry eggs [167].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Others include reduction in the weight, development, milk production and reproduction of livestock, coupled with reduction in vegetation and available land area for grazing [166]; and, marked decrease in the size, quantity and quality of poultry eggs [167]. Further assessment of the adaptation responses of smallholder farmers in the area showed that there was an extremely low implementation of adaptation measures and a majority of the farmers perceived existing coping and adaptation measures as significantly ineffective [165][166][167]. As such, present agricultural production in the area is highly constrained.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Information Sources and Constraints to Climate Change Adaptation amongst Smallholder Farmers in Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

2020

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With current global climate change conditions, the urgency to provide agricultural knowledge on adaptation has risen. The dearth of climate change information is one amongst many agricultural production challenges faced by the majority of rural farming communities. This study aimed to identify smallholder farmers’ sources of climate change information and constraints to their coping and adaptation. Descriptive statistical tools, mean scores and the ‘problem confrontation index’ (PCI) were used to assess and describe the study’s findings. Analysis revealed that public extension services play a minute role in rural farmers’ climate change knowledge; they get their information elsewhere. The most critical constraint to climate change coping and adaptation in the study area was lack of access to agricultural extension services.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Information Sources and Constraints to Climate Change Adaptation amongst Smallholder Farmers in Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

2020

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“…To these observations, Angula et al (2012) support that vulnerability of small-holder farmers to climate change is lessened by adequate access to relevant technologies. The use of chemicals in small-scale farming brought a newer class of essential production inputs to agriculture, which implies that the farmers would acquire technical skills to enrich soil fertility and crop yield (Davis and Terblanché, 2016; Popoola et al , 2018).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indigenous knowledge and innovative practices to cope with impacts of climate change on small-scale farming in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Rankoana

2022

IJCCSM

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Purpose This paper aims to describe the indigenous and innovative practices adopted by the small-scale farmers to cope with the impacts of climate change hazards on subsistence farming. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected through focus group discussions with 72 small-scale farmers from a rural community in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The discussions were analysed through verbatim transcripts and content analysis. Findings The study results show the farmers’ understanding of climate change variability and its hazards in the form of rainfall scarcity and excessively increased temperature, which are responsible for a declining production of indigenous crops. It has also been found that in the face of these hazards, the farmers experience low crop yields, which cannot provide the household food requirements. However, the small-scale farmers use a combination of local and innovative knowledge and skills to improve their crop production. They have adopted the indigenous adaptation mechanisms, which include rainfall prediction, preparation of the gardens, change of crops and the planting season to ensure better crop yields. The farmers also adopted innovative adaptation practices such as the use of fertilisers, growing of exotic crops and use of extension officers’ guidance and skills to minimise the risks and maximise the chances of resilient crop production. Research limitations/implications This paper describes the farmers’ ability to use the indigenous and innovative adaptation practices. It is only focused on the farmers’ knowledge and skills other than the extension officers’ skills. Originality/value The adaptation practices reported in the study fall within the adaptation and mitigation systems stipulated in the South African National Climate Change Strategy to assist the small-scale farmers grow and maintain the crops to improve production and minimise the risks, thus ensuring food security under observable harsh climate hazards.

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“…Such problems include reduced or variable rainfall, warming of temperatures, change in length of growing seasons, crop and livestock pests and diseases, weed problems, flooding, shortage of water and land degradation (Arragaw and Woldeamlak 2017;Wagesho et al 2013;Woldeamlak 2012). The impact of climate variability and change contributes to reduced agricultural productivity, and without sound adaptation strategies by farmers, jeopardized the future sustainability of the sector in the area (Popoola et al 2017;Arragaw and Woldeamlak 2016).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smallholder Farmers’ perception and adaptation to climate variability and change in Fincha sub-basin of the Upper Blue Nile River Basin of Ethiopia

Tessema

Simane

2020

GeoJournal

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Climate variability and change make agricultural sector a risky venture for smallholders' farmers. This paper presents an assessment of smallholder farmers' perceptions of climate variability and change, associated impacts on agricultural sector and the adaptive responses given in Fincha'a sub-basin of the Blue Nile River Basin of Ethiopia. We interviewed 380 head of households selected through systematic random sampling from eight Kebeles, two each from highland, midland, wetland, and lowland agro-ecosystems. Furthermore, focus group discussion and key informant interviews also performed to supplement and substantiate the quantitative data. Descriptive statistics used to summarize quantitative data and v 2 tests used to measure significance. The result revealed that increased temperature, frequency and severity of extreme weather events (drought and flood), and overall change in seasonality of rainfall over the last 20 years is a widely held perception. The associated impacts on agriculture include decline in length of growing period, the decreased and variability of water availability, increased crop damage by insects, pests, disease and weeds. In response, farmers practiced different adaptation measures like modification in crop and livestock production practices, and investment in land and water management activities at household and community level. The study also revealed the presence of multiple barriers that hindered the adoption of adaptation measures. To meet the impending challenges, situate by climate variability and change the adaptation measures implemented until now is not adequate. There is also extrication between farmers' perceptions of climate variability and change, and actual adaptation level. Despite significant number of farmers' perceived changes in temperature (about 93%) and rainfall (about 88%), the number of farmers adopted certain adaptation measures are below average. These necessitate the need for planned interventions to identify and support effective adaptation measures. Keywords Climate change Á Perception Á Adaptation Á Adaptation barriers Á Fincha'a sub-basin Background Climate variability and change coupled with substantial threats for society and nature. To reduce these threats, adaptation and mitigation are the two possible

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Perceptions of climate change impacts and adaptation measures used by crop smallholder farmers in Amathole district municipality, Eastern Cape province, South Africa

Cited by 27 publications

References 34 publications

Information Sources and Constraints to Climate Change Adaptation amongst Smallholder Farmers in Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Information Sources and Constraints to Climate Change Adaptation amongst Smallholder Farmers in Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Indigenous knowledge and innovative practices to cope with impacts of climate change on small-scale farming in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Smallholder Farmers’ perception and adaptation to climate variability and change in Fincha sub-basin of the Upper Blue Nile River Basin of Ethiopia

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