Sustainable Food Systems and Development

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Browsing Sustainable Food Systems and Development by Subject "Climate change"

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    Smallholder farmers’ perceptions and adaptation to climate change: a case of Umkhanyakude District in Kwazulu-Natal Province of South Africa
    (University of the Free State, 2023) Maziya, Mbongeni; Nkonki-Mandleni, B.; Van Niekerk, J.
    Climate change poses significant risks to smallholder farmers and affects global efforts to reduce poverty, ensure food security, and promote sustainable development. Due to their limited capacity to adapt and often residing in rural areas, smallholder farmers are susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change. The adaptation process involves two steps: farmers’ perception of climate change and adopting appropriate adaptation strategies. The study’s contribution lies in its policy implications, which aim to promote climate change adaptation in rural areas. The findings provide policymakers with valuable insights for designing effective interventions to improve rural livelihoods and enhance overall quality of life. The main objective of this study was to investigate the perceptions and adaptation strategies of smallholder farmers on climate change in the uMkhanyakude district of KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. The specific objectives of the study were: (i) examine perceptions of smallholder farmers on climate change using information from smallholder farmers over a 20-year (1999-2019) production season; (ii) identify socioeconomic determinants of smallholder farmers’ perceptions on climate change; (iii) determine the perceived impact of climate change on smallholder farmers’ livelihoods; (iv) analyse the determinants of farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies. A survey was conducted among 400 smallholder farmers randomly selected using a stratified sampling procedure from the Jozini and uMhlabuyalingana local municipalities within the uMkhanyakude district. Farmers from various villages were randomly chosen. Farmers actively engaged in agricultural activities were invited to participate in the study. Quantitative data was collected using survey questionnaires, while qualitative data was gathered through focus groups and key informant interviews. STATA was employed for analysing quantitative data, while ATLAS.ti was used for qualitative data analysis. Principal Component Analysis was applied to identify the dominant climate change perceptions in the uMkhanyakude district. The analysis revealed five primary themes of farmers’ perceptions, namely: (i) natural disasters; (ii) institutional support; (iii) decreased crop yields and loss of assets; (iv) changes in temperature and rainfall; and (v) extension services on climate change and poor livestock production. A binary logistic regression model was used to analyse the socioeconomic factors influencing smallholder farmers’ climate change perception. The results showed that age of the household head, education level, adult equivalents, membership in farmers’ associations and access to irrigation played significant roles in shaping climate change perception. The study employed the Sustainable Livelihood Framework to analyse the perceived impact of climate change on smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. The findings indicated that drought, resulting from climate change, negatively impacted crop and livestock production in the district. Climate change also led to the depletion of forest resources, negatively affecting the income of local farming households. The Multinomial Logistic (MNL) regression model was employed to analyse the adaptation strategies adopted by farmers and the factors influencing their choices. The primary adaptation strategies were identified as mixed farming, irrigation, shifting planting dates, and cultivating drought-resistant crops. The MNL regression results highlighted that access to credit and extension services, female-headed households, market access, Tropical Livestock Units (TLUs), and land size influenced the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies. Access to credit emerged as the main driving force for adaptation across the identified strategies in the study area. The empirical findings highlight the need for developing climate change communication mechanisms tailored to specific areas, considering the perceptions of smallholder farmers. The results indicate that membership in farmer organizations play an important role in shaping climate change perceptions. Therefore, when formulating communication strategies to disseminate climate change information, this channel should be considered. The study revealed that smallholder farmers rely on various capital assets for their livelihoods, and climate change has negatively impacted their livelihoods. Considering this, it is recommended that extension services prioritise enhancing alternative livelihood strategies to diversify farm income. Access to rural finance is significant factor in facilitating the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies. Therefore, programmes supporting smallholder farmers should focus on facilitating their access to both formal and informal sources of credit.