Informatics Publishing Limited

Abstract

Climate change nowadays is recognized as one of the most challenging and complex problem facing the agricultural development globally. However, the vulnerability of climate change on this sector in Africa is more than any other socioeconomic activities. This paper assesses smallholder farmers’ perceptions about climate change in the surrounding areas of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park in Eastern DR Congo. We also used thirty nine-year observed climate data (1980-2019) to corroborate farmers’ perceptions about climate change. The Mann-Kendall Test and SPSS were used for data analyses, while qualitative data were thematically analyzed. The results showed that from 1980 to 2019 the mean annual rainfall decreased (R2 = 0.11) while temperature increased (R2 = 0.43).

The major adaptation strategies identified included use of improved varieties and crop rotation (47.78%), early planting (53.33%), agroforestry practices (52.23%), planting early maturing varieties (38.89%), planting resistant varieties (46.67%), adoption of irrigation techniques (22.22%), and Integrated management of soil fertility package (65.55%). Results of logit regression analysis indicated that the access to extension services, credit, soil fertility, and land tenure are the most important factors that influence farmers’ perception and adaptation. The main barriers included lack of information on adaptation strategies, poverty, and lack of information about weather. Even though the communities are highly aware of climate issues, only 44.4% of farmers have adjusted their farming practices to reduce the impacts of increasing temperature and 40.6% to decreasing precipitation, giving lack of funds as the main barrier to implementing adaptation measure.

Keywords

Full Text

Abstract

Climate change affects agriculture and agriculture also affects climate change. Rural farmers, whose livelihoods depend on the use of natural resources, are likely to bear the brunt of adverse impacts. Higher temperatures, reduced rainfall and increased rainfall variability reduce crop yield and threaten food security in Itombwe massif low income and agriculture-based economies. In particular, climate change is expected to intensify existing problems and create new combinations of risks, particularly in Itombwe massif. The situation is made worst due to factor such as widespread poverty, over dependence on rain fed agriculture, inequitable land distribution, limited access to capital and technology, inadequate public infrastructure, such as agricultural service roads, long term weather forecasts and inadequate research and extension. By lessening the severity of key damages to the agricultural sector, adaptation is the key defensive measure. This paper reviews agricultural adaptation strategies employed by farmers in various villages in Itombwe massif in cushioning the effects of climate change. This study explored smallholder farmers’ knowledge on perceptions, vulnerability, adaptations and coping strategies, coupled with scientific analysis of the prevailing climatic regimes in the study areas and established enhanced adaptations of the agricultural systems. Lack of modern early warning systems, inflexible cropping calendar and narrow choice of crop varieties should aggravate the climate vulnerability. Hence, improving forecasting and dissemination of climate information, developing drought resistant varieties and promoting farm-level adaptation measures like use adjusting planting dates should be prioritized to improve community resilience to climate change. This study examined farmers’ perceptions of long-term climate change, adaptation measures undertaken, and the determinants of adaptation decisions based on household surveys conducted in Itombwe massif. The information accrued from the study is expected to be used by smallholder farmers to strengthen understanding about farmers’ decision-making process to enable policymakers and other stakeholders, including scientific communities and policy makers to support adaptation to climate change at the farm-level and address issues related to climate variability and change in similar agro-climatic conditions.

Keywords

Full Text