article · International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management
A survey of smallholder farmers in Kweneng district, south-eastern Botswana, examined local perceptions of climate change, existing adaptation practices, and the factors driving these decisions. Most farmers reported observing higher mean annual temperatures, more hot days, lower mean rainfall, and fewer rain days over the preceding decade. To adjust to these shifting conditions, farmers primarily altered their crop planting dates and provided supplementary feed for livestock. Statistical analysis indicates that adaptation choices are significantly influenced by gender, age, household size, poverty levels, land availability, mixed farming practices, and knowledge regarding climate change. The evidence suggests that support initiatives should focus on diversifying household agriculture and improving the dissemination of climate and adaptation guidance to strengthen agricultural resilience.
Smallholder farmers face severe operational risks from shifting weather patterns and declining rainfall. Understanding how rural communities perceive these changes and identifying the socioeconomic barriers they face helps support agencies design practical assistance. Fostering agricultural diversification and improving climate knowledge enables vulnerable farming households to sustain both crop yields and livestock health under difficult environmental conditions.
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Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyze smallholder farmers’ perceptions on climate change and its stressors, their adaptation strategies and factors that influence their adaptation to climate change. Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted in Kweneng district, located in the south eastern part of Botswana. Multi-stage sampling was used to obtain a representative sample from three sub-districts in the district. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data by using face-to-face interviews. Findings Majority of farmers perceived an increase in mean annual temperature and the number of hot days and a decrease in mean annual rainfall and the number of rainfall days over the past 10 years as indicators of climate change. The prominent adaptation strategies included changes in planting dates for crops and supplementary feeding for livestock. The logistic regression results show that gender, age, household size, poverty, shortage of land, mixed farming and knowledge about climate change significantly influence adaptation. Practical implications The findings indicate that climate change policy should target agricultural diversification at the household level and dissemination of information on climate change and adaptation strategies. Originality/value Policy recommendations can be suggested: government climate change interventions should target agricultural diversification at the household level, and this study provides insights on what influences adaptation strategies and what should be targeted to build resilience in the agricultural sector.
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DOI: 10.1108/ijccsm-02-2017-0039
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