Assessment of Factors Associated with Climate Change Adapatation by Farmers in Kawambwa District

Abstract

Climate change is a big challenge for farmers everywhere, especially in tropical regionslike Africa. It is evident that climate change is adversely affecting agriculture, and it has become the new norm and caused by human activities. Climate change is especially challenging in Africa, with aspects such as weak policies, limited technology, poverty, severe weather events, and economic hardship making the continent particularly susceptible. This study was conducted to assess climate change adaptation among small-holder farmers in Kawambwa District. This study employed a mixed-methods approach. The study used multistage sampling technique. In the first stage, 3 agricultural camps were selected purposively from 29 camps. Then 301 farmers were randomly selected from 3 agricultural camps. The study targeted small-holder farmers within Kawambwa District. A structured questionnaire and semi-structured interview guide were used for data collection. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS to execute descriptive statistics and regression analysis on factors associated with adaptation strategies. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data to identify patterns and themes that emerged from the interviews. The study established awareness of climate change and various adaptation strategies among farmers in Kawambwa District which included crop diversification (70%), use of improved seeds (18.39%), conservation agriculture (3.99%) and irrigation (9.9%). Finance (p=0.01), access to climate information (p=0.04), experience (p=0.02) and institutional support (p=0.08) were identified as vital enabling factors of adaptation. Financial, institutional, and infrastructural constraints limit farmers’ ability to implement climate change adaptation strategies. Specific interventions, like extension services, infrastructure and financial resources need to be put in place to improve resilience of farmers against climate related shocks. Keywords: Climate Change, Adaptation, Climate Change Adaptation Practices, Smallholder Farmer, Vulnerability and Agricultural Extension