Small-scale farmers’ adaptation strategies to climate change in rural Etete, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

Climate change is, undoubtedly, a major challenge confronting humanity partly because its causes are multiple and complex, and its impacts can be uncertain and interrelated. No sector of the global economy has been more adversely affected by climate change than agriculture, especially in developing countries. This is primarily because most agricultural activities are rain-fed. This study set out to critically analyze the constraints towards adapting to climatic and non-climatic risks. This study is significant towards capturing the full complexity of farmers’ engagement with the phenomenon of climate change in resource-poor environments. This study employed a mixed methods approach to determine constraints to effective implementation of climate change adaptation strategies. Primary data was gathered from the study participants in Etete through the use of seventy-four (74) questionnaires, and ten (10) telephonic semi-structured interviews. Site observations were conducted through transects walks. Data obtained from the interviews were analyzed thematically while data obtained from the surveys were analyzed using SPSS to develop the main themes for this study. Study results suggest that no systematic implementation of climate change adaptation strategies was enacted through government initiatives due to inadequate inclusion of stakeholders such as involved extension officers, lack of working facilities and political interference in the policy formulation process. The findings also show that farmers in Etete employ self-directed adaptation strategies such as growing drought-tolerant and early maturing crops, strategies such as intercropping and the use of crop rotation. However, effective adaptation through those strategies is limited by the absence of proper training and input from extension services as well as limited awareness of climate-smart agriculture by the farmers. The outcome of this research is expected to impart and develop a body of knowledge to equip planners, policy makers, local government, and academia with an understanding of the dynamics related to local livelihoods and how they are d due to climate change. With their focus on improving the relevance of extension advice through farmer’s participation and staff training, these approaches could contribute to a significant improvement of the impact of extension.