A typology of climate adaptation costs for a smallholder maize farming system

Abstract

Understanding adaptation costs among smallholder farmers is essential in developing more targeted policy frameworks. This study was carried out to develop a typology of adaptation costs for a smallholder maize farming system. An exploratory sequential mixed methods research design was adopted. Semi-structured interviews with smallholder maize farmers were conducted to gather qualitative data on adaptation costs. Qualitative data on adaptation costs was transformed into quantitative binary data and subjected to Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering using the Squared Euclidean Distance and Between-Groups Linkage methods. This led to the development of a typology of adaptation costs with twenty-one homogenous clusters and six distinct categories out of the 119 climate adaptation costs established. The typology developed encompasses the intangible, indirect, non-economic and non-market costs. It simplifies the complexity associated with adaptation costs in general, can be useful as a management tool and could be essential in facilitating adaptation cost inventories. It is recommended that national governments should develop capacity building programmes aimed at raising awareness of adaptation costs among smallholder farmers. Training and mentorship programs aimed at enhancing proper implementation of adaptation measures among smallholder farmers are also pertinent to reduce mis-implementation and maladaptive practices that increase the cost of adaptation among smallholder farmers.