Abstract
The effects and causes of climate change and variability have been a cause of controversy and debate for many years in many parts of the developing world. Perceptions vary about the effects and causes of climate change and variability. This study assessed smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate variability and climate change adaptation in Bolero Community, Rumphi district in northern Malawi. Data were generated through a knowledge, attitude and practice survey using semi-structured interview and focus group discussions targeting 100 respondents in the study area. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. The results revealed that 76% of the farmers that were interviewed perceived increased temperatures and 74% perceived decreased rainfall. Results on temperature were supported by meteorological data but rainfall data for Bolero area showed no significant changes overtime. Results, however, demonstrate increased awareness by smallholder farmers about the meaning of climate change and variability but are mixed on actual causes of this due to insufficient scientific knowledge. Some relate it to human activity while others associate it to traditional, cultural, and religious practices. Among the few who believe their own human activity contributes to the situation, they feel that easy access to markets, credit, water resources, irrigation services, tree seedlings and information on climate change, can motivate them to adopt coping and adaptation mechanisms to climate change and variability. Thus, it is important to improve the scientific knowledge of smallholder farmers in understanding the causes of climate change and variability through increasing the level of awareness among smallholder farmers about the impact and causes of climate change and variability. Furthermore, more programmes that motivate farmers to adopt coping and adaptation mechanisms in dealing with climate change and variability are needed. Such projects should consider cultural and traditional beliefs of smallholder farmers. Key words: Adaptation, adoption, climate change, coping mechanism, Malawi, perception.
Highlights
In many parts of the world today, climate change and variability have affected rural livelihoods especially in the developing world (IPCC, 2007)
This paper presents preliminary results of a study conducted at Bolero Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Rumphi district, northern part of Malawi about people’s knowledge, attitude and practice about climate change and variability vis a vis their perceptions about coping and adaptation mechanisms to promote the rural livelihood
Majority of smallholder farmers are aware of climate change but debate continues on actual causes of this change
Summary
In many parts of the world today, climate change and variability have affected rural livelihoods especially in the developing world (IPCC, 2007). In Africa, human activity is attributed to this significant change in climate. The increasing severity of droughts, floods, dry spells and strong winds are, at least in some part, due to human activity (IPCC, 2007; United Nations, 1992). Issues of climate change and variability have been a cause of controversy and debate for many years around the world in the low rainfall regions (Brody et al, 2012). It seems scientifically well established that clearing a forest reserve adversely affects rainfall. A reduced evaporation loss from a forest cover is regarded as a significant reason for low and erratic rainfall than other alternative land use cover (Lorup and Hansen, 1997). By examining climate change using the concepts, tools and languages of the sciences and humanities and the discourses and practices of economics, politics and religion will begin to see that depending on who one is and where one stands, the idea of climate change carries quite different meanings and seems to imply different courses of action (Hulme, 2009)
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