Abstract
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the recurring erratic and uneven rainfall distribution has resulted in low crop yields, income losses, and low food stock. In response to these climate change challenges, farmers have recourse to several coping strategies to survive. This present paper explores farmers’ perception of climate variability and the coping strategies in use in the Central River Region of The Gambia. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze perceived climate variability and farm level adaptation options in the region. Data were collected from 283 farmhouses through transect walks, quantitative surveys including the use focus group discussions. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed that farmers generally perceive an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events and a decrease in the duration of the growing season. With regards to vulnerability and severity, nearly 95% of the respondents considered the dryness as the main threat to their farming activities and perceived its consequences as the most severe. The results equally showed that the perception of changes is linked to the adoption of some adaptation measures among which the preferred were the use of chemical fertilizers (66%), though it is stated to be the most expensive. The Spearman correlation test showed that the use of water conservation techniques is highly correlated with the quality of soil surface structure (p ≤ 0.01) and soil storage capacity (p ≤ 0.01). Findings of this study are of paramount importance in planning and implementing adaptation policies in The Gambia and beyond. To improve farmers’ resilience, drought tolerant crops should be promoted along with climate change and variability awareness campaigns.
Highlights
Change in the global energy budget has been observed and is expected to exhibit natural variations [1]
The results showed that the perception of changes is linked to the adoption of some adaptation measures among which the preferred were the use of chemical fertilizers (66%), though it is stated to be the most expensive
The difference of perceptions may be explained by the fact that farmers‘ perceptions of climate change are linked with their crop–climate interaction knowledge and the production outcomes associated with the new change [32]
Summary
Change in the global energy budget has been observed and is expected to exhibit natural variations [1]. The recent food crisis in West Africa has revealed that this part of Africa is highly vulnerable to climate variability and change [2]. With heavy reliance on rainfed agriculture, Africa is believed to be one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change [3]. Droughts of the 1970s and 1980s have put the West African Sahel region in the spotlight of environmental and climate change-related research [4]. The Gambia, due to its location at the southern fringe of the Sahara desert where rainfall is irregular and unpredictable, is prone to drought. In The Gambia, agriculture employs approximately 75% of the labor force and contributes to 33% of the GDP.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
