Perceptions of climate change impacts and adaptation measures used by crop smallholder farmers in Amathole district municipality, Eastern Cape province, South Africa

Abstract

The climate is changing, with imminent threats. Projections for increased inconsistencies in climatic elements such as rainfall and temperature have continued to raise concerns, particularly amongst crop producers. Globally, about eighty-two per cent of crop production activities are rain fed; crop yields are thus considered under threat. The majority of South African smallholder and resource-poor crop production farmers rely heavily on rain-fed agriculture, making them vulnerable to the vagaries of climate change risks. As sustainability is crucial to the continuous survival of this population, this study assessed their perceptions of climate change impacts on crop production activities and their adaptation responses. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select a total of 130 crop smallholder farmers from 18 villages in the Mbahashe Local Municipality, from the Amathole District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Simple descriptive statistical tools, principal component analysis and Ward’s linkage cluster analysis were used for the study’s data analysis. Findings revealed a perceived increase in temperature levels and a drastic decline in rainfall. Harsh and aggressive climatic conditions, with attendant problems of drought, heat waves and wind speed, were also indicated. There is a perceived increased difficulty in production activities as a result of water scarcity, poor soil conditions, pest infestations and disease infections, amongst many other challenges. There is a growing threat of unsustainable agricultural production, which may in due course increase poverty levels among the smallholder farmers. In order to sustain production activities, immediate government interventions are required for appropriate extension service delivery, particularly in the area of climate change coping and adaptation responses.