Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers on Climate Change in the uMkhanyakude District of KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa

Abstract

This study assesses smallholder farmers’ perceptions on climate change using a sample of 400 farmers in the uMkhanyakude district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Using descriptive statistics, farmers perceived that rainfall had decreased during the study period while temperatures had increased. Principal component analysis (PCA) further revealed that farmers’ perceptions could be grouped into: a) natural disasters; b) institutional support; c) decrease in crop yields and loss of assets; d) changes in temperature and rainfall and e) extension on climate change and poor livestock production. In light of these findings, the study recommends that agricultural support for groupings of farmer’s perceptions be provided to help farmers cope with the negative effects of climate change.