Smallholder farmers’ adaptation strategies to mitigate the effect of drought on maize production in OR Tambo District municipality

Abstract

There is evidence that climate variability has affected agriculture and the expectation is that the situation will get worse over time. This study examined smallholder farmers’ adaptation strategies to mitigate the effects of drought on maize production in OR Tambo District in South Africa. A questionnaire was used to collect primary data from 200 farmers, which was then analyzed using descriptive statistics, the adaptation strategy index and the double hurdle model. The study utilized the adaptation strategy index to establish the relationship between adopting adaptation strategies and maize production. The farmers ranked the adaptation strategies in terms of their usefulness in adapting to drought and successfully alleviating a decline in maize production. The farmers ranked shifting of planting date, reduction of maize cultivated area, planting drought resistant varieties, crop diversification and intercropping as the most useful adaptation strategies. The study utilized the double hurdle model to identify the factors affecting the farmers’ adoption of drought adaptation strategies. The study found that gender of the household head, level of education of the household head, household size, extension services and land ownership influence farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies. Training of woman who head households and poor farmers on climate change adaption strategies options available is necessary.