Smallholder Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Conservation Agriculture: Evidence from Zambia

Progress H Nyanga,Fred H Johnsen,Jens B Aune,Thomson H Kalinda

doi:10.5539/jsd.v4n4p73

Abstract

Actors involved in promoting conservation agriculture have often not taken into account perceptions of smallholder farmers of climate change and CA as an adaptation strategy. This study documents smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate change and conservation agriculture. Most farmers attributed climate change to supernatural forces. Smallholder farmers’ perceptions related to floods and droughts were significantly associated with adoption of conservation agriculture. Extent to which smallholder farmers perceived conservation agriculture as a climate change adaptation strategy was very low. This suggests existence of other important reasons for practicing conservation agriculture than adaptation to climate change. Policy implications of the study are: conservation agriculture projects should not only focus on technical approaches to increase adoption rates but also consider social aspects such as perceptions that are equally important in conservation agriculture. Inclusion of climate change communication to facilitate exchange of climatic information that would enable smallholder farmers relate to conservation agriculture as an adaptation strategy is essential.

Highlights

Actors involved in promoting conservation agriculture have often not taken into account perceptions of smallholder farmers of climate change and conservation agriculture as an adaptation strategy
Review of literature shows that the donor community, international development agencies, regional political bodies, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), farmers’ organisations and national government involved in conservation agriculture promotion have often not taken into account perceptions of smallholder farmers of climate change and conservation agriculture as an adaptation strategy (CFU, 2006; FAO, 2009, 2011b)
Conclusion and policy implications This study has shown that most smallholder farmers in Zambia perceived shifts in the timing of seasons, increase in temperature, droughts and floods

Summary

Introduction

Actors involved in promoting conservation agriculture have often not taken into account perceptions of smallholder farmers of climate change and conservation agriculture as an adaptation strategy. The extent to which smallholder farmers perceived conservation agriculture as a climate change adaptation strategy was very low. Review of literature shows that the donor community, international development agencies, regional political bodies, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), farmers’ organisations and national government involved in conservation agriculture promotion have often not taken into account perceptions of smallholder farmers of climate change and conservation agriculture as an adaptation strategy (CFU, 2006; FAO, 2009, 2011b). 1.1 Theoretical perspectives: Climate change adaptation, perceptions and technology adoption Adaptation is one of the policy options to climate change that is influencing development practice (IPCC, 2007a; Tanner & Mitchell, 2008). Perceptions are context and location specific due to heterogeneity in factors that influence them such as culture, education, gender, age, resource endowments and institutional factors (Ervin & Ervin, 1982; Posthumus, Gardebroek, & Ruerd, 2010)

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Discussion

Conclusion