AUTHOR=Hussein Jaabir , Bilotto Franco , Mbui Damaris , Omondi Philip , Harrison Matthew Tom , Crane Todd A. , Sircely Jason 

TITLE=Exploring smallholder farm resilience to climate change: intended and actual adaptation

JOURNAL=Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/pastoralism-research-policy-and-practice/articles/10.3389/past.2024.13424

DOI=10.3389/past.2024.13424

ISSN=2041-7136

ABSTRACT=Low production heightens the vulnerability of smallholder farms to external factors, such as market shocks and extreme weather events. In this study, we examined smallholder farmer perceptions of climate change, encompassing both actual and intended adaptation strategies. We conducted survey questionnaires, focus group discussions and interviews; we also used 40 years of meteorological data to compare smallholder farmers perceptions with numerical facts. We showed that most communities perceived climate change through a lens of changes in rainfall and temperature. Perceived increases in precipitation, indicated by 62% of respondents, and increased temperature, indicated by 77% of the participants, aligned well with evidence shown by meteorological data. Around 88% of respondents identified prolonged drought as the most frequent extreme weather, followed by unseasonal rainfall (86% of respondents). Such perceptions also were supported by long-term climate data. Diversification of fodder species and access to technology enabling timely weather forecasts were preferred actual and intended adaptation strategies, respectively. Recurrent and prolonged drought conditions, spurious seasonal weather patterns, and lack of access to timely weather prognostics were primary constraints to adopting practices aimed at climate change adaptation. Whilst farm size and practitioner experience were not associated with adoption, awareness of climate change impact potential and household income significantly influenced adoption. We revealed marked influence of gender in adaptation to the changing climate, with households where males make decisions exhibiting a 76% adoption, compared with 34% of households where decisions were made by females. Taken together, our study narrates the critical roles of knowledge, financial resources, and gender in enabling or inhibiting adaptive potential and adoption.