Assessing farmer perceptions and experiences of climate change impacts on agricultural production: the case of Madziva ward 4, Shamva district, Mashonaland Central
- Author
- Mwanga, Opertience
- Title
- Assessing farmer perceptions and experiences of climate change impacts on agricultural production: the case of Madziva ward 4, Shamva district, Mashonaland Central
- Abstract
- The researcher noted that there is a limited understand of how small holder farmers perceive and experience the impacts of climate change on their agricultural production and how they adapt to these changes. In order to explore the experiences and perceptions of smallholder farmers via a Vis maize production in Ward 4 Madziva in Shamva District, the researcher utilized a qualitative approach and sampled 30 participants as prescribed by Creswell. The study found out that smallholder farmers perceived that climate was changing and this is attributed to observable changes in weather variables such as rainfall, temperature and increased occurrence and severity of extreme weather events such as heavy rains in a short time causing intensive flush floods, excessive rainfall during early stages of crop development and prolonged drought periods or dry spells in the mid and later stages of the crop. It was also observed that majority of the maize farmers that participated in the survey were aware that the climate is changing and were already making various adjustments to maize production to stabilize or increase their yields. The study concluded that sustainable production of maize in Ward 4 Madziva in Shamva District will require farmers to effectively adapt to climate change. The different farming scales in the area indicate the need for a robust adaptation strategy that not only considers the implementation of good adaptation approaches and takes into account the differential vulnerability of the different farmer typologies but also recognizes the possibility of maladaptation if the perceived changes in climate are not well understood.
- Date
- 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Climate change impacts
- Agricultural production
- Small holder farmers
- Supervisor
- Mrs Kamota
- Item sets
- Department of Crop Sciences
- Media
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Mwanga - Crop.pdf