Extension Agents’ Perception on Suitability of Climate Change Information Disseminated to Smallholder Farmers

2021 ◽  
pp. 002190962110046
Author(s):  
Zafezeka Mbali Zikhali ◽  
Paramu L Mafongoya ◽  
Maxwell Mudhara ◽  
Obert Jiri ◽  
Blessing Mudaniso
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Climate Information ◽  
Change Perceptions ◽  
Climate Change Information ◽  
Extension Work ◽  
Education Levels

This study examined gaps in climate information within public agricultural extension in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It assessed extension officers’ climate change perceptions, knowledge and climate education. Lastly, the study examined the extension approaches for overall suitability of climate information disseminated to rural smallholder farmers. The results indicated that participants were predominately male, with tertiary education. Education levels had an influence on exposure to climate education and extension approaches in disseminating agricultural information to farmers. There is a need to retool extension officers in climate change extension work, integrating indigenous knowledge to increase suitability and acceptability of information by smallholder farmers.

Climate Change Mainstreaming in Extension Agents Training Curricula: A Case of Mopani and Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-57
Author(s):  
Zafezeka Mbali Zikhali ◽  
Paramu L. Mafongoya ◽  
Maxwell Mudhara ◽  
Obert Jiri
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Information Gap ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Vhembe District

This study assessed the provision of informal training offered by the Limpopo Department of Agriculture, South Africa, to agricultural extension officers (AEOs). The study used surveyed 90 public extension officers purposively sampled. There were statistically significant differences in extension officers’ exposure to climate change between their education levels and in the provision of climate change training between extension officers’ work experience ( P⩽0.05). The study concluded that the majority of AEOs have not been fully exposed to climate information prior to their employment. This suggests that the information gap in Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) stems from the slow mainstreaming and integration of climate change information.

scholarly journals Perceptions of Climate Change and Drivers of Insect Pest Outbreaks in Vegetable Crops in Limpopo Province of South Africa

Climate ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mutondwa Masindi Phophi ◽  
Paramu Mafongoya ◽  
Shenelle Lottering
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Dry Spells ◽  
Pest Outbreaks

Vegetable production is a source of income for smallholder farmers in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Vegetable production is constrained by the negative impacts of climate change and pests. This study assessed farmers’ awareness of climate change, farmers’ knowledge of insect pests and factors that influence insect pests’ prevalence. The data were collected using quantitative and qualitative methods. The data were subjected to descriptive and bivariate analysis. About 84.5% of smallholder farmers were aware of climate change. Late rainfall (24.4%), long dry spells (15%) and increased drought frequency (19.4%) were highlighted as dominant indicators of climate change by farmers. Aphids (22.2%), Bagrada hilaris (12.5%) and Spodoptera frugiperda (10.2%) were the most prevalent insect pests within the Vhembe District. Warmer winters, dry spells and high temperatures were perceived by farmers to influence insect pests’ prevalence within the district. It can be concluded that farmers are aware of climate change and climatic factors influencing pest prevalence within the district. Pest risk maps are needed to improve the preparedness of the government and farmers in controlling insect pests under changing climates.

Factors Influencing Smallholder Farmers’ Climate Change Perceptions: A Study from Farmers in Ethiopia

2016 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lemlem Teklegiorgis Habtemariam ◽  
Markus Gandorfer ◽  
Getachew Abate Kassa ◽  
Alois Heissenhuber
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Change Perceptions ◽  
Factors Influencing

scholarly journals The Precis Caribbean Story: Lessons and Legacies

2013 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 1065-1073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Taylor ◽  
Abel Centella ◽  
John Charlery ◽  
Arnoldo Bezanilla ◽  
Jayaka Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Science ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Climate Information ◽  
Climate Change Information ◽  
Current Century ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Regional Climates ◽  
Science Information

By the beginning of the current century, there was heightened recognition that the Caribbean is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Yet, there was very little climate change science information for the region and at the scale of the small islands that make up most of the region. To fill the gap, a group of regional scientists representing three institutions and four territories (Barbados, Belize, Cuba, and Jamaica) initiated a project to provide dynamically downscaled climate change information for the Caribbean. The Providing Regional Climates for Impacts Studies (PRECIS)-Caribbean initiative was premised on a shared workload with goals to build regional capacity to provide climate change information for the region from within the region, to provide much needed climate information in the shortest possible time frame, and to create a platform for sharing the information as widely as possible. Ten years later offers the opportunity for retrospection and evaluation, particularly since a phase 2 initiative is being formulated. By both accident and design, the legacies of the PRECIS-Caribbean initiative include i) the positioning of the Caribbean to pose and answer for itself some of the emerging second-generation climate change questions; ii) the emergence of a regional template for capacity building in the sciences through cooperation; iii) an expanded regional capacity to undertake climate science; and iv) a significant body of climate change and climate science knowledge relevant to and at the scale of the Caribbean region.

scholarly journals Determinants of Smallholder Farmers’ Choice of Climate Smart Agriculture Practices to Adapt to Climate Change in Masaba South Sub-County, Kisii, Kenya

2020 ◽  
pp. 29-41
Author(s):  
Jared O. Nyang’au ◽  
Jema H. Mohamed ◽  
Nelson Mango ◽  
Clifton Makate ◽  
Alex N. Wangeci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Probit Model ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Climate Information ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Change Perception ◽  
Climate Change Perception

Aims: This study evaluated determinants that influence choice of Climate-Smart Agricultural (CSA) practices among smallholder farmers in Masaba South sub-county, Kisii, Kenya. Study Design: This study used a multivariate probit model to evaluate determinants that influence farmers’ choice of CSA practices. Place and Duration of Study: Masaba South sub-county, Kisii, Kenya between the second week of April 2019 and the last week of May 2019. Methodology: Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire from 196 households, 3 focused group discussions and 7 key informant interviews. Information such as socio-economic, land ownership, climate change perception, crop production practices and institutional characteristics were collected from the households. Results: The results showed that crop diversification, change of crop varieties and crop rotation and/or mixed cropping are the dominant adaptation strategies in the study area. Access to credit, farm income, climate change perception and household size have a significant positive influence on adoption of most CSA practices. Small-sized farms, lack of access to extension services, level of education and inaccessibility to weather and climate information were major barriers influencing adoption of CSA practices. Conclusion: To reduce vulnerability of smallholder farmers to impacts of climate variability and change, the study recommends the need to enhance increased access to extension services and timely dissemination of climate information to farmers in the form they can easily understand and decode.

scholarly journals Smallholder farmer’s perceived effects of climate change on crop production and household livelihoods in rural Limpopo province, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nomcebo R. Ubisi ◽  
Paramu L. Mafongoya ◽  
Unathi Kolanisi ◽  
Obert Jiri
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Crop Failure ◽  
Perceived Effects ◽  
Household Livelihoods ◽  
The Government

AbstractThis study investigated the perceived effects of climate change on crop production and household livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Mopani and Vhembe district, South Africa. Data was collected through a questionnaire administered to 150 smallholder farmers. The questionnaires were complemented by 8 focus group discussions and secondary data. Multinomial logit regression model was used to analyse the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ choice of climate change adaptation strategies. The study findings revealed that subsistence farmers perceived prolonged droughts (56.4%) as the main shock stressing crop production. Droughts often lead to low crop yield and high crop failure (73.3%). In response to the prevailing climatic conditions different gender adopted different strategies, 41% of female farmers adapted by changing planting dates, while male farmers employed crop variety and diversification (35%) and mixed cropping (15%). The smallholder farmers were vulnerable with limited adaptive capacity to withstand climate change due to compromised social, human, physical, natural and financial assets. The results showed that smallholder farmers tend to adapt better when they have access to extension officers (P<0.01). Therefore, it is important for the government to strengthen the relationship between smallholder farmers and extension officers for better climate change adaptation.

scholarly journals “Are They Aware, and Why?” Bayesian Analysis of Predictors of Smallholder Farmers’ Awareness of Climate Change and Its Risks to Agriculture

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 376 ◽  
Author(s):  
John N. Ng’ombe ◽  
Moses C. Tembo ◽  
Blessing Masasi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Agricultural Producers ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Bayesian Hierarchical ◽  
Global Food Security ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Climate Change Information ◽  
Robust Adaptive

While climate change threatens global food security, health, and nutrition outcomes, Africa is more vulnerable because its economies largely depend on rain-fed agriculture. Thus, there is need for agricultural producers in Africa to employ robust adaptive measures that withstand the risks of climate change. However, the success of adaptation measures to climate change primarily depends on the communities’ knowledge or awareness of climate change and its risks. Nonetheless, existing empirical research is still limited to illuminate farmers’ awareness of the climate change problem. This study employs a Bayesian hierarchical logistic model, estimated using Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) methods, to empirically determine drivers of smallholder farmers’ awareness of climate change and its risks to agriculture in Zambia. The results suggest that on average, 77% of farmers in Zambia are aware of climate change and its risks to agriculture. We find socio-demographics, climate change information sources, climate change adaptive factors, and climate change impact-related shocks as predictors of the expression of climate change awareness. We suggest that farmers should be given all the necessary information about climate change and its risks to agriculture. Most importantly, the drivers identified can assist policymakers to provide the effective extension and advisory services that would enhance the understanding of climate change among farmers in synergy with appropriate farm-level climate-smart agricultural practices.

scholarly journals Information Sources and Constraints to Climate Change Adaptation amongst Smallholder Farmers in Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 5846
Author(s):  
Oluwabunmi Oluwaseun Popoola ◽  
Shehu Folaranmi Gbolahan Yusuf ◽  
Nomakhaya Monde
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Farming Communities ◽  
Rural Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Knowledge ◽  
Climate Change Information

With current global climate change conditions, the urgency to provide agricultural knowledge on adaptation has risen. The dearth of climate change information is one amongst many agricultural production challenges faced by the majority of rural farming communities. This study aimed to identify smallholder farmers’ sources of climate change information and constraints to their coping and adaptation. Descriptive statistical tools, mean scores and the ‘problem confrontation index’ (PCI) were used to assess and describe the study’s findings. Analysis revealed that public extension services play a minute role in rural farmers’ climate change knowledge; they get their information elsewhere. The most critical constraint to climate change coping and adaptation in the study area was lack of access to agricultural extension services.

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