Mapping adaptive capacity of tribal dairy farmers to climate variability and change: A study of western Himalayan region

Abstract In West Africa, dairy production plays a vital role in the economy and the wellbeing of the population. Currently, dairy production has become vulnerable due to climate variability. The main objective of this study was to investigate dairy farmers’ perceptions and adaptation strategies towards climate change in West Africa. Individual interview and Focus Group Discussions were conducted among 900 dairy farmers. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used to assess dairy farmers’ perception on climate change. Multiple Correspondence Analysis and hierarchical clustering on principal component analysis were used to access the adaptation strategies of dairy farmers. The results revealed that dairy farmers perceived a decrease in the rainy season and the annual rainfall but an increase of the dry season and the annual temperature that affect their activities. Dairy farmers that fed the cattle mainly with natural pastures, crops residues and agroindustrial by-products in the climate zones of Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger, used as climate change adaptation strategies, transhumance in wetland, animal manure to improve fodder production and quality; plants to improve milk production, milk conservation and to treat animal diseases. They sold milk or produced local cheese with the remaining unsold milk. They use crops residues, mineral supplements, herd size reduction; water supply with community pastoral wells and dams, purchase water. Dairy farmers that mainly invested in fodder production and conservation in the climate zones of Mali, sold milk produced to dairies and cheese production units; used plants to improve milk production, pasteurization for milk conservation and veterinary service for animal care. This study provided relevant information for West African policymakers in designing appropriate policies and programs to assist dairy farmers to improve milk production under climate variability and change.

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Livelihoods under Climate Variability and Change: An Analysis of the Adaptive Capacity of Rural Poor to Water Scarcity in Kenya’s Drylands

Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ◽

10.3923/jest.2011.403.410 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 403-410 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

A.W. Mwang`ombe ◽

W.N. Ekaya ◽

W.M. Muiru ◽

V.O. Wasonga ◽

W.M. Mnene ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Variability ◽

Adaptive Capacity ◽

Water Scarcity ◽

Rural Poor ◽

Climate Variability And Change

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Enhancing the adaptive capacity of rural communities to climate variability and change in a multi-tiered governance structure

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1307/6/48/482013 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 6 (48) ◽

pp. 482013

Author(s):

Sreefa Nair

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Climate Variability ◽

Adaptive Capacity ◽

Governance Structure ◽

Climate Variability And Change

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Gender analysis of vulnerability of smallholder farming households to climate variability and change in North-central Nigeria

Agricultura tropica et subtropica ◽

10.2478/ats-2021-0023 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 216-227

Author(s):

Abdulrazaq Kamal Daudu ◽

Oluwashola Shakirat Salami ◽

Oyedola Waheed Kareem

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Variability ◽

Adaptive Capacity ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Climate Variability And Change ◽

Smallholder Farming ◽

North Central ◽

Male And Female ◽

Female Headed Households ◽

Farming Households

Abstract The frequency and intensity of climatic variables as indicators of climate change have been increasingly recognised as global crisis with significant impact on biodiversity, household food security and gender roles. This study therefore analysed gender vulnerability of smallholder farming households to climate variability and change in North-central Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 768 respondents from the study area. Indicator-based approach was adopted for this study and a structured questionnaire was used to elicit data from 3, 6, and 8 indicators of three components of vulnerability: exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. Data obtained were subjected to linear normalisation, non-weight vulnerability index, and both descriptive and inferential statistics. Results show that both male- and female-headed households were vulnerable to changing climate and the female-headed ones were more vulnerable (0.410) compared to their male counterparts with an index of 0.321. The high vulnerability of female-headed households was due to their extent of exposure (0.839) and sensitivity (0.658) to climate change with low adaptive capacities (0.189). Also, there was a positive and significant difference between male (t = 5.142) and female (t = 5.079) headed households’ in their level of vulnerability to climate change (p ≤ 0.05). This study recommends access to technology that helps farmers receive timely information on climate variables, and farmers’ access to agricultural insurance scheme would help improve adaptive capacity and reduce their vulnerability. Also, gender-sensitive framework that could bridge the gaps between male- and female-headed households are needed to form a policy development agenda by the government in order to encourage more female households’ to participate in climate change mitigation.

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