Small-holder farmers knowledge and information on the impact of climate variability & extremes on livestock production in Limpopo & Mpumalanga Provinces

A study was carried out to investigate the level of awareness, knowledge and information of small-holder farmers (SHLF) on the impact of climatic change (CC) and extremes on livestock production in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. At least 366 smallholder farmers were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire to elicit responses on vulnerability. Almost all the farmers (96 %) have heard about CC only a few farmers (4 %) did not know CC. The medium for the conveyance of CC information was the main radio (94.32%). Newspapers and television were also efficient mediums in the conveyance of this information, each with the outreach of 16.76 and 32.67%, respectively. Central to the impact of CC was the fact that (90%) of the farmers confirmed that there was a change in grass availability; which contributed to major livestock fatalities of which over half of the farmers (55.19%) attested as the cause. The study found that 86.67% of SHLF who attended awareness meetings indicated that the discussions prioritized adapting to CC. However, SHLF (80.77%) did not have an early warning system. This was coupled with a lack of contingency plans by (84.36%) the farmers to deal with the impact of the said drought on their farms. SHLF (19%) who had facilitated contingency plans indicated that improved aspects of the plan should incorporate the support of their provision feeds, drilling of boreholes, and erection of dams. Based on SHLF perceptions there is a need for strategic shifts from grazing to small scale feed-lots.

Socio-Economic Characterisation of Resettled Smallholder Farmers in Rural Zimbabwe

The socio-economic characterisation of resettled small-holder farmers under the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) in Zimbabwe has blind spots in relation to the emergent transformative social policy features such as ‘social cohesion’, ‘cooperation’, ‘protection’ and ‘accumulation’ which are equally important among land beneficiaries. Using the Sangwe farm, this article departs from the conventional use of the political economy, sustainable livelihoods, human rights-based and neo-patrimonial approaches to experiment with the transformative social policy approach. Using both quantitative and qualitative data in an exploratory research design, the article shows that viewed from the transformative social policy approach, the FTLRP was neither a resounding success nor a complete disaster. The programme actually produced mixed results. The article thus, recommends the use of in-depth, ideologically free and neutral approaches in its analysis so as to reveal its detailed outcomes. Additional studies in which existing land reform policies can be considered in the collective efforts of improving the transformative agenda of the FTLRP across the country are needed.

Increasing productivity of mungbean (vigna radiata (l.) Wilczek) under subsistence farming in Eastern Indonesia

Mungbean is one of the major food legume and cash crops grown and consumed by small holder farmers under rain-fed conditions in Eastern Indonesia. However, the mungbean productivity has been low, less than 1 ton ha−1 due to a number of reasons including poor awareness about new varieties and skills of crop management. Two trials: varietal trial and management practices were conducted at Malaka District, East Nusa Tenggara during wet season 2008. The varietal trial in six sites resulted in identification of Sriti, Murai, Betet, and Vima 1 varieties had high productivity (1.1-1.5 t ha−1) with single harvest, shorter maturity, compared to the local varieties which were characterized by lower productivity (1.0-1.1 t ha−1), multiple harvests and longer maturity. The management practices found that selected varieties in combination with improved technology gave doubled seed yields compared to the yields when grown using local technology. These activities showed a reliable pathway to increase productivity of mungbean at small holder levels. The varietal and agronomic management trials demonstrated the impact of the technologies on mungbean productivity at small holder levels and identified future needs to sustain food productivity in remote regions on Eastern Indonesia.

Climate Change and Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices: Opportunities and Challenges in the Semi-deciduous region of Ghana

Aim: This study was conducted to investigate small holder farmers’ awareness of climate-smart agricultural practices and challenges to climate change adoption in the semi-deciduous zone of Ghana. Study Design: A descriptive research design was used for the study. Place of study: The study was conducted within the Sekyere South district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Methodology: Questionnaire was the main tool for data collection. Statistical Package for Social Science [SPSS], version 20 was used for data analysis. Pearson Product Correlation was used to determine the correlation between variables and CSA at 0.05 significant level. Results: Results from the study revealed that agroforestry (52.0%) and rainwater harvesting techniques (80.0%) were never known among majority of the respondents’ as CSA strategy. Besides, farmers were moderately aware of fire and pest management (48.0%) and crop rotation (36.0%) strategies as CSA approach (48%), as well as, minimum tillage which farmers testify of having a considerable idea on it (52%). Nonetheless, respondents often used improved seed variety (64%) and also resorted to residue management and usage (52%) as CSA options in crop productivity. The study further revealed that a higher segment of the farmers attested that no proper training/education, no governmental support, lack of finance, lack of climate information and non-availability of extension field officers, representing 64%, 76%, 84%, and 76% respectively were the major challenges faced by farmers in adopting and practicing climate-smart agriculture. Conclusion: Farmers little knowledge on climate change impeded the successful adoption of CSA practices.

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies for Small Holder Farmers: A Case of Nyanga District in Zimbabwe

Climate change encompassing mostly hydro-meteorological hazards is a reality affecting the world in diverse ways. It is manifesting in various ways such as increases in frequency and intensity of floods, droughts, and extreme temperatures. In recent years, climate change has induced droughts, other extreme weather events and meteorological disasters in many countries including Zimbabwe. Effective management of climate change induced challenges require localized strategies which may vary from one part of the world to another and even within a country. In view of the need to understand localized impacts and responses to climate change, the main objectives of the study were to (i) assess the impact of climate change on livelihoods and food security, (ii) identify and evaluate adaptation and mitigation strategies that small holder farmers in Ward 17, Nyanga, Zimbabwe have developed. The research used both qualitative and quantitative approaches with data collection methods comprising of questionnaires (56), observations and interviews (8). The tools were used to gather information which included encounters with extreme weather events, climatic trends as well as adaptive responses. The findings showed that climate change had a significant negative impact on the livelihoods and food security status of small holder farmers in ward 17 of Nyanga district. The identified climate change adaptation strategies implemented in the study area included food aid, use of traditional grains and other drought resistant crops, early planting, multiple planting, barter trade and livelihood diversification. The mitigation strategies used included afforestation and reforestation programs, avoiding veld fires and preservation of wetlands. The research identified challenges to climate change adaptation which include lack of markets to sell farming produce, inefficient institutions, poverty and high climate variability and increased uncertainty in the behavior of seasons. The findings of this study indicated the need for similar assessment in other parts of the country as impacts of climate change and responses thereof should vary from place to place.

Response of groundnut (Arachis hypogea) to rhizobia inoculation, mineral nitrogen and inoculation amendment at the two agro ecological zones of northern Nigerian savannah

Nitrogen is the most limiting major nutrient required by all living plants. Nitrogen fertilizer is costly and too much application of nitrogen causes detrimental effects to our ecosystem. Alternatively, the use of commercial microbial inoculants will be an alternative to chemical fertilizer for the small holder farmers in northern Nigeria. Groundnut (pea nut) was selected as a test crop for the inoculation. The experiment was conducted at Sudan savannah in Kano State and Guinea savannah in Bauchi state of Nigeria during the 2016 cropping season. The design of the experiment was RCBD with seven treatments and four replications in each site. Two rhizobia inoculants were tested on groundnut in two agroecological zones of northern Nigeria to monitor their performance and their ability to establish symbiotic and nodulate the crops. The treatments combinations were; histic, biofix, nitrogen, cattle manure, histic + cattle manure, biofix + cattle manure and control. In the groundnut field, Biofix produced higher nitrogen fixed than all treatments in the Sudan savanna, while in the Guinea savanna no significant differences (P = 0.67) were observed between the treatments and the control. However, inoculated plots had higher nitrogen fixation than the control.