Climate Change and Small-Scale Farming: Exploring the Connection between Awareness, Adaptation, and Food Security in the Eastern Cape Province | Chapter 11 | Agricultural Sciences: Techniques and Innovations Vol. 3

 

The agriculture sector plays a crucial role in many African economies, employing around 65–70% of the workforce, supporting 90% of household livelihoods, and accounting for about a quarter of the continent’s gross domestic product. Climate change poses a significant threat to global agriculture, particularly for small-scale farmers who often lack the resources and knowledge to adapt. Ineffective adaptation strategies could exacerbate poverty and food insecurity. This chapter investigated the relationship between climate change awareness, adaptation strategies, and food security among small-scale farmers in the Eastern Cape Province. It aimed to understand the influence of farmers’ climate change awareness on their adaptation decisions and the subsequent effects on agricultural productivity and food security. The study employed a quantitative approach, using multi-stage sampling to survey 200 small-scale farmers through semi-structured questionnaires. Logit regression and endogeneity switching regression models were applied for data analysis. The study results show that small-scale farmers in the Eastern Cape are well aware of climate change and its impacts, particularly reduced farm returns (38%) and yields (36%), which threaten both agricultural productivity and food security. In response, farmers have adopted various strategies, such as crop rotation, improved crop varieties, adjusted planting dates, and mulching or fertilizer application.  For the study site factors such as age, access to climate information, education, proximity to markets, drought frequency, perceptions of temperature and rainfall changes, radio ownership, farm income, farm size, household size and availability of extension services significantly influence adaptation choices. The results indicate that these adaptation strategies have contributed to improved agricultural yields and farm returns, thereby enhancing food security in the area. The chapter concludes with recommendations for governments, agencies and policymakers to support small-scale farmers through targeted policy interventions, strengthen extension services, and develop educational programs aimed at increasing adaptive capacity and building resilience among small-scale farmers.

 

Author(s) Details

Lungile S. Gidi
Department of Agricultural Economics and Animal Science, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa.

 

Lelethu Mdoda
Discipline of Agricultural Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa.

 

Zoleka Ncoyini-Manciya
Discipline of Agrometeorology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa.

 

Lwandiso Mdiya
Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development, University of Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/asti/v3/4747