Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation by Arable Farmers in Mmanoko Village, Kweneng District, Botswana

Abstract

Climate change is one of the major environmental challenges facing the world today. It is widely believed that it will have significant adverse impacts on rainfed agriculture that is practiced mostly by small-scale famers in developing countries. Worldwide, farmers have continued to adapt to the effects of clmate as adaptation is considered one of most viable options to the adverse impacts of climate change and variability. This cross-sectional survey was carried out in Mmanoko village in the Kweneng District, Botswana. The aim of the study was to determine and evaluate climate change adaptation strategies in response to impacts of climate change on arable farming in Mmanoko village. A Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) method was also used to evaluate, score, prioritize adaptation strategies using a predetermined set of four criteria (effectiveness, flexibility, institutional compatibility and equity). Farmers reported to have observed a decrease in the rainfall amounts, increase in the mean temperatures, delayed onset and early cessation of rains over the past 10 years. The most commonly used adaptation measures included crop diversification (mixed cropping, crop rotation, intercropping), shifting of planting dates; the use of drought-tolerant and early maturing crops. The results of the MCE method revealed that farmers preferred adaptation strategies that are effective, flexible, compatible with existing legilsation as well as easily accessible to all regardless of their socio-economic status. Crop diversification (intercropping, mixed cropping and crop rotation) was the most highly rated adaptation practice in terms of effectiveness, flexibility, compatibility and equity.