Smallholder
farmers in Kilombero District, Morogoro Region are now engaging in crop
diversification, changing cropping calendars, as well as adopting
modern farming techniques to cope with unpredictable rainfall patterns, a
recent study indicates.
The study on “Climate change adaptation strategies by local farmers in Kilombero District” was conducted under the Climate Change Impacts and Mitigation (CCIAM) programme with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).
Farmers now shift to a crop growing calendar through early cultivation as currently rains are neither reliable nor predictable, it says, noting that farmers in area were now using the first rains in November for crop planting.
As to adopting modern farming, the study pointed at an irrigation canal in Njage village, a few kilometers from Ifakara town used for rice production, built in 2006.
“Climate change is adversely impacting smallholder farmers who are mostly dependent on rain-fed agriculture, hence farmers are compelled to get into crop diversification.
They are growing different varieties of food and cash crops, some of which are resistant to dry spells as well as some pests and diseases,” the researchers noted.
Other climate change key indicators in the study include prolonged dry spells, sporadic heavy rains and flooding, pests and diseases as well as declining rainfall compared to past decades.
The study, published in the Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management, shows that there are variations on the onset and cessation of rainy and dry seasons.
“Due to experiences of adverse climatic conditions and other stressors, local farmers are responding by different adaptation strategies in farming and non-farming activities,” researchers said in the 107-page report. It says that the new farming strategy involves growing of diversified traditional and non-traditional food and cash crops.
Non-farming adaptation strategies include use of forest products such as mushrooms, grasses, weavings, ropes, fruits and medicines. Other farmers engage in livestock rearing, fishing, petty business or casual labour.
The study suggested the need for changing policies governing forest resources and agricultural land, removing limits of access to livelihoods by farmers as this reduces adaptive capacity for marginalized people especially women, children and elder people. Similar studies elsewhere indicate how crop diversification has enabled farmers to adapt to climate change effects.
As part of crop diversification, non-traditional crops grown include cassava, sesame, cocoa, sweet potatoes and pigeon peas.
Traditional crops are usually rice, banana and maize, while cash crops like sesame and cocoa constitute recent activities, the report indicated.
The study on “Climate change adaptation strategies by local farmers in Kilombero District” was conducted under the Climate Change Impacts and Mitigation (CCIAM) programme with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).
Farmers now shift to a crop growing calendar through early cultivation as currently rains are neither reliable nor predictable, it says, noting that farmers in area were now using the first rains in November for crop planting.
As to adopting modern farming, the study pointed at an irrigation canal in Njage village, a few kilometers from Ifakara town used for rice production, built in 2006.
“Climate change is adversely impacting smallholder farmers who are mostly dependent on rain-fed agriculture, hence farmers are compelled to get into crop diversification.
They are growing different varieties of food and cash crops, some of which are resistant to dry spells as well as some pests and diseases,” the researchers noted.
Other climate change key indicators in the study include prolonged dry spells, sporadic heavy rains and flooding, pests and diseases as well as declining rainfall compared to past decades.
The study, published in the Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management, shows that there are variations on the onset and cessation of rainy and dry seasons.
“Due to experiences of adverse climatic conditions and other stressors, local farmers are responding by different adaptation strategies in farming and non-farming activities,” researchers said in the 107-page report. It says that the new farming strategy involves growing of diversified traditional and non-traditional food and cash crops.
Non-farming adaptation strategies include use of forest products such as mushrooms, grasses, weavings, ropes, fruits and medicines. Other farmers engage in livestock rearing, fishing, petty business or casual labour.
The study suggested the need for changing policies governing forest resources and agricultural land, removing limits of access to livelihoods by farmers as this reduces adaptive capacity for marginalized people especially women, children and elder people. Similar studies elsewhere indicate how crop diversification has enabled farmers to adapt to climate change effects.
As part of crop diversification, non-traditional crops grown include cassava, sesame, cocoa, sweet potatoes and pigeon peas.
Traditional crops are usually rice, banana and maize, while cash crops like sesame and cocoa constitute recent activities, the report indicated.
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