Browsing by Author "Dippenaar, Elsje Marthina"

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    Climate change perceptions, knowledge and adaptation responses of smallholder, crop-livestock farmers in Mediterranean-type ecosystems: case studies from the Overberg District, South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04) Dippenaar, Elsje Marthina; Archer, Emma; Malgas, Rhoda; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Conservation Ecology and Entomology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Smallholder farmers must adapt their farming practices to sustain livelihoods, as a result of the changing climate. It is known that climate change may cause significant adverse effects on the agricultural sector. Smallholder farmers are particularly vulnerable to the effects caused by extreme weather events such as droughts and flooding as their farms are often located in areas that are prone to these environmental risks. It is known that it is necessary to establish the perceptions and knowledge of smallholder farmers, regarding climate change to ensure appropriate context-based adaptation strategies are implemented. Climate change adaptation methods have been extensively researched in recent literature, but there is a need to investigate context-specific adaptation methods for smallholder farmers, especially in Mediterranean-type ecosystems as it is expected that precipitation will decrease and increasing temperatures will increase drought risk in these ecosystems. This current study aimed to investigate the climate change perceptions, knowledge, and adaptation methods of smallholder farmers in two former mission stations, namely Elim and Genadendal, located in the Overberg District of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The perceptions of the farmers were also compared to long-term meteorological data from the Overberg District. A mixed-method approach was used in this study. Structured telephonic interviews were held with 9 smallholder farmers in Elim and 4 in Genadendal. Qualitative data obtained from the interviews were coded and analysed using qualitative data analysis software ATLAS.ti and quantitative data were analysed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Minimum and maximum daily temperatures, as well as daily rainfall data, were analysed using simple linear regression analyses (p < 0.05) in STATISTICA. Results from this study indicated that smallholder farmers in the Overberg District perceived and experienced a change in climatic conditions, especially in the case of extreme weather events such as flooding (Elim) and drought (Genadendal and Elim). The meteorological data confirmed the perceptions of the farmers, as significant results were obtained regarding the minimum temperature and rainfall data in the Genadendal region and maximum temperatures in the Elim region. Adaptation methods utilised by smallholder farmers in the Overberg region included changing planting dates, increasing irrigation, mulching, selling livestock, and an increase in fungicide use. Due to the relatively small number of participants, statistically, sound conclusions cannot be drawn - however, the study does provide insight into the perceptions and adaptation methods regarding climate change, of smallholder farmers in the Overberg District. This may be beneficial to stakeholders involved in climate change adaptation planning, as well as smallholder farmers in other Mediterranean-type ecosystems.