Climate change adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers in Senegal’s semi-arid zone: Role of socio-economic factors and institutional supports
This study examines the impact of socio-economic and institutional support on community responses to climate change and the impact of changes in three selected regions of Senegal (Meouane, Thiel, and Daga Birame), which fall within different rainfall gradients. It captures community perceptions of climate change, compares them to long-term meteorological data, and identifies site-specific response strategies. In dryland agricultural systems, developing appropriate climate-smart technology (CST) options is important to adapt agriculture to climate change and transition toward sustainability, as well as increasing productivity and income.
The findings revealed that smallholder farmers possess a comprehensive understanding of climate indicators, such as annual precipitation, changes in cropping seasons, and rising temperatures when compared to historical data trends. Additionally, the results highlighted how farmers are acutely aware of the detrimental effects of insufficient seasonal rainfall (72%), delayed onset of the growing season (88%), frequent dry spells (68%), and prolonged dry spells (76%), all of which led to decreased grain and fodder yields.
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