In the heart of Southern Africa, smallholder farmers are on the frontlines of climate change, battling to adapt to shifting weather patterns that threaten their livelihoods and the region’s food security. A recent study, led by Dumisani Shoko Kori from the Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies at the University of Johannesburg, sheds light on the complex challenges these farmers face in their struggle to adapt.
The research, published in the International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, employs bibliometric analysis to map out the landscape of adaptation challenges, barriers, and maladaptation strategies among smallholder farmers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. By examining 41 key articles, Kori and his team uncovered a troubling trend: while research on these challenges has been ongoing, it has only gained significant traction post-2020.
The findings reveal that smallholder farmers in the SADC region grapple with a multitude of adaptation challenges, from perception barriers to constraints based on determinants of adoption. “The main adaptation challenges emanate from perception barriers and constraints based on determinants of adoption, limitations for resilience building and achieving sustainable adaptation as well as contestations around Climate Smart Agriculture technologies,” Kori explains. These barriers often lead to maladaptation, where the implemented strategies do not effectively address the challenges posed by climate change, and can even exacerbate existing issues.
One of the most striking findings is the contestation around Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies. While CSA is often touted as a silver bullet for climate adaptation, the research shows that its implementation is fraught with challenges. Farmers may lack access to necessary resources, or the technologies may not be culturally or environmentally appropriate. “There are contestations around Climate Smart Agriculture technologies,” Kori notes, highlighting the need for a more nuanced approach to adaptation strategies.
For the energy sector, the implications are significant. As climate change intensifies, the demand for energy in the agriculture sector is likely to grow, driven by the need for irrigation, mechanization, and other adaptation measures. However, the effectiveness of these measures hinges on the successful implementation of adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers. If farmers continue to face barriers and maladaptation, it could lead to increased energy demands without a corresponding increase in productivity, straining the energy sector and threatening food security.
The study underscores the urgent need for policymakers to prioritize the needs of local communities in designing adaptation strategies. By doing so, they can help reduce the occurrences of adaptation challenges, promote resilience building, and contribute toward achieving sustainable adaptation. As Kori puts it, “Effective design of adaptation policies should center on prioritizing the needs of the local people.”
The research serves as a call to action for stakeholders in the energy sector, policymakers, and agricultural communities. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by smallholder farmers in the SADC region. By doing so, we can work towards a more resilient and sustainable future for all.
The study, titled “A bibliometric analysis of smallholder farmers’ climate change adaptation challenges: a SADC region outlook,” was published in the International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management.