Perceptions of climate change and adaptation strategies: the case of smallholder farmers of Raymond Mhlaba, Port Saint Johns’ and Ingquza Hill local municipality in the Eastern Cape.

Climate change has become indisputable judging from the observed global variations in precipitation, increases in average temperatures, rising average sea levels and melting of ice. The climate phenomenon has since evolved globally and it has been largely documented by scholars. Because of the increases in global temperatures, weather patterns have also changed. This change has resulted in debates on climate change as well as how to respond to it. Various scholars across the world have expressed their opinions about climate change; its causes, impacts and adaptation. In addition, there has been a growing body of literature and studies focusing on smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate change. Without a doubt, climate change will and has left a group of people, communities and countries vulnerable. In particular, developing countries and poor communities in sub-Saharan Africa are expected to be affected the most by the impacts of climate change. This is mainly because of the region’s dependence on natural resources and their limited capacity to adapt. Literature further adds that vulnerability is on condition of the community’s socioeconomic characteristics and physical surroundings. Climate change variations pose a threat to the agricultural sector and food security of households relying on subsistence farming for survival. Climate variations such as decrease in rainfall and increased hot seasons have been reported to have led to a decline in food production, death of livestock and outbreaks human and animal diseases. The study’s main aim was to determine the smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate change and adaptation strategies in Raymond Mhlaba, Port Saint Johns’ and Ingquza Hill local municipalities. Particularly, the study looked at the factors influencing these perceptions and the factors affecting the smallholder farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies used in response to climate change. Investigating perception provides insights into the fundamental drivers of behavioural changes in the face of climate change. On their part, adaptation options are greatly shaped by the nature of an individual’s behaviour. The study was carried out in 3 local municipalities (Raymond Mhlaba, Port St Johns’ and Ingquza Hill) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The research design applied in this study was cross sectional design where data are collected at a single point in time. Multistage sampling technique was used in selecting respondents from the local municipalities. Stratification was then done to group farmers according to their vi wards and locations. Lastly, purposive sampling was used to select households and smallholder farmers practising crop and livestock production. A total of 211 smallholder farmers constituted the sample size for the study. A close-ended questionnaire was used to conduct structured interviews of household heads. The study utilized both qualitative and quantitative approach. Data collected were coded and entered in Microsoft Excel and transferred to Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS, version 25) for analyses. Descriptive statistics was used to determine the climate change perceptions of smallholder farmers and also to explore the adaptation strategies used by farmers to cope with the impacts of climate change. The findings were explained using frequencies, means and variances. Multinomial Logistic Regression (MNL) was used to determine the factors affecting the choice of adaptation strategies used by smallholder farmers and the probability that a farmer would choose a particular strategy. The results from the study revealed most of the respondents as being able to identify the perceived changes in climate with the environmental changes that they observed. The respondents perceived climate change as an increase in drought period, increase in average temperatures, decrease and variations in rainfall, shortened growing season, crop failure, pests and diseases. However, most of the smallholder farmers disagreed with the frequency of flood incidences as they have not experienced these in their areas. In terms of responses to these changes in climate, the smallholder farmers have used a number of adaptation strategies to cope. Most of the farmers used crop diversification, organic manure, soil and water conservation practices, while others simply did not adapt and some used all the available adaptation strategies identified in this study. The results from the MNL revealed that occupation, household size and years spent in school (education) generally had a positive influence on the choice of adaptation strategy used by smallholder farmers. On the other hand, age; farming systems and membership of a farmers’ association were negatively affecting the smallholder farmers’ choice of adaptation strategy to use in response to climate change. Much support is needed in terms of disseminating information and knowledge among smallholder farmers about climate change and its adaptation strategies. This can be possible through improving extension services, and providing credit to smallholder farmer