Farmers' Perceptions about Climate Change and their Adaptation Strategies: a case Study in the Fakara Region of Niger

Information about farmers’ perceptions of climate change and their adaptation strategies is needed for developing regional climate change adaptation plans for rural areas. This study was conducted in rural communities in the semi-arid Fakara region of Niger. The objectives were to identify the major effects of climate change and their impacts on the rural communities, adaptation strategies of the rural communities, and difficulties in using natural signs to predict the onset of the rainy season. Data were collected using participatory research tools. Farmers stated that the climate is becoming hotter and drier, and with more variability in rainfall. The major effects of climate change were drought, strong winds and floods. The major impacts were higher mortality of crop plants, insufficient pasture plants, increased parasites, eroded and crusted soils, destruction of habitat, and loss of livestock. Adaptation strategies were bio-physical (e.g., using early-maturing crop varieties, mulching, improving natural regeneration management), organizational, economic and cultural (e.g., organizing monitoring committees for natural resource management, working together to establish micro water catchments in crop fields, planting cash-crop species in the off-season).Farmers used to predict the onset of the rainy season based on tree phenology, bird behavior and other natural signs, but these indicators are no longer reliable. Despite difficult climatic conditions, farmers are trying to preserve their natural resources and adapt to climate change.Information about farmers’ perceptions of climate change and their adaptation strategies is needed for developing regional climate change adaptation plans for rural areas. This study was conducted in rural communities in the semi-arid Fakara region of Niger. The objectives were to identify the major effects of climate change and their impacts on the rural communities, adaptation strategies of the rural communities, and difficulties in using natural signs to predict the onset of the rainy season. Data were collected using participatory research tools. Farmers stated that the climate is becoming hotter and drier, and with more variability in rainfall. The major effects of climate change were drought, strong winds and floods. The major impacts were higher mortality of crop plants, insufficient pasture plants, increased parasites, eroded and crusted soils, destruction of habitat, and loss of livestock. Adaptation strategies were bio-physical (e.g., using early-maturing crop varieties, mulching, improving natural regeneration management), organizational, economic and cultural (e.g., organizing monitoring committees for natural resource management, working together to establish micro water catchments in crop fields, planting cash-crop species in the off-season).Farmers used to predict the onset of the rainy season based on tree phenology, bird behavior and other natural signs, but these indicators are no longer reliable. Despite difficult climatic conditions, farmers are trying to preserve their natural resources and adapt to climate change