Paper short abstract:

Rain-fed agriculture characterize majority of the smallholder farmers in Africa. The objectives of the the paper is to analyze farmers’ adaptive capacities to climate change effects. Findings indicate a low to moderate adaptive capacity among smallholder farmers.

Paper long abstract:

Climate change is anticipated to strengthen existing difficulties and come up with fresh combinations of risks, predominantly in rural Africa. The condition is made worse due to factors such as extensive scarcity and over reliance on rain nurtured agriculture. Since agriculture and food schemes are more vulnerable to climate change, the extent to which farming households have the capability to respond or adjust to these alterations has significant consequences for development at the national, regional and household levels. The objectives of the the paper is to analyze farmers’ adaptive capacities to climate change effects. A sample size of 376 farmers participated in the study. Findings indicate a moderate adaptive capacity among smallholder farmers’, with knowledge/information and financial resources being the lowest and highest in social and institutional resources. Limited weather and climate information, inadequate information on adaptation, inadequate capital, inaccessibility to inputs and limited irrigation opportunity were the foremost constraints to adaptation. The paper recommends livelihood diversification among smallholder farmers and enhancement of adaptive capacities by providing credit resources, climate change awareness, training farmers on adaptation strategies, subsidized inputs and encourage social group networks.