The Perception of and Adaptation to Climate Change in Africa

The objective of this paper is to
determine the ability of farmers in Africa to detect climate
change, and to ascertain how they have adapted to whatever
climate change they believe has occurred. The paper also
asks farmers whether they perceive any barriers to
adaptation and attempts to determine the characteristics of
those farmers who, despite claiming to have witnessed
climate change, have not yet responded to it. The study is
based on a large-scale survey of agriculturalists in 11
African countries. The survey reveals that significant
numbers of farmers believe that temperatures have already
increased and that precipitation has declined. Those with
the greatest experience of farming are more likely to notice
climate change. Further, neighboring farmers tell a
consistent story. There are important differences in the
propensity of farmers living in different locations to adapt
and there may be institutional impediments to adaptation in
some countries. Although large numbers of farmers perceive
no barriers to adaptation, those that do perceive them tend
to cite their poverty and inability to borrow. Few if any
farmers mentioned lack of appropriate seed, security of
tenure, or market accessibility as problems. Those farmers
who perceive climate change but fail to respond may require
particular incentives or assistance to do what is ultimately
in their own best interests. Although experienced farmers
are more likely to perceive climate change, it is educated
farmers who are more likely to respond by making at least
one adaptation.