Perceptions and Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change among Small-Scale Farmers in Mangolong Village, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract

This study employed a qualitative research approach to explore the perceptions and adaptation strategies of small-scale farmers in Mangolong Village, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions and analysed using thematic analysis to identify key patterns and insights. The results revealed that social, economic and cultural factors influence adaptation to climate variability. Women emerged as key contributors in agricultural production, but they continue to face challenges such as limited access to land and lack of financial resources emphasizing the need for gender-sensitive adaptation strategies. The dominance of older farmers in agricultural practices highlighted a stronger reliance on traditional agricultural practices which are grounded in valuable indigenous knowledge. However, this may hinder the uptake of modern climate-resilient techniques. Education can also be very crucial along with indigenous knowledge exchange and social networks. The size of households also determined the adaptive capacity, especially in relation to available labour, and the economic constraints limited investing in new technologies. The farmers showed a strong attachment to their land and cultural earnings that influenced their perceptions about and reactions to the problem of climate change. The most cited adaptation interventions were cropping diversification, intercropping and adjustments to seasonal calendars. These results showed that adaptation lies in the context of complicated socio-cultural, economic, and environmental conditions. In this regard, successful adaptation should be a holistic process where integration of both indigenous knowledge systems with scientific innovation is a must. Women and other vulnerable groups need to be supported with capital so that they can acquire farming inputs and also give them the mandatory knowledge that integrates modern farming and traditional farming system.