Identifying Challenging Barriers to Farmers’ Adaptation to Climate Change: A Case of Leribe District, Lesotho

Tsepang Clementine Mofolo^* and Kheleli Mareabetsoe Rethabile

Abstract

Climate change has become a global issue that most if not all countries around the world are tackling. Its impacts cut across different sectors, but for less developed countries like Lesotho, agriculture is a sector that is being affected the most. Lesotho depends on rainfed agriculture, mostly for subsistence and in part for commercial purposes as a source of income. Research in Lesotho has focused more on the implications of climate change on environmental processes, and less attention has been directed towards farmers as producers of food in an industry that provides livelihood to over 70% of its population. The first approach this article takes is to identify the intent and decision of farmers to adapt to climate change and the barriers that affect these decisions are explored. In identifying challenging barriers to farmers’ adaptation to climate change adaptation, the study was carried out in Leribe district, one of the 10 districts in Lesotho because it is known as the food basket of the country because of its high potential arable land. 138 farmers were purposively sampled to carry out the research, which was conducted using questionnaires administered through face-to-face interviews. From the study, perceptions of farmers that rainfall intensity, duration and frequency has decreased, and that temperatures have become extremely high were recorded. This, according to farmers, had led to impacts of water shortages, increase in frequency of droughts among other impacts. Farmers have adopted measures to minimize these impacts. The intention of farmers to adapt to climate change amidst the impacts exists amongst farmers. The study therefore aims of the study is to identify the potentially challenging barriers to farmers’ adaptation to climate change in Leribe. The conclusions drawn from the study are that in the sense of climate change impacts, agricultural productivity reduced, and seasonal food shortages prevailed. Lesotho’s capacity to grow its own food has dwindled dramatically. The food security policy must lay out plans to boost food production, and there must be cross-sector partnerships to provide necessary assistance for the lowest and most vulnerable farmers at both district and national levels.

Keywords

awareness of climate change; barriers to adaptation; intention to adapt; leribe; perceptions of farmers

Cite This Article

Mofolo, T. C., Kheleli, M. R. (2021). Identifying Challenging Barriers to Farmers’ Adaptation to Climate Change: A Case of Leribe District, Lesotho. International Journal of Scientific Advances (IJSCIA), Volume 2| Issue 3: May-Jun 2021, Pages 246-252, URL: https://www.ijscia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Volume2-Issue3-May-Jun-No.77-246-252.pdf

Publication In

Volume 2 | Issue 3: May-Jun 2021