Assessing the impact of climate change on crop productivity of subsistence farmers in Namibia: A case study of the Omusati region
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Date
2022
Authors
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Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
Climate change, one of the challenges facing the world today, is increasingly affecting people’s livehood in the Omusati Regionlike other developing countries. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of climate change on crop
production for subsistence farmers in the Omusati region. The study was based on
quantitative methodological approaches. Data was collected through questionnaires
with structured questions that were administered to 100 house head farmers, randomly selected from the Etayi and Elim constituencies. Descriptive research design was used to determine the impact of climate change on crop yield productivity, adaptation and mitigation. The study findings also revealed that subsistence farmers experienced prolonged drought and floods as the main factor affecting crop production. Drought and floods often lead to low crop yields and high crop failure. Subsistence farmers in the Omusati Regionare vulnerable as they have limited adaptive strategies to withstand climate change. This could be due to lack of information, labour, time and financial resources. It is recommended to increase farmers’ knowledge regarding climate change so as to reduce the effect of climate change on crop production. Therefore, initiatives should be taken to improve farmer perceptions and adaptation through the involvement of farmer organisations, extension officers, policy makers and the farmers themselves.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Business Administration Natural Resource Management
Keywords
Climate change, Variability, Crop productivity, Subsistence farmers, Farmers’ perception