Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change among Smallholder Farmers in Moshi Rural District, Tanzania

Abstract

Climate change is real and presents a threat to human beings particularly the smallholder farmers who rely on
rainfed agriculture for their livelihoods. Climate change aff ects smallholder farmers diff erently, and hence acts
diff erently to address their impacts. Th us in order to address the adverse impacts of climate change, adaptation
to climate change impacts is important. Th is study was undertaken to examine smallholder farmer’s adaptation
strategies in Moshi Rural district, Tanzania. Primary data were obtained from 359 household heads and 35
key informants. Data collection methods for this study were face-to-face administered questionnaires, in-depth
interviews, focus group discussions, and observation. Questionnaires were administered to 359 household heads
while in-depth interviews were administered to key informants. Analysis involved descriptive statistics for
quantitative data and content analysis for qualitative data. Findings from this study revealed that majority of
smallholder farmers have undertaken diff erent adaptation strategies to address climate change impacts. Th ese
strategies were both at household level and at the farm-level. Household level adaptation strategies include
livelihood diversifi cation, changing eating habits and dependency on remittances, while farm level adaptation
strategies were crop diversifi cation, irrigation and intercropping.