The Perception of and Adaptation to Climate Change in Africa

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World Bank, Washington, DC

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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.

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AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION, AGRICULTURAL INNOVATIONS, AGRICULTURAL INPUTS, AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES, AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY, AGRICULTURE, AVAILABILITY OF SEED, CAPITAL CONSTRAINTS, CARBON, CARBON DIOXIDE, CASH CROPS, CLIMATE, CLIMATE CHANGE, CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION, CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH, CLIMATE CHANGES, CLIMATE HAZARDS, CLIMATE VARIABLES, CLIMATE WARMING, CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, CLIMATIC ZONES, COMMUNAL LANDS, CONSUMER SURPLUS, CONTINGENT VALUATION, CROP PRODUCTION, CROP VARIETIES, CROPPING SYSTEMS, DEVELOPING COUNTRY CONTEXT, DROUGHT, ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS, ECOLOGICAL ZONES, ECONOMETRICS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC IMPACT, ECONOMIC MODELS, ECONOMICS, ECONOMISTS, EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS, EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE, ENVIRONMENTAL, ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS, EQUILIBRIUM, EXTENSION SERVICES, EXTERNALITIES, FARM ACTIVITIES, FARM SIZE, FARM WORK, FARMER, FARMER PARTICIPATION, FARMERS, FARMING ACTIVITIES, FARMLAND, FEED, FERTILIZATION, FERTILIZERS, FIELD TRIALS, FIXED COSTS, GENDER, GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, INCOME, INSECURITY OF TENURE, INSURANCE, IRRIGATION, LACK OF CREDIT, LACK OF INFORMATION, LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, LAND OWNERSHIP, LAND TENURE, LIVESTOCK, MAJORITY OF FARMERS, MARKETING, NEW TECHNOLOGIES, POLICY INSTRUMENTS, POLICY MAKERS, PRECIPITATION, PRICE CHANGES, PRODUCTIVITY, PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH, PROGRAMS, PROPERTY RIGHTS, PUBLIC GOOD, RAINFALL, RESOURCE USE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, SAHEL, SAVINGS, SCHOOLING, SHARECROPPING, SMALL FARMERS, SMALL FARMS, SOCIAL CAPITAL, SOCIAL ECONOMICS, SOCIOECONOMIC VARIABLES, SOCIOLOGY, SOIL, SOIL CONSERVATION, SUBSISTENCE, SUBSISTENCE FARMERS, TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE, TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION, TEMPERATURE, TEMPERATURE CHANGE, TEMPERATURE CHANGES, TEMPERATURE DATA, VEGETABLE PRODUCTION, WEATHER PATTERNS, WILLINGNESS TO PAY

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