Exploring the Link between Climate Change and Farming in Rural and Peri-Urban Communities in Sierra Leone

Abstract

Climate change has been impacting farming and livelihood outcomes around the world. In Sierra Leone, limited studies have been done in this direction; therefore, this study was undertaken to understand and explain what has been happening. The aim and objectives were achieved through the following research questions: What crops and animals are reared by the farmers? What has been the trend in the yield of crops and the number of animals produced between 2014 and 2023? How have climatic parameters been impacting farming in the study area? What have been the coping strategies adopted by the farmers to reduce the impact of climate change on farming in the study area? Data was collected from 315 respondents selected using purposive and simple random sampling techniques, and a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to them. Climatic data was also collected from 3 weather stations as ancillary data. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 26 (SPSS). Findings reveal that farmers grow mainly food crops like rice, cassava, and vegetables. The main animals reared by farmers are poultry, cattle, and goats. The yield of the main food crops was increasing between 2014 and 2017 but remained the same between 2017 and 2020. However, the yield increased between 2021 and 2023. The reasons for the increase in yield, according to the farmers, are using more fertilizer to improve soil fertility and expansion of farmlands. Reasons for the decline in yield of main crops include erratic and low rainfall at the start of the rainy season, inadequate land for farming. Animals reared in the study communities are increasing in number, though climate change has an impact on them, including reduction in the growing periods of some varieties of crops, increase in diseases, and invasion of strange weeds. Some farmers have been experiencing poor harvests because of erratic rainfalls and sometimes flooding of farmlands. They have been mitigating late rainfall by adjusting the planting time, planting crops that can withstand drought, and some farmers have moved to the swamps, especially during the dry season. Temperatures have been increasing, according to the farmers and the data from the weather stations. High temperatures have been affecting the normal growth of their crops, seed germination, and heat stress, especially in cattle. Coping strategies adopted by farmers include adjusting planting and harvest times, watering the plants regularly, adding mulch to the seed. Humidity has been increasing, and that has been promoting diseases in both plants and animals. Wind speed has not been seriously affecting farming, though rainstorms have been pulling down their tree crops. The farmers believed that wind brings rain and helps to spread wildfires. It is recommended that farmers need to be trained to build on the knowledge and skills they already have in order to promote sustainability and food security in their communities.