Abstract:
Despite the numerous general codes of practices to adapt to climate change, many farming
communities are still vulnerable partly due to lack of locally adapted measures. This research was
conducted to establish socioeconomic factors influencing vulnerability and adaption to climate change
in three farming systems of Tanzania. Participatory techniques were used to investigate how farmers
defined climate change, perceived its impacts to agriculture and their coping mechanisms. All had
knowledge that climate change is happening but the differed in the way they defined the phenomenon,
perceived its impacts and the adaptation strategies they took. More than 80% of the farmers had no
correct definition of climate change. 5% to 20% defined climate change in the context of rainfall
variability and warming up of the earth. Less than 5% had knowledge that climate change is associated
with emission of green house gases, deforestation, environmental degradation, and poor production
practices. Positive and negative impacts of climate change were reported in all the farming systems.
Between the farming systems, differences in coping mechanisms were noted. Coping strategies and
socioeconomic characteristics were correlated. Indigenous coping strategies and the socioeconomic
status should be considered when planning for climate sensitive agriculture.
