Farmers’ perception on climate change, soil erosion and adaptation strategies in small rural communities of Mali: case study of the rural municipality of Méguétan
The impacts of climate change and soil erosion are significantly affecting agriculture in non-developed countries. In Mali, a country located in Western Africa, there is a drastic reduction in available fertile arable lands and water scarcity, which is damaging rural communities and affecting the de...
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Universidad de Alicante, Instituto Interuniversitario de Geografía
2024-07-01
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| Series: | Investigaciones Geográficas |
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| Online Access: | https://www.investigacionesgeograficas.com/article/view/26589 |
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| author | Mahamadou Lamine Katilé Aboubakar Bengaly Souleymane Sidi Traoré Jesús Rodrigo-Comino |
| author_facet | Mahamadou Lamine Katilé Aboubakar Bengaly Souleymane Sidi Traoré Jesús Rodrigo-Comino |
| author_sort | Mahamadou Lamine Katilé |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The impacts of climate change and soil erosion are significantly affecting agriculture in non-developed countries. In Mali, a country located in Western Africa, there is a drastic reduction in available fertile arable lands and water scarcity, which is damaging rural communities and affecting the development of vital infrastructures, consequently, decreasing people’s incomes. There is a lack of information about the perception of these challenges among the small rural communities and the possible adaptation strategies can be applied. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to determine local farmer perceptions of climate change, soil erosion, and adaptation strategies conducting a survey among 200 farmers in 10 villages within the rural municipality of Méguétan, serving as a representative study case. Our results showed that farmers are aware of the challenges related to climate change and soil erosion and are willing to adopt some measures but conditioned by a range of traditional techniques. The most common strategies are: changing the sowing calendar, diversifying crops, using resistant varieties, having an alternative income, and following weather forecasts on the radio. Stone rows remain the most widely adopted technique to reduce soil erosion, with a knowledge rate of 88% and an application about 29%. The study also highlighted the increasing vulnerability of farmers to climate change and soil erosion due to insufficient material and financial resources. We conclude policies should pay attention to services and partners that invest more funds in technical assistance to strengthen adaptation strategies and teach the population, considering nature-based solutions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7f836b38be934d6eba01e99b50ba3e41 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1989-9890 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | Universidad de Alicante, Instituto Interuniversitario de Geografía |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Investigaciones Geográficas |
| spelling | doaj-art-7f836b38be934d6eba01e99b50ba3e412025-08-20T03:06:43ZengUniversidad de Alicante, Instituto Interuniversitario de GeografíaInvestigaciones Geográficas1989-98902024-07-0182436110.14198/INGEO.2658934796Farmers’ perception on climate change, soil erosion and adaptation strategies in small rural communities of Mali: case study of the rural municipality of MéguétanMahamadou Lamine Katilé0https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8478-3765Aboubakar Bengaly1https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1926-5212Souleymane Sidi Traoré2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8373-7205Jesús Rodrigo-Comino3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4823-0871West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL)Rural Polytechnic Institute for Applied Research and Training (IPR/IFRA) of KatibougouUniversity of Social Sciences and Management of Bamako (USSGB)University of GranadaThe impacts of climate change and soil erosion are significantly affecting agriculture in non-developed countries. In Mali, a country located in Western Africa, there is a drastic reduction in available fertile arable lands and water scarcity, which is damaging rural communities and affecting the development of vital infrastructures, consequently, decreasing people’s incomes. There is a lack of information about the perception of these challenges among the small rural communities and the possible adaptation strategies can be applied. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to determine local farmer perceptions of climate change, soil erosion, and adaptation strategies conducting a survey among 200 farmers in 10 villages within the rural municipality of Méguétan, serving as a representative study case. Our results showed that farmers are aware of the challenges related to climate change and soil erosion and are willing to adopt some measures but conditioned by a range of traditional techniques. The most common strategies are: changing the sowing calendar, diversifying crops, using resistant varieties, having an alternative income, and following weather forecasts on the radio. Stone rows remain the most widely adopted technique to reduce soil erosion, with a knowledge rate of 88% and an application about 29%. The study also highlighted the increasing vulnerability of farmers to climate change and soil erosion due to insufficient material and financial resources. We conclude policies should pay attention to services and partners that invest more funds in technical assistance to strengthen adaptation strategies and teach the population, considering nature-based solutions.https://www.investigacionesgeograficas.com/article/view/26589climate changesoil degradationland managementregional studiesadaptation strategiesméguétan |
| spellingShingle | Mahamadou Lamine Katilé Aboubakar Bengaly Souleymane Sidi Traoré Jesús Rodrigo-Comino Farmers’ perception on climate change, soil erosion and adaptation strategies in small rural communities of Mali: case study of the rural municipality of Méguétan Investigaciones Geográficas climate change soil degradation land management regional studies adaptation strategies méguétan |
| title | Farmers’ perception on climate change, soil erosion and adaptation strategies in small rural communities of Mali: case study of the rural municipality of Méguétan |
| title_full | Farmers’ perception on climate change, soil erosion and adaptation strategies in small rural communities of Mali: case study of the rural municipality of Méguétan |
| title_fullStr | Farmers’ perception on climate change, soil erosion and adaptation strategies in small rural communities of Mali: case study of the rural municipality of Méguétan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Farmers’ perception on climate change, soil erosion and adaptation strategies in small rural communities of Mali: case study of the rural municipality of Méguétan |
| title_short | Farmers’ perception on climate change, soil erosion and adaptation strategies in small rural communities of Mali: case study of the rural municipality of Méguétan |
| title_sort | farmers perception on climate change soil erosion and adaptation strategies in small rural communities of mali case study of the rural municipality of meguetan |
| topic | climate change soil degradation land management regional studies adaptation strategies méguétan |
| url | https://www.investigacionesgeograficas.com/article/view/26589 |
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