Farmers in Madagascar are struggling with climate change, reporting worsening conditions but showing limited adaptation in practices. Financial constraints hinder change, with 80% living in poverty, and increased weather extremes and pests threaten food security. Future research aims to better understand adaptation across the region.
Farmers in Madagascar face significant challenges due to climate change, with nearly all reporting altered temperature and rainfall patterns affecting agriculture. A 2023 study revealed that despite their struggles, very few farmers are changing their practices to adapt, even as they anticipate worsening conditions. Interviews conducted in villages near Marojejy National Park showed that local farmers primarily cultivate vanilla beans, rice, bananas, and coffee using traditional hand tools and relying on nearby water sources.
Many farmers report diminishing water supplies and increased weather extremes, such as extreme heat and heavy rainfall, which have affected their ability to work their land. Approximately 75% of participants noted these adverse changes, which have also led to an increase in pests and health issues among the population. Yet, only 20% are actively adjusting their farming practices, significantly lower than similar studies conducted in other countries.
Disparities among farmers indicate that men and those owning durable items like generators are more prone to adopt new practices, highlighting financial constraints that inhibit adaptation. With about 80% of Madagascar’s population living in poverty, many alternative farming methods may require more labor or materials than they can afford. Experts emphasize the need for programs that alleviate these economic burdens, especially for impoverished farmers.
Encouraging adaptation strategies, such as integrating fruit trees or aquaculture in paddy fields, could enhance food security while helping manage pests and improve soil health. The impacts of cyclones and severe weather continue to threaten farmers, disrupting their ability to transport goods during the rainy season. These conditions are apparent across Madagascar, as evidenced by altered weather data showing rising temperatures and decreasing precipitation over decades.
The researchers are broadening their survey to include 34 villages to assess the wider impact of climate change in the region and the farmers’ adaptive measures. They emphasize that as climate change evolves, farmers must become increasingly adaptable and willing to take risks, a daunting task given the stakes involved in their harvests.
The study highlights the pressing challenges faced by Madagascar’s farmers due to climate change, revealing their limited adaptation efforts despite increasing difficulties in agriculture. Financial constraints significantly hamper their ability to change practices, and the need for supportive programs has never been more critical. With ongoing research planned, further understanding of farmers’ responses across various regions will be key to developing effective solutions to ensure food security in the face of climate adversity.
Original Source: today.duke.edu
