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Climate Change Perceptions and Adaptations among Smallholder Farmers in the Mountains of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Author

Listed:
  • Rodriguez Kakule Amani

    (Department of Integrated Management of Tropical Forests and Lands, Ecole Régionale Post-Universitaire d’Aménagement et Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux (ERAIFT), Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the Congo
    Department of Water and Forestry, Faculty of Agronomy, Université Catholique du Graben (UCG), Butembo P.O. Box 29, Democratic Republic of the Congo)

  • Bernard Riera

    (Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (MNHN), Laboratoire d’Ecologie Générale, UMR 7179 Mecadev, 4 av du petit Château, 91800 Brunoy, France)

  • Gerard Imani

    (Department of Biology, Université Officielle de Bukavu, Bukavu P.O. Box 570, Democratic Republic of the Congo)

  • Rodrigue Batumike

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Université du Cinquantenaire Lwiro, Kabare, Bukavu P.O. Box 570, Democratic Republic of the Congo)

  • Noelia Zafra-Calvo

    (Basque Centre for Climate Change bc3, Scientific Campus of the University of the Basque Country, 48940 Leioa, Spain)

  • Aida Cuni-Sanchez

    (Department of International Environment and Development Studies (Noragric), Faculty of Landscape and Society, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
    Department of Environment and Geography, York Institute of Tropical Ecosystems, University of York, 290 Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5NG, UK)

Abstract

The warming rates in many mountain areas are higher than the global average, negatively impacting crop systems. Little is known about the climatic changes which are already being observed in eastern Democratic Republic (DR) of Congo, due to the lack of long-term meteorological data. Local perceptions could help us to understand not only the climatic changes and impacts but also which adaptation strategies are already being used by local smallholder farmers. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 300 smallholder Bafuliru ( n = 150) and Lega ( n = 150) farmers living in the Itombwe Mountains. The respondents reported climatic changes and impacts, with the Bafuliru—living on the eastern drier slopes—reporting more changes and impacts. While the Bafuliru were implementing several adaptation strategies (e.g., increased irrigation and use of inputs, more soil conservation, more income diversification), the Lega were implementing very few, due to soft limits (access to inputs, markets, and information) and culture (less interest in farming, less capacity to organize into groups). The results highlight important differences in sociocultural contexts, even for one ‘remote’ mountain, calling for a more collaborative approach to adaptation planning and action.

Suggested Citation

  • Rodriguez Kakule Amani & Bernard Riera & Gerard Imani & Rodrigue Batumike & Noelia Zafra-Calvo & Aida Cuni-Sanchez, 2022. "Climate Change Perceptions and Adaptations among Smallholder Farmers in the Mountains of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:5:p:628-:d:800969
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Katcho Karume & Jean M. Mondo & Géant B. Chuma & Angele Ibanda & Espoir M. Bagula & Alex Lina Aleke & Serge Ndjadi & Bintu Ndusha & Pascaline Azine Ciza & Nadege Cirezi Cizungu & Daniel Muhindo & Anth, 2022. "Current Practices and Prospects of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Democratic Republic of Congo: A Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-19, October.
    2. Robert A. Marchant & Aida Cuni-Sanchez, 2022. "Special Issue Editorial: Mountains under Pressure," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-5, August.
    3. Aline Nkurunziza & Dorine Intwarinkase Mutaganzwa & Willy Marcel Ndayitwayeko & Jacques Nkengurutse & Beth A. Kaplin & Irene Teixidor Toneu & Noelia Zafra-Calvo & Aida Cuni-Sanchez, 2023. "Local Observations of Climate Change and Adaptation Responses: A Case Study in the Mountain Region of Burundi-Rwanda," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-14, January.

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