International Journal of Environment and Climate Change

Climate change is already exerting its impact on smallholder farmers, necessitating their acknowledgment of these changes and investment in adaptation strategies. The perception of climate change among farmers plays a crucial role in determining their willingness to adapt. This study focuses on the perceptions of paddy farmers regarding climate change and their responses to its impacts. Specifically, the study aims to answer the following questions: How do paddy farmers perceive climate change? How do paddy farmers respond to the impacts of climate change? The study was conducted in Wete District, North Pemba Region on Pemba Island. A cross-sectional research design was used, employing multistage cluster sampling along with purposive and simple random techniques. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected, with questionnaire surveys used for quantitative data and key informant interviews for qualitative data. Also, the study used climate data from Tanzania Meteorological Authority, temperature and rainfall data over the past 31 years (1992-2023). Quantitative data were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences software, while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. The study findings reveal that paddy farmers in the study area perceive an increase in temperature, changes in rainfall patterns, an increase in dry spells, and a rise in sea level. The study also identifies various strategies used by paddy farmers to cope with the impacts of climate change, including the construction of embankments, the use of pesticides, irrigation, and skipping meals. However, the construction of ridges to prevent seawater intrusion into paddy farms was found to be less effective. Therefore, the study recommends that the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar should consider building a sea wall to help paddy farmers build resilience against the current and future impacts of climate change. Paddy farmers in Pemba Island are also advised to adopt transformative adaptation strategies that are more sustainable and capable of withstanding the projected harsh climate changes in the future.

(“To what extent do demographic characteristics influence the adoption of adaptation strategies in response to climate change impacts?”) this sentence has been removed from abstract section. Also the word “ridges” has been replaced with the word “embankments” in abstract section.