Practices in agriculture of smallholder farmers for climate change adaptation in El slam Locality –West Kordofan, Sudan

Abstract

Climate change events could influence poverty by affecting agricultural productivity through continues decline in crop yield, increase of disease, increased livelihood insecurity and raising prices of staple foods that are important to poor households in developing countries. This study was conducted in Elslam locality, West Kordofan. The major objective of this study is to identify the indigenous knowledge and practices of smallholder farmers in managing the climate change variability and impact in study area. Specifically, the research seeks to assessing and documenting local knowledge of adaptation practicing by potential farmers, to perceive the climate change in mind of farmers. The study based on simple random sampling and considers 68 respondents (8%) as sample of study.  Quantitative and qualitative information was obtained using different data collection methods such as in-depth individual interviews and focus group discussions for key informants as well as secondary data collection. The data fit to computer and statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 16) were applied using descriptive analysis. Results revealed that widespread indigenous knowledge using by farmers such as sowing in dry (Ramail), planting in different direction (sherreik), cropping pattern (i.e. adjusting planting dates), change in crop variety (Elkhifafa), and diversifying income through off-farm activities. Results of farmers' perception of the trend in crop productivity over the last three decades indicate that a significant majority of the farmers (89.7%), (80.9%) report that rainfall and crop productivity have declined over the last decades respectively, and highlighted certain problematic climate related events such as floods and droughts. (100 %) of the farmers acquired their local knowledge from their intimates and local environment. Finally, the study come out to recommend that more attention should be given to develop and encourage the fit and effectiveness practices and adjusting the "where, when, and how" of unsuitable practices using to enhance resilience and reduce vulnerability in a rapidly changing climate.