Assessing farmers’ knowledge on climate change and their adaptation strategies in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Climate change presents a growing threat to agricultural productivity and food security in Zimbabwe, where smallholder farmers depend heavily on rain-fed agriculture and are highly vulnerable to climate variability. This study assesses farmers’ knowledge of climate change and examines the extent to which this knowledge influences the adoption of adaptation strategies across selected regions in Zimbabwe. Using a desktop involving case studies from Zimbabwe the article investigates the primary sources of climate information accessible to farmers, the types of adaptation strategies currently employed, and the socio-economic and institutional factors that facilitate or hinder adoption. The findings reveal that while many farmers are aware of climate-related changes such as erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and rising temperatures, their ability to respond effectively is often constrained by limited access to finance, poor extension support, insecure land tenure, and insufficient information. Farmers with greater awareness and access to reliable climate information are more likely to adopt strategies such as conservation agriculture, crop diversification, rainwater harvesting, and drought-tolerant seed varieties. The study concludes that enhancing farmers’ knowledge through accessible information, targeted training, and supportive policies is essential to building resilience and promoting sustainable agricultural development in the context of climate change.