Abstract

The objective of this study was to delineate perceptions of rural people about climate indicators affecting agricultural production and analyze their adaptation strategies. A cross-section survey with a randomly selected sample size of 240 respondents was conducted in three districts of Morogoro region. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the qualitative data on climate change indicator perceptions and adaptation options while Chi-square statistics was employed to define the respective associations. Majority of farmers were aware about climate variations. Temperature, drought spell, rainfall intensity and sunshine intensity were mentioned by most farmers as being among the major change indicators having great impact on their production. Fewer farmers understood the major agents of climate change were humans through their activities. Majority associated the climate change causes to supernatural factors. Early land preparations, timing of the rains and waiting for the rains from supernatural powers were adaptation strategies mostly employed. Farmers should be assisted to understand the key agents of climate change and to have access to weather forecast information which will increase their preparedness on climate change shocks.

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