Exploring the Link Between Climate Change and Farming in Rural and Peri-Urban Communities in Sierra Leone

Climate change has been impacting farming and livelihood outcomes around the world. In Sierra Leone, limited studies have been done in this direction; therefore, this study was undertaken to understand and explain what has been happening. The objectives of the study were to identify the main crops grown and animals are reared by the farmers; the trend in the yield of crops and the number of animals produced between 2014 and 2023 and to assess farmers’ perception on how climatic parameters been impacting farming and find out the coping strategies adopted by the farmers to reduce the impact of climate change on farming in the study area Data was collected from 315 respondents selected using purposive and simple random sampling techniques, and a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to them. Climatic data was also collected from 3 weather stations as ancillary data. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 26 (SPSS). Results reveal that farmers grow mainly food crops like rice, cassava, and vegetables and reared animals like poultry, cattle, and goats. The yield of the main food crops was increasing between 2014 and 2017 but remained the same between 2017 and 2020, but increased between 2021 and 2023. The reasons for the increase in yield include using more fertilizer and expansion of farmlands. Reasons for the decline in yield are erratic and low rainfall at the start of the rainy season, inadequate land for farming and flooding. Animals reared in the communities are increasing in number, though climate change has some impact on them. Further findings show that temperature, rainfall, and wind speed have been contributing significantly to climate change and that has been impacting farming in the study area. Coping strategies adopted by farmers include adjusting planting and harvest times, watering the plants regularly, adding mulch to the seed beds. It is recommended that farmers need to be trained to build on the knowledge and skills they already have in order to promote sustainability and food security in their communities.