Rice Farmers’ Adaptation to Saline-Water Intrusion on Swamp Rice-Growing Fields in Lower River Region of The Gambia

Abstract

Saline-water intrusion, one of the risks emanating from worsening climatic variations and climate change induced-sea-level rise poses serious threats to vulnerable peoples and livelihoods. Little information is available on how this specific climate hazard impacts people’s livelihoods in lowlands located along River Gambia and how farmers adapt to it. This study aimed to investigate rice farmers’ adaptation to saline-water intrusion on swamp rice-growing fields in Lower River Region of The Gambia. The research analyzed climate data and rice production of the region by employing trend analysis and correlation methods using Mann Kendall statistical test. The analysis confirmed that climate variability likely threatens swamp rice production in the region. To examine knowledge and farmers’ adaptive strategies, 20 villages practicing swamp rice farming were randomly selected in the Region. Data were collected from 240 farmer household heads selected through a multi-stage sampling technique and 20 focus group discussions. Descriptive statistics in SPSS Software Version 23 were, therefore, used to analyse the data obtained from the selected households. The findings revealed that majority (96%) of the farmers were aware of saline-water intrusion and (>77.5%) perceived an increasing trend of salinity and its impacts on their yields over the last 5-year. A majority of 95.4% ascertained that saline-water intrusion reduced their rice yields and 85.8% affirmed its reduction impacts on their incomes. A majority of (76.70%) of respondents’ rice farmers declared have employed adaptive measures which included on-farm and off-farm measures. Identified factors influencing the choice of adaption using a binary logistic regression model with the aid of STATA Software Version 13, revealed that non-educated farmers and small household size farmers were more likely to adapt to saline-water. Access to extension services significantly promotes adaptation. The FGD technic helped to identify most affected villages in the study area among which Kundung Numu Kunda, ii Karantaba, Kanikunda, Tembeto, and Marikoto. Challenges farmers faced in adapting to saline-water included basically poor access to adaptation information, low extension services, limited access to improved crop varieties, and high cost of farm inputs. The study recommends training for extension agents and farmers on saline-water intrusion adaptation and dissemination of climate and saline-water intrusion information through farmer to farmer, radio and extension services. Also, stakeholders and Government have to provide saline tolerant, early maturing and high yielding rice cultivars to the farmers and enhance water and soil conservation structures in the area. In addition, livelihood diversification programmes should be directed to the most affected communities by saline-water intrusion.