Abstract:
Climate change is impacting water users in many sectors: water supply, farming, industry,
hydropower, fishing, housing, navigation and health. Existing situations, like population
growth, movement of populations from rural to urban areas, poverty and pollution
can aggravate the impacts of climate change. The aim of the study is to evaluate the
vulnerability of different water user groups to climate change and define communities’
adaptation strategies in the Comoe River Basin. Information was collected on communities’
concerns and perception on changes in climate and potential adaptation
measures and strategies. Results show that 95 % of the sample in the study communities
had heard of it and are aware that climate change is occurring. They have been
experiencing changes in economic activity and cropping pattern, reduced water level
in rivers, crop failure, delay in cropping season, new pests and diseases, food insecurity,
drop in income and decline in crop yield. Results also show that communities employ
various adaptation strategies including crops diversification, substitution and calendar
redefinition, agroforestry, borrowing from friends and money lenders and increasing
fertilizer application.
