Agrotechnology

Climate change status in Mutale local municipality: A case study of smallholder farmers in Vhembe district, Limpopo province

5^th International Conference on Agriculture & Horticulture

June 27-29, 2016 Cape Town, South Africa

Phokele Maponya

Agricultural Research Council, South Africa
University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Agrotechnol

Abstract:

The Limpopo province is one of the poorest provinces in the country, characterized by high unemployment rate, poverty and lacks of access to a range of resources which results in the majority of the people not being able to secure their livelihoods. The primary aim of this paper was to highlight the status of climate change in the Vhembe district municipality. The following objectives were identified: To describe the status of climate change in the Vhembe district and to identify the determinants of climate change adaptation in the Vhembe district municipality. A representative sample of 150 farmers aged between 18 to 60+ years (46% males and 54% females) participated in the study. The study was conducted in the Vhembe district with special attention being played to the Mutale local municipality. The following two villages were visited: Folovodwe and Rambuda. The purposive sampling method used covered most of the productive farms in the two selected villages and also covered the uniform or homogeneous characteristics of farmers. The sample frame was designed to meet the objectives of the study and it had to adhere to the statistical specifications for accuracy and representativity. The questionnaire was administrated to farmers and included matters relating to climate variability and change. Data was coded, captured and analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive and regressions analyses were conducted. The results showed a positive association among the following variables: Age, female, decreased rainfall, level of education, farming fulltime, climate change information, source of climate information, perception on climate change and climate change adaptation and formal extension.

Biography :

Phokele Maponya has completed his PhD from University of South Africa and Post-doctoral Fellowship from University of Johannesburg. He has more than 12 years of Teaching, Research and Project Management experience. He acted as a Reviewer for Development Southern Africa; International Journal on Bio deterioration & Biodegradation; Journal of Agricultural Biotechnology and Sustainable Development; African Journal of Agricultural Research; Herald Journal of Geography and Regional Planning; Journal of Agricultural Science, Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics and Sociology, South African Journal of Plant and Soil, Journal of Global Agriculture and Ecology and British Journal of Applied Science and Technology. He also serves as a Board Member of the Wudpecker Journal of Educational Research; Global Advance Journal of Arts and Humanities; International Journal of Advance Agricultural Research; World Journal of Agricultural Science; Journal of Agricultural Science; Peak Journal of Agricultural Research and Unique Journal of Agricultural Research. He has published globally in the field of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and published more than 20 articles in different international peer reviewed journals; 5 peer reviewed conference proceedings and published 7 book chapters. He is currently employed at Agricultural Research Council as Project Manager and Leader.

Email: MaponyaP@arc.agric.za