Haya Farmers’ Views on Climate Change Risks in Agriculture – Bioengineer.org

Report on Climate Change Perceptions and Agricultural Risks Among Haya Farmers in Tanzania

Executive Summary: Aligning Local Realities with Global Sustainable Development Goals

This report analyzes the findings of research by T.F. Theodory on the perceptions of climate change risks among Haya smallholder farmers in the Missenyi and Muleba districts of Tanzania. The study highlights the profound impact of climate variability on local agriculture, directly threatening the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The perceptions and experiences of these farmers underscore the urgent need for integrated strategies that support climate resilience, food security, and sustainable livelihoods, aligning with SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Climate Change as a Direct Threat to Food Security

The research confirms that climate change poses a significant risk to food security and economic stability for the Haya community. This directly impacts the progress toward achieving SDG 2.

• Erratic Weather Patterns: Farmers report increasingly unpredictable and erratic rainfall, which disrupts traditional planting and harvesting cycles.
• Increased Crop Failure: The community faces a dual threat of droughts that destroy harvests and excessive rainfall leading to soil erosion and crop damage.
• Livelihood Instability: As agriculture is the primary source of income, these climate-induced challenges jeopardize the economic well-being of farming households, pushing them further from the goal of zero hunger.

SDG 13 (Climate Action): Local Perceptions and Adaptation Barriers

The Haya farmers demonstrate a high level of awareness regarding local climate shifts, which is a critical first step for localizing SDG 13. However, their capacity to adapt is constrained by several factors.

Key Perceptions and Challenges:

1. Widespread Recognition: Nearly all surveyed farmers acknowledge changes in their local climate, indicating an alignment between local observation and global scientific consensus.
2. Socio-Economic Barriers: Effective adaptation is limited by inadequate access to essential resources, including climate information, technology, and financial support.
3. Psychological Impacts: Farmers experience significant anxiety and helplessness due to climate volatility, which can impede their willingness to invest in adaptive agricultural practices.

The Role of Local and Traditional Knowledge:

The study emphasizes the value of indigenous knowledge in building climate resilience. Integrating centuries-old agricultural expertise with modern scientific approaches is essential for developing context-specific adaptation strategies that support SDG 13.

SDG 5 (Gender Equality) & SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Disparities in Climate Vulnerability and Response

The impacts of climate change are not felt equally across the Haya community, highlighting the importance of addressing SDG 5 and SDG 10 in climate adaptation strategies.

• Gendered Impacts: Women farmers, who are central to household food security, often bear a disproportionate burden from climate change. Empowering them with access to resources and education is critical for community-wide resilience and achieving SDG 5.
• Generational Gaps: Younger farmers are noted to be more receptive to adopting new technologies, while older farmers often rely on traditional methods. Tailored engagement strategies are needed to bridge this gap and facilitate intergenerational knowledge sharing, thereby reducing inequalities in adaptive capacity.

SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): A Call for Collaborative Intervention

The findings from Theodory’s research call for a multi-stakeholder approach to build a resilient agricultural system, in line with the principles of SDG 17.

Recommendations for Action:

1. Enhance Communication and Education: Develop targeted outreach programs to provide farmers with accessible climate data and training on adaptive strategies.
2. Integrate Knowledge Systems: Policymakers and NGOs should facilitate the integration of traditional farming wisdom with modern agricultural science to create robust and sustainable solutions.
3. Foster Inclusive Policies: Interventions must be tailored to local needs and perceptions, ensuring they address the specific challenges faced by different demographics, including women and youth.
4. Promote International and Local Support: A combination of international support and localized action is required to provide the necessary resources for Haya farmers to mitigate climate risks effectively.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on Haya smallholder farmers in Tanzania addresses several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The analysis of the farmers’ perceptions and challenges related to climate change directly links to goals concerning poverty, hunger, gender equality, and climate action.

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The article highlights that climate change is a direct threat to the “economic stability” of smallholder farmers, whose livelihoods are dependent on agriculture. Vulnerability to climate shocks like droughts and floods can push these communities further into poverty.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – This is a central theme, as the article explicitly states that farmers perceive climate change as a “direct threat to their food security.” The discussion on “erratic rainfall,” “shifting temperatures,” and their “consequences for crop yields” directly relates to achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality – The article specifically examines the “role of women in agriculture,” noting that they “bear the brunt of the impacts of climate change.” It emphasizes the need for “Empowering women farmers through education and resource access” to enhance community resilience, thus connecting to the goal of empowering all women and girls.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – The entire article is framed around climate change, focusing on its impacts on a vulnerable community. It discusses the urgency of building “resilience” and developing “adaptive strategies” to cope with climate-related risks, which is the core of SDG 13.
• SDG 4: Quality Education – The article points out a critical need for knowledge dissemination, stating that farmers expressed a “need for more effective outreach and education regarding climate change adaptation.” This links to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for sustainable development.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – The impacts of climate change mentioned in the article, such as “excessive rains that lead to soil erosion,” directly relate to protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halting land degradation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified as being directly relevant to the situation of the Haya farmers.

1. Target 1.5: By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.
   • Explanation: The article’s focus on the need for “adaptive strategies” for smallholder farmers to cope with “droughts that decimate their harvests” and “excessive rains” directly aligns with building resilience against climate-related disasters.
2. Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production… and strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters.
   • Explanation: The article calls for integrating “traditional agricultural wisdom with modern practices” to “enhance resilience among smallholder farmers amid climate uncertainties,” which is the essence of this target.
3. Target 5.a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land… financial services… and natural resources.
   • Explanation: The article advocates for “Empowering women farmers through education and resource access,” which it suggests “has the potential to significantly uplift entire communities.” This directly supports the goal of providing women with equal access to economic and productive resources.
4. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Explanation: This target is central to the article, which explores how Haya farmers perceive climate risks and highlights the urgent need to improve their “adaptive capacities in the face of shifting climatic conditions.”
5. Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
   • Explanation: The finding that farmers need “more effective outreach and education regarding climate change adaptation” and “targeted training programs” directly corresponds to this target’s aim of building human capacity for climate adaptation.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several metrics that could be used to measure progress towards the identified targets within the context of the Haya community.

• Perception of Climate Change: The article states that “nearly all surveyed farmers have noticed changes in their local climate.” This percentage serves as an indicator of awareness (relevant to Target 13.3) and can be tracked over time.
• Adoption of Adaptive Strategies: The article discusses the gap between farmers recognizing climate change and their “capacity to respond effectively.” An implied indicator would be the rate of adoption of new or integrated (traditional and modern) agricultural practices designed to enhance resilience (relevant to Targets 1.5 and 2.4).
• Access to Information and Resources: The text identifies “access to information, resources, and technology” as critical factors for adaptation. A potential indicator is the percentage of farmers (disaggregated by gender) who report having access to climate data, training, and necessary agricultural inputs (relevant to Targets 5.a and 13.3).
• Impact on Crop Yields: The article notes that climate change has “immediate and long-term consequences for crop yields.” Measuring changes in crop yields and harvest losses due to climate events like droughts or floods would be a direct indicator of agricultural resilience and food security (relevant to Target 2.4).
• Participation in Training: The expressed need for “targeted training programs” implies that the number of farmers, particularly women, participating in and completing climate adaptation training could be a key indicator of progress in building human capacity (relevant to Targets 4.7 and 13.3).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bioengineer.org