“Prolonged dry spells or droughts and floods as a result of climate change are a
serious problem for smallholder farmers in Malawi, because agriculture is their
main livelihood strategy. Food shortages and low income levels due to climate
change impacts mean inability of farmers to actively participate in the day to day
economic activities. Low income levels can also be translated into lack of access
to basic needs of life that are purchased with money. Farmers that have mainly
been affected with this problem are those that have land allocations in the Shire
River Valley in Chikhwawa and Nsanje Districts. Understanding of the indigenous
and innovative climate change adaptation strategies would assist smallholder
farmers and policy makers, civil society organisations and the private sector to
design programs that can assist farmers to build resilience against climate
change impacts for their sustainable livelihoods. This paper therefore assessed
the incidence of indigenous, innovative climate change adaptation strategies for
smallholder farmers’ livelihood security in Chikhwawa district. Factors that affect
adoption of such strategies were also analyzed and discussed.”
