Climate Change and Crop Production in The Gambia: Farmers’ Perceptions, Agricultural Practices, and Adaptation Strategies

Sheriff Ceesay , Modou Badjan, Modou S Gaye , Lamin Darboe, Sambou LS Kinteh, Momodou Alieu Jallow, Mansour Badjie, Yunusa Jallow, Sambou Mbye , Ida K Touray, Ebrima Y Bojang, Mansata Bah, Seray Sidibeh , Ebrima Jallow, Aboubacarr Jallow

Background

Climate change threatens crop production, food security, and rural livelihoods, particularly where smallholder farmers depend on rain-fed agriculture. The Gambia is exposed to rising temperatures, rainfall variability, droughts, floods, land degradation, and coastal hazards. This study assessed crop farmers' perceptions of climate change, their agricultural practices and adaptation strategies, and the factors associated with the adoption of coping practices.

Methods

A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 662 crop farmers in the North Bank, Lower River, Central River, and Upper River Regions of The Gambia. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire programmed in KoboToolbox and analysed in IBM SPSS Statistics version 23. Frequencies and percentages were used to summarise the data. The association between perception of climate change and adoption of coping practices was examined using Fisher's exact test and the Pearson chi-square test, with Cramér's V as the effect size. A multivariable binary logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with adoption, reported as adjusted odds ratios (AORs).

Results

Most respondents had observed changes in the local climate over the previous five years (95.3%). The most commonly perceived changes were increased temperature (78.3%), decreased rainfall duration (56.7%), and fewer rainfall events (41.7%). The most commonly perceived impacts were a reduced growing season (55.4%), changes in the timing of rains (54.9%), and pest invasion (35.7%). Groundnuts (67.5%) and cereals (64.0%) were the crops most frequently cultivated. Nearly half of the respondents adopted at least one adaptation strategy (49.0%), of which planting different crop varieties was the most common (70.3%). Adoption was higher among respondents who perceived climate change (50.2%) than among those who did not (25.8%); this association was statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, p = .009) but weak (Cramér's V = .103). In the multivariable analysis (χ2(14) = 46.77, p < .001; Nagelkerke R2 = .091), observation of climate change (AOR = 3.12, p = .012), higher educational level (vocational, AOR = 7.50, p = .003; tertiary, AOR = 2.38, p = .032), and dual household–commercial production (AOR = 1.72, p = .001) were independently associated with adoption, whereas gender, marital status, and age were not.

Conclusions

Crop farmers widely perceived climate change and reported effects on crop production, yet many were unfamiliar with climate-smart practices and had not adopted adaptation measures. Although awareness was independently associated with adoption, its modest explanatory power indicates that awareness alone is insufficient. Strengthening extension services, climate-information delivery, education and skills training, access to improved seed, and affordable water management may support adaptation, provided that financial and institutional barriers are also addressed.