Agriculture Extension role in smallholder farmer adaption to climate change

This book is about the study that was conducted in Blantyre District of Malawi which was aimed at determining the roles of agricultural extension in promoting smallholder farmers successful adaptation to the changing climate. To accomplish this objective one hundred and thirty smallholder farmers were recruited to participate in the study. Using a questionnaire designed by the researcher data was collected to determine the smallholder farmers’ perceptions on climate change and its major effects on agricultural livelihoods. This study sought to determine adaptation practices that were being utilized by the smallholder farmers to moderate the effects of climate change on agriculture as well as the role of agricultural extension presently and in the future in building the adaptive ability to respond to climate change. This book will help policy makers in understanding and appreciating the critical role the public extension service in Malawi play and the need to invest in it. It will also help extension practitioners and promoters of climate smart agricultural technologies to select approaches that will increase knowledge in farmers regarding climate change and variability.