African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6894

Full Length Research Paper

Role of climate change awareness in sustainable soil nutrient management by smallholder farms in Burkina Faso

Boundia Alexandre Thiombiano
  • Boundia Alexandre Thiombiano
  • Institut du développement rural (IDR), Université Polytechnique de Bobo-Dioulasso (UPB), 01 BP 1091 Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso.
  • Google Scholar
Denis Ouedraogo
  • Denis Ouedraogo
  • Institut du développement rural (IDR), Université Polytechnique de Bobo-Dioulasso (UPB), 01 BP 1091 Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso.
  • Google Scholar
Quang Bao Le
  • Quang Bao Le
  • International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), Yousef El Sukkar Street, Bld no. 8, Amman 11195, Jordan.
  • Google Scholar
Samuel Nii Odai
  • Samuel Nii Odai
  • Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University Post office, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 17 December 2017
  •  Accepted: 16 January 2018
  •  Published: 08 February 2018

Abstract

Climate change effects are threats to the livelihood of Sub-Saharan smallholder farms. Farmers’ response and readiness to take adaptive measures depend on how they perceive (perception) and moreover understand and recognize the causes (awareness) of climate change. Most studies used interchangeably perception and awareness to climate change. Taking the example of soil nutrient management, this study demonstrated the importance of distinguishing awareness from perception in climate change adaptation studies and for policy design. The study was conducted in South-western Burkina Faso. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, 360 households were surveyed. Rainfall variation and onset of the cropping season were used as climate change evidences to assess climate change perception and awareness. Descriptive statistics and Z-test were run. Results showed that beyond climate change perception, farmers largely took adaptive measures when they understand and can explain causes of climate change. Therefore, climate change adaptation studies and policy interventions should distinguish awareness from perception, and policy design should stress on raising climate change awareness of smallholder farmers.

 

Key words: Climate change perception, climate change awareness, sustainable soil nutrient management, smallholder farms, Burkina Faso.