Assessing farmers’ awareness of climate change impacts and adaptation practices in a semi-arid region in Tanzania

Climate change poses serious difficulties for farming, especially in semi-arid areas, threatening crop productivity and rural livelihoods. Gaining insight into farmers’ perceptions and mitigation strategies to adapt is important for planning interventions to improve climate resilience. This study examined awareness, perceptions, and adaptation measures among smallholder farmers in the Dodoma semi-arid region in Tanzania. Data were collected through household surveys, which included interviews with farmers from various communities. The chi-square test was used to determine associations between variables. ANOVA was applied to compare mean Likert scores for perceived impacts of climate change and adaptation measures. Results indicate that the majority of farmers (93%) were aware of climate change and its impacts. Key impacts reported included rising temperatures (mean = 4.7), lower crop yields (mean = 3.7), and decreased rainfall (mean = 3.5). Farmers employed multiple adaptive approaches, such as crop diversification (mean = 4.6), reliance on weather forecasts (mean = 4.5), early sowing (mean = 4.2), and drought-tolerant crop varieties (mean = 4.2), which were considered the most effective. Despite this awareness, there remains a need to improve access to reliable climate information, enhance agricultural extension services, and promote drought-tolerant crops. Combining local knowledge with scientific guidance can increase community participation and support the long-term sustainability of adaptation efforts.