Perception and adaptation strategies of dairy farmers towards climate variability and change in West Africa

• Published in: Climatic change 2022-02, Vol.170 (3-4), Article 38
• Main Authors: Montcho, Marthe, Padonou, Elie Antoine, Montcho, Marlise, Mutua, Meshack Nzesei, Sinsin, Brice
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation; Animal manures; Annual rainfall; Annual temperatures; Atmospheric Sciences; Cheese; Chi-square test; Climate adaptation; Climate change; Climate change adaptation; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Climate variability; Climatic analysis; Cluster analysis; Clustering; Conservation; Crop residues; Dairies; Dairy farming; Dairy farms; Dairy products; Dry season; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Farmers; Farmyard manure; Fodder; Forage; Milk; Milk production; Pasteurization; Pasture; Perception; Principal components analysis; Rain; Rainy season; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Statistical tests; Variability; Wet season; Wildlife conservation
• ISSN: 0165-0009; 1573-1480
• DOI: 10.1007/s10584-022-03311-4

In West Africa, dairy production plays a vital role in the economy and the wellbeing of the population. Currently, dairy production has become vulnerable due to climate variability. The main objective of this study is to investigate dairy farmers’ perceptions and adaptation strategies towards climate variability and change in West Africa. Individual interviews and focus group discussions were conducted among 900 dairy farmers. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to assess dairy farmers’ perception of climate change. Multiple correspondence analysis and hierarchical clustering on principal component analysis were used to access the adaptation strategies of dairy farmers. The results revealed that dairy farmers perceived a decrease in the length of the rainy season and the annual rainfall but an increase in the length of the dry season and the annual temperature that affect their activities. Dairy farmers that fed the cattle mainly with natural pastures, crop residues, and agroindustrial by-products in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger, used as climate change adaptation strategies, transhumance in the wetland. They also used animal manure to improve fodder quality and plants to improve milk production and milk conservation. They sold milk or produced local cheese with the remaining unsold milk. Dairy farmers that mainly invested in fodder production and conservation in the climate zones of Mali, sold milk produced to dairies and cheese production units; used plants to improve milk production, pasteurization for milk conservation, and veterinary service for animal care. This study provided relevant information for West African policymakers in designing appropriate policies and programs to assist dairy farmers to improve milk production under climate variability and change.