Cash crop farmers’ perceptions of, and adaptation to climate change: A preliminary study of Black Bush Polder, Guyana

Farmers Black Bush Polder, Guyana, have been experiencing changes in weather variability and climate parameters as well as the impacts of those changes on their livelihoods.  Understanding farmers’ perception of climate change and their adaptation strategies is crucial to assisting with efforts for developing suitable intervention strategies to combat the effects of climate variability and climate change. In this non-experimental research engaging fifty (50) randomly selected farmers the aim was to: (1)  examine how cash crop farmers in Black Bush Polder perceived the effects of climate change; (2) identify adaptation strategies used by farmers in combating the effects of climate change; (3) identify the factors that influence the adaptation strategies chosen by farmers; (4) identify perceived barriers in the implementation of adaptation measures; and (5) make recommendations in light of the difficulties encountered by farmers. A self-administered structured questionnaire survey was used to collect primary data and the responses to the items using a modified Likert scale. Descriptive statistics, and Pearson Correlation Coefficient were used to analyze the data. The results showed that there was variation in both temperature and rainfall in the Black Bush Polder Area.  Overall, farmers had a general perception that these variations had an impact on their farming activities as well as on their choice of adaptation measures. Key recommendations made were: planting improved, or more resistant varieties of crops, changing planting times as dictated by rainfall, collection of water in furrows near plants, utilizing drip irrigation systems and techniques for preparing crop beds, and using of shade houses and greenhouses to lessen the effects of climate change.