IMPLICATIONS OF FARMERS’ PERCEPTION, LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND CLIMATE CHANGE ON RICE PRODUCTION IN THE CENTRAL RIVER REGION, THE GAMBIA

ABSTRACT Rice production plays a critical role in food security of farmers in Central River Region (CRR), The Gambia. Over the past years, the region has experienced a reduction in yield due to perceived climate change negative impacts but limited studies were done in the area on how climate change affect rice production. This study assesses the implications of farmers‘ perceptions, local knowledge and climate change on rice production in the CRR. Two data collection methods namely quantitative and qualitative were used in this study. The quantitative data was obtained from a survey of 438 respondents while the qualitative data was collected from 58 focus group discussions with rice farming communities in all 11 districts of the region. In addition, 13 key informant interviews from relevant institutions were done. The results showed that rice farmers experienced changes in terms of inconsistent rainfall pattern, drought, high temperature, and floods which impacted negatively resulting in low yields, youth migration, food insecurity, and livestock death. Local knowledge was found to be useful in predicting climate and weather conditions and season performance by farmers. Adaptation measures; crop diversification, youth migration; early maturing varieties, livestock sale and remittance were used to address climate change impacts The study also found the inability of state institutions to effectively support the adaptive capacities of farmers, thus further increase rice farmers vulnerability. The study concludes that rice farmers acknowledged the existence and impacts of climate change, and therefore recommends availability of climate change ready- rice‖ to farmers to address climate change impact in the Central River Region