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The Role of ICTs in Climate Change Adaptation: A Case of Small Scale Farmers in Chinsali District

Received: 3 July 2020    Accepted: 27 July 2020    Published: 11 December 2020
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of ICT in climate change adaptation by the small scale farmers in Chinsali district of Muchinga province. To this effect, a descriptive survey was conducted on a sample of 278 randomly selected small scale farmers, out of an estimated population of 1000 in Chinsali main farming block. Out of the 278 questionnaires, 267 were successfully filled and returned. The results were tested for reliability and normality. According to the results, small scale farmers in this area lack information about climate change and this make it difficult for them to adapt to its effects. The study also establish that, using ICTs to create awareness, provide access to climate change information as well as capacity building in the use of various ICTs to identify the effects of climate change can help these farmers to adapt to its effects. Based on this, the study recommended that deliberate policies should be put in place to ensure that ICT services such as the internet, mobile networks and SMS are widely used in disseminating information about climate adaption to small scale farmers in the district. It was also recommended that handheld device such as mobile phones and PDAs which most of these farmers have access to should be used to sensitize them about the effect of climate change and how to adapt to it. The study further recommended that building adaptive capacity, such as on ICT-enabled interventions in the agriculture sector, should be spearheaded to enhance adaptation to climate change. It was further recommended that government should build adaptive capacity, such as on ICT-enabled interventions in the water and agriculture sectors, on weather prospects and water hazards, land management and adaptive capacity of small scale farmers among other recommendations.

Published in Mathematics and Computer Science (Volume 5, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.mcs.20200506.11
Page(s) 103-109
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

ICTs, Agriculture, Climate Change, Adaptation, Rainfall, Farming, Rural Population

References
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[2] Ptrick P. Kalas, Planting the Knowledge Seed Adapting to climate change using ICTs Concepts, current knowledge and innovative examples, Building Communication Opportunities (BCO) Alliance, (2009).
[3] Jianhua S., Xu Y., and Yu W, Solar Wireless Intelligent Online Hydrological Monitoring System, In Info. Tech. and App. (IFITA), International Forum on, 280-282, IEEE (2010).
[4] Niyibizi A. and Komakech A, Climate Change Mitigation in Developing Countries Using ICT as an Enabling Tool, In Climate-Smart Technologies (pp. 19-32), Springer Berlin Heidelberg, (2013).
[5] DFID. (2002). Department for International Development Zambia Agriculture Dataset. An assessment of trends in the Zambian Agriculture Sector, December, 2002.
[6] www.theIDLgroup.com.
[7] Rajão R., ICT Based Monitoring of Climate Change Related Deforestation: The Case of INPE in the Brazilian Amazon, Climate Change, Innovation and ICTs Project Case Studies, Centre for Development Informatics, University of Manchester, UK http://www. niccd. org., (2012).
[8] NAPA. (2007). The National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), Ministry of Tourism, Environment, and Natural Resources, Zambia.
[9] Molly E. Brown, Christopher C. Funk, 2008: Food Security Under Climate Change. Science; Vol. 319, no. 5863, pp. 580–581.
[10] David B. Lobell, Marshall B. Burke, Claudia Tebaldi, Michael D. Mastrandrea, Walter P. Falcon, and Rosamond L. Naylor, 2008: Prioritizing Climate Change Adaptation Needs for Food Security in 2030. Science; Vol. 319, no. 5863, pp. 607-610.
[11] J. Bruinsma (editor), 2003: “World Agriculture: Towards 2015/2030 – An FAO Perspective”. Earthscan Publications Ltd, London.
[12] Phiri, James S. (2009). Zambia Environment Water And Sanitation Linkages, Kanyama And Chazanga Peri-Urban Areas Of Lusaka, Zambia. Water And Sanitation For Urban Poor (Wsup) Wsup Project Report 2009.
[13] Zambia Metereology Department (2013). Rainfall and temperature Data (1950-2010).
[14] Balaji, V. & Craufurd, P. (2011). Using information and communication technologies to disseminate and exchange agriculture-related climate information in the Indo Gangetic Plains, CCAFS Project Report, CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).
[15] Sala, S. 2009. Information and communication technologies for climate changeadaptation, with a focus on the agricultural sector. Thinkpiece for CGIAR Science Forum Workshop on “ICTs transforming agricultural science, research and technology generation,” Wageningen, Netherlands.
[16] IPCC, 2001: “Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation & Vulnerability Contribution of Working Group II to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)”. Cambridge University Press, UK. James J. McCarthy, Osvaldo F. Canziani, Neil A. Leary, David J. Dokken and Kasey S. White (Eds.).
[17] Labelle, R., Rodschat, R. & Vetter, T. (2008) ICTs for e­Environment: Guidelines for Developing Countries with a Focus on Climate Change. International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Geneva. http://www.itu.int/ITU­D/cyb/app/docs/itu­icts­for­e­environment.pdf.
[18] MacLean, D. (2008) ICTs, Adaptation to Climate Change, and Sustainable Development at the Edges. International.
[19] Telecommunication Union Symposium on ICTs and Climate Change. London: International Institute for Sustainable Development.
[20] Mungai, W. (2005) 'Using ICTs for Poverty Reduction and Environmental Protection in Kenya: The "M­vironment" Approach', in: A Developing Connection: Bridging the Policy Gap between the Information Society and Sustainable Development. IISD. Winnipeg, 43­76. http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2005/networks_dev_connection_kenya.pdf.
[21] OECD. (2009) Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Development Co­operation: Policy Guidance, Organisation for Economic Co­operation and Development. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/0/9/43652123.pdf.
[22] Ospina, A. V. & Heeks, R. (2010) Linking ICTs and Climate Change Adaptation: A Conceptual Framework for e­Resilience and e­ Adaptation. Centre for Development Informatics, University of Manchester, http://www.niccd.org/ConceptualPaper.pdf.
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[24] Vogel, C. 2005. “Seven Fat Years and Seven Lean Years”? Climate Change and Agriculture in Africa. IDS Bulletin 36 (2).
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Kashale Chimanga, Kennedy Kanja. (2020). The Role of ICTs in Climate Change Adaptation: A Case of Small Scale Farmers in Chinsali District. Mathematics and Computer Science, 5(6), 103-109. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mcs.20200506.11

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    ACS Style

    Kashale Chimanga; Kennedy Kanja. The Role of ICTs in Climate Change Adaptation: A Case of Small Scale Farmers in Chinsali District. Math. Comput. Sci. 2020, 5(6), 103-109. doi: 10.11648/j.mcs.20200506.11

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    AMA Style

    Kashale Chimanga, Kennedy Kanja. The Role of ICTs in Climate Change Adaptation: A Case of Small Scale Farmers in Chinsali District. Math Comput Sci. 2020;5(6):103-109. doi: 10.11648/j.mcs.20200506.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.mcs.20200506.11,
      author = {Kashale Chimanga and Kennedy Kanja},
      title = {The Role of ICTs in Climate Change Adaptation: A Case of Small Scale Farmers in Chinsali District},
      journal = {Mathematics and Computer Science},
      volume = {5},
      number = {6},
      pages = {103-109},
      doi = {10.11648/j.mcs.20200506.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mcs.20200506.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.mcs.20200506.11},
      abstract = {The purpose of this study was to determine the role of ICT in climate change adaptation by the small scale farmers in Chinsali district of Muchinga province. To this effect, a descriptive survey was conducted on a sample of 278 randomly selected small scale farmers, out of an estimated population of 1000 in Chinsali main farming block. Out of the 278 questionnaires, 267 were successfully filled and returned. The results were tested for reliability and normality. According to the results, small scale farmers in this area lack information about climate change and this make it difficult for them to adapt to its effects. The study also establish that, using ICTs to create awareness, provide access to climate change information as well as capacity building in the use of various ICTs to identify the effects of climate change can help these farmers to adapt to its effects. Based on this, the study recommended that deliberate policies should be put in place to ensure that ICT services such as the internet, mobile networks and SMS are widely used in disseminating information about climate adaption to small scale farmers in the district. It was also recommended that handheld device such as mobile phones and PDAs which most of these farmers have access to should be used to sensitize them about the effect of climate change and how to adapt to it. The study further recommended that building adaptive capacity, such as on ICT-enabled interventions in the agriculture sector, should be spearheaded to enhance adaptation to climate change. It was further recommended that government should build adaptive capacity, such as on ICT-enabled interventions in the water and agriculture sectors, on weather prospects and water hazards, land management and adaptive capacity of small scale farmers among other recommendations.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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    T1  - The Role of ICTs in Climate Change Adaptation: A Case of Small Scale Farmers in Chinsali District
    AU  - Kashale Chimanga
    AU  - Kennedy Kanja
    Y1  - 2020/12/11
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mcs.20200506.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.mcs.20200506.11
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    JF  - Mathematics and Computer Science
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    SN  - 2575-6028
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    AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine the role of ICT in climate change adaptation by the small scale farmers in Chinsali district of Muchinga province. To this effect, a descriptive survey was conducted on a sample of 278 randomly selected small scale farmers, out of an estimated population of 1000 in Chinsali main farming block. Out of the 278 questionnaires, 267 were successfully filled and returned. The results were tested for reliability and normality. According to the results, small scale farmers in this area lack information about climate change and this make it difficult for them to adapt to its effects. The study also establish that, using ICTs to create awareness, provide access to climate change information as well as capacity building in the use of various ICTs to identify the effects of climate change can help these farmers to adapt to its effects. Based on this, the study recommended that deliberate policies should be put in place to ensure that ICT services such as the internet, mobile networks and SMS are widely used in disseminating information about climate adaption to small scale farmers in the district. It was also recommended that handheld device such as mobile phones and PDAs which most of these farmers have access to should be used to sensitize them about the effect of climate change and how to adapt to it. The study further recommended that building adaptive capacity, such as on ICT-enabled interventions in the agriculture sector, should be spearheaded to enhance adaptation to climate change. It was further recommended that government should build adaptive capacity, such as on ICT-enabled interventions in the water and agriculture sectors, on weather prospects and water hazards, land management and adaptive capacity of small scale farmers among other recommendations.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 6
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Author Information
  • Department of ICT, School of Information and Communication Technology, Copperbelt University, Kapasa Makasa Campus, Chinsali, Zambia

  • Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture, School of Natural Resources, Copperbelt University, Kapasa Makasa University Campus, Chinsali, Zambia

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