Abstract:
Climate change poses a major threat to both the well-being of people and the
environment. Subsistence farmers are particularly affected because they rely on local
supply systems that are sensitive to climate variation. The aim of the study was to
explore psychological resilience factors associated with climate change adaptation by
subsistence farmers in a rural farming community in Maruleng Municipality in Limpopo
Province (South Africa). The objectives of the study were to: investigate subsistence
farmers' notions of climate change and adaptation; determine the psychological resilience
factors influencing the farmers’ adaptation the climate change; determine strategies that
the farmers use to cope with climate change; and, based on the farmers’ notions of
climate change and adaptation, and the associated resilience factors, develop a
psychological explanatory model on climate change adaptation by subsistence farmers.
Data were collected through direct interactions with participants using a grounded theory
research design. An open-ended interview guide was used to collect data with a sample
of 15 participants selected through theoretical sampling within the Maruleng Municipality.
The research findings indicate that farmers have limited conceptual knowledge relating
to climate change and its causes. The results further indicated that participants have
become resilient to climate change through mitigation strategies including mulching,
adaptive irrigation techniques and being innovative. From a psychological perspective,
the subsistence farmers’ resilience factors that emerged included passion for farming,
hope, enthusiasm, courage, acceptance or tolerance, livelihood and a coherent belief
system. Based on the findings of the study, a psychological explanatory model in climate
change adaptation by subsistence farmers was developed. The explanatory model
suggests that resilience factors are influenced by notions and adaptations of climate
change. The study is concluded by, among others, recommending that counseling
services be made available to farmers to help them deal with the stress associated with
the negative impact of climate change.
