Farmers in Madagascar Confront Climate Change Challenges and Adaptation Limitations

Farmers in Madagascar’s Sava region, crucial for global vanilla production, are struggling with the effects of climate change, resulting in altered weather patterns and reduced crop yields. A survey of nearly 500 farmers reveals a lack of adaptive practices, with only 20% implementing changes despite significant challenges. Financial barriers and environmental risks contribute to their vulnerability, highlighting the need for enhanced support and adaptation measures.

In Madagascar, farmers are grappling with the impacts of climate change, particularly in the Sava region, which accounts for approximately two-thirds of the world’s vanilla production. A recent study surveyed nearly 500 small-scale farmers, revealing significant challenges they face due to shifting weather patterns. This study highlighted a consensus among farmers that erratic rainfall and rising temperatures have fundamentally altered their farming practices and food security.

One participant shared concerns regarding diminishing water sources, noting, “I am worried about it lasting to the next generation,” as the climate crisis threatens her rice paddy crop, vital for her family’s sustenance. Another farmer lamented the unpredictability of harvest seasons, stating, “Today, we wait until mid-December because of lack of rain.” This study, published in March 2025 in PLOS Climate, involved interviews conducted in the villages of Sarahandrano and Mandena, located near Marojejy National Park.

The findings indicated that the vast majority of farmers are observing alterations in rainfall and temperature that negatively affect agriculture. Despite these alarming trends, there is a stark lack of adaptation among farmers, with only 20% implementing new practices, such as adjusting planting calendars or using fertilizers. In contrast, a higher likelihood of adaptive measures was found among men and those with greater access to durable goods.

The study’s authors emphasized that financial constraints deter many farmers from altering their strategies. Approximately 80% of Madagascar’s population lives below the poverty line, making it difficult for farmers to afford changes. Senior researcher Randall Kramer pointed out that practical support is necessary to assist farmers with limited resources in adopting more resilient practices.

Possible solutions include integrating fruit trees into existing fields and aquaculture in rice paddies to boost productivity and pest management. Throughout the region, floods and cyclones routinely threaten farmers, hindering their access to markets and destabilizing their livelihoods.

In Southeast Madagascar, elders have reported significant environmental shifts as well. Data collected from several weather stations indicate a rise in average temperatures and a decline in rainfall over the last fifty years, impacting food security on a global scale, particularly for smallholder farmers who constitute a significant portion of food production.

The researchers plan to broaden their study to include 34 additional villages to confirm initial findings and examine farmers’ adaptive measures further. They asserted that climate change compels farmers to embrace more flexibility and resourcefulness, extending their risk-taking, which is challenging when each harvest determines familial survival.

The study underscores the urgent need for financial and practical support for smallholder farmers in Madagascar, who are significantly affected by climate change. Despite the awareness of shifting climatic conditions, adaptation practices remain alarmingly low among farmers. Through expanding research and implementing supportive policies, there lies potential for improving farmers’ resilience and securing their livelihoods against the effects of climate change.

Original Source: www.eurekalert.org