A gendered analysis of climate change adaptation strategies among smallholder Farmers in Rufiji District, Tanzania
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65221/0093Keywords:
Climate Change, Adaptive/Adaptation Strategies, Gender, AgricultureAbstract
Climate change intensifies globally, yet the gendered ways farmers adapt, especially in coastal communities, remain poorly understood. This study from Tanzania’s Coast Region explores these differences. Through surveys and discussions with 375 farmers, we found that while both men and women take action, deliberate adaptation is more common among men (82%) than women (72%). Significant gender gaps exist in specific strategies. Women were far less likely to adopt irrigation or practices like organic farming and tree planting. This suggests that climate change is confining men and women to traditional roles rather than creating a new division of labour. Furthermore, uncoordinated government support hampers information flow for all. Findings of this study underscore the need for policies that are gender-responsive and built from the ground up, ensuring that local, lived experience guides climate adaptation planning.
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