Effects of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies on Maize Productivity among Smallholder Farmers in Dodoma, Tanzania

Abstract

This study sought to establish the impact of climate change adaptation strategies on maize productivity among smallholder farmers in Dodoma, Tanzania. Employing a cross-sectional research design, data was collected from 274 respondents who were randomly selected. A structured questionnaire was utilized for data collection, and the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) technique was employed to estimate the effects of climate adaptation strategies on maize productivity. The findings indicate that smallholder farmers who adopted climate change adaptation tactics achieved higher maize yields compared to non-adopters. Additionally, results from multiple linear regression demonstrate that increased maize yields are associated with the adoption of drought-resistant maize varieties, intercropping, minimal tillage, adjusted planting dates, fertilizers, irrigation and short-duration maize varieties. Notably, crop rotation showed no significant effect on maize productivity. Policy recommendations include government investment in promoting the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers to mitigate losses and improve the farmers’ well-being. Furthermore, investments in modern irrigation schemes and the use of drought-resilient seeds are deemed crucial for enhancing agricultural resilience in the face of climate change.