MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

MATUWA SECONDARY SCHOOL

SIAVONGA DISTRICT.

GEOGRAPHY FIELD PROJECT

NAME: PATRICK ZULU.

YEAR: 2024 GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION~GCE.

CO-ORDINATOR: MR. CHIOMBWE.

SEX: MALE.

EXAM NUMBER: 8435490016.

TOPIC:
THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE
SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN SIMAMBA AREA.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PERSONAL DETAIL============================================ 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS========================================== 2

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION================================== 3

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY=================================== 3

LOCATION OF THE STUDY AREA================================== 4

AIM OF THE STUDY============================================= 5

PROBLEM STATEMENT/ OBJECTIVES============================= 6

CHAPTER TWO: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY======================== 7

CHAPTER THREE: DATA PRESENTATION=========================== 10

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS============= 13

CHAPTER FIVE: PROBLEMS AND LIMITATIONS====================== 15

CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS============== 16

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 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
In Zambia, agriculture continues to be an important source of livelihood,
supporting about 70% of the population. The country’s agriculture
sector is dominated by small scale rural farmers with a population of
approximately 1.7 million of the Zambians, who largely depend on rain
for crop production, mainly due to the absence of irrigation equipment
in most rural communities.
Thus any change in climate, mostly manifested as an increase in
frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as drought, has
a potential to significantly reduce agricultural production and household
food security.
Since the majority of Zambia’s population lives in rural areas and
depends heavily on rain-fed agriculture for food and income, climate
change presents a challenge to the country’s attempts to reduce rural
poverty, which currently stands at 80% (CSO, 2010).
Not only does climate change affect crop production but also water
access and availability, human and livestock health and may also cause
damage to dwellings and infrastructure.
Due to the impact climate change has portrayed on both commercial
and subsistence farmers, the Zambian government tries to implement
initiatives and strategies such as reforestation, afforestation, solar
energy, tree planting campaigns, international collaborations and many
other activities to help curb this challenge.
The climate of Siavonga is one of the hottest and driest in the country.
The mean annual temperatures are about 25° C while the maximum
temperature is about 40° C. The minimum temperature is above 10°C.
The mean annual rainfall is about 650 mm. The rainy season starts from
middle November and ends in the middle of March. This results in a long
dry season from April to November. The rainfall is erratic and
insufficient. Further, dry spells of up to three weeks during the rainy
season are also common in the district and this adversely affects good
harvest of the rain-dependent crops.

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1.0. LOCATION OF THE STUDY AREA
This project was undertaken in Simamba area of Siavonga district, southern
province, Zambia. It lies on the coordinates 16o 25’0” south, 28o 42’0” east.
The sketch map below shows the map of Simamba area in Siavonga district
with the nearby surrounding areas.

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AIM OF THE STUDY.
The aim of this study is to find out the impacts of climate change among
small holder farmers in Simamba area.

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1.1. PROBLEM STATEMENT
The environmental effects of climate change have had serious economic,
social and ecological implications in the area of study. Any failure to curb
this scourge only worsens the already existing crisis and endangers the
existence of many lives.

1.2. OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

 To investigate the causes of climate change in Simamba area.

 To scrutinize the effects of climate change on the small holder

farmers of Simamba area.

 To analyse conscience information on the effects of climate change

on both the small holder farmers and the nature of Simamba area.

 To provide recommendations on how the challenge can be mitigated.

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 CHAPTER TWO: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
2.0. INTRODUCTION.
The research employed both qualitative and quantitave research methods.
the research instruments were used in the collection of data were
questionnaires, interviews schedules and observations.
The target group for this study was 50 small holder farmers in Simamba
area.

2.1. SAMPLING TECHNIQUES

A random sampling technique was used in selecting small holder
farmers to be interviewed in this project report.
The study area was observed for a continuous period of one hour per
day for two days and interview sheets were distributed among the 50
randomly selected small holder farmers in the study area.

2.2. DATA COLLECTION

The methods that were used in data collection were primary methods and
secondary methods.
PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION METHODOLOGY
The methods that were used to collect data under the primary data
collection Category were as follows:
 Interview guides
 Personal observations
 Questionnaire sheet

INTERVIEW SHEETS.
The small holder farmers of Simamba area were interviewed and
they expressed their views both via phone calls and in person.
Both full-time small holder farmers and civil servants who took
subsistence farming as a part-time job were visited and phoned
whenever not available to give their views and recommendations on
how climate change has affected them and their farming life.

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 PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS.
Observations were also used as one of the major sources of research
and knowledge for this field report. Some of the impacts of the
climate change were observed by visibly noting the impact of lack of
rainfall for the previous farming season in people’s farms as most of
the farms were dry and the maize stalks were watery underfed and
clearly indicating the loss of both input resources and budget
expectations.

QUESTIONNAIRE SHEET.
A survey was carried out by means of questionnaire sheets as one of
the data collection methods.
The target population of 50 small holder farmers from Simamba area
was set as each person was questioned in their language of vivid
understanding.
The research questionnaire sheet was used in asking the small holder
farmer of Simamba area ones at a time whilst recording their views
and opinions on separate papers.

SECONDARY DATA COLLECTION METHODOLOGY

The methods that were used to collect data under the secondary data
collection category were as follows:
 Text books
 Documents
 Google

TEXT BOOKS
Some of the information in the project was acquired by means of text
books written by different great scholars on climate change and its
impacts.
The information gathered from this source was mostly used to
strengthen and affirm the primary data which was provided.

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DOCUMENTS
Like text books, various documents containing information on
climate change were used to collect secondary data for support and
affirmation of the primary data.
The information that was acquired from these documents was
strictly and carefully scanned and screened to make sure that it was
accurate and true.

GOOGLE
In scenarios were the primary and the secondary information
collected were not adequate, relevant information from the google
search engine was used.
The information that was acquired from these documents was
strictly and carefully scanned and screened to make sure that it was
accurate and true.

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 CHAPTER THREE: DATA PRESENTATION

3.0. INTRODUCTION
The respondents include 40% females and 60% males which means 20
females and 30 males.

3.1. SMALL SCALE FARMING IN SIMAMBA

The data collected proves that 65% of the Simamba population solely
depend on farming and as such have been highly affected by the lack of
rainfall both in the recent past and as it has been for some time now.
Of the farming population in Simamba area, 61% are smallholder farmers,
22% are medium holder farmers 14% are large scale farmer and 3% other
activities. Lack of irrigation machinery has constantly proven to be a threat
to proper living standards for the small scale farmers who lack financial
abilities to acquire such for proper facilitation of their crops during times of
drought and other temperature spells.
Table 3.1.1 below shows the farming population in Simamba area of
Siavonga district as expressed in percentage form on a Pie chart.

LARGE SCALE OTHER

SMALLHOLDER FARMERS FAMERS 3%
14%
MEDIUM HOLDER FAMERS

LARGE SCALE FAMERS

OTHER MEDIUM HOLDER

FAMERS SMALLHOLDER
22% FARMERS
61%

REFERENCE: DALIBAN SOLUTIONS GEOGRAPHY PAMPHLET.

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 The table 3.1.2 below shows a Venn Diagram of the 50 respondents in
Simamba area on how climate change has affected them.
The respondents dwelled much on three aspects which are farming
input/capital loss, scarcity of water for both irrigation and daily use and loss
of crops and animals as the Venn diagram below depicts.

INPUT/CAPITAL LOSS

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9 2
7

15 3
ANIMAL & CROP
WATER SCARCITY
LOSS

SOURCE: FIELD RESEARCH 2024 SIMAMBA AREA [PATRICK ZULU]

In the process of analysing the effects of climate change in Simamba area,

questions concerning the major causes of drastic climatic changes in the area
were posed for response from the same people who were targeted during the
research. Some of the main responses that were received are as follows:
 High charcoal production affecting the amount of trees in Siavonga. This
also was affirmed by a secondary data methodology as was expressed by a
local environmentalist, Mwansa Matokowani [source
www.cajnewsafrica.com/2023/04/20].

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 Electricity generation from the Kariba north Bank plant in the near-by area
which requires high volumes of water and huge piece of bare land.
 High amounts of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric toxic chemicals
from vehicles, charcoal burning and many other smoke producing activities.
 Deforestation was as well spotted as one of the major causes of climate
change in the area. This is so as most of the people in the area highly
depend on charcoal as a source of energy thus cutting trees for its
achievement. Some of the other reasons as to why people cut trees are
that they try to create residential land, agricultural land and many other
activities.
 Some of the agricultural practices such as slash and burn methods that are
implemented during some of the processes have as well contributed to
high causes of climatic changes in the area.
 Logging has as well contributed to the reduction in the number of trees in
the area. This is so because most people have been cutting down trees for
the sake of having timber so as to manufacture chairs, tables, stools and
many other things requiring the usage of timber ford production.

With the aid of observation, it was seemingly obvious that the area has
highly depleted in natural resources, biodiversity and many other
implications that were obvious after hearing the explanations from the
locals from Simamba.

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Chapter four: data interpretation and analysis

4.1. SOCIAL AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES OF PEOPLE IN SIMAMBA AREA.

The findings reveal that economically, 85% of the respondents

depend solely on their farming efforts as the major sources of
income in their lives due to some of them being unemployed while
others are employed either by government or by the private
companies but practice small scale farming as a sub-source of income
for them. And their families.
This means that the majority of the people in Simamba area are
unemployed and solely depend either on their personal businesses
by the roadside or on small scale farming in order to make their
end’s-meet and provide funds and other resources for other
requirements in theirs and their family’s daily lives.
4.2. MAJOR IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGED ON THE SIMAMBA
ENVIRONMEDNT AND THE SMALLHOLDER FARMERS OF THEAT AREA.
The following are some of the major impacts observed by the local
smallholder farmers that were received from them as responses to the
attached questionnaire during the project research.
 Warmer temperature over time are changing weather patterns and
disrupting the usual balance of nature. This poses many risks to
human beings and all other forms of life in the area of study.
 Changes in temperature cause changes in rainfall. This results in
more severe and frequent storms at times. The storms cause flooding
and landslides destroying buildings, farming areas and many other
features.
 Water seems to become scarcer in some parts of the study area. Due
to climatic changes in the area, droughts stir destructive sand and
dust storms that can cause a lot of challenges if not properly
mitigated. Deserts may expand and cause little land for growing of
crops and other products. Due to this component of climatic change

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 effect, many people of Simamba area claim that water has become
scarcer compared to recent experiences.
 One of the major sources of income in the area of study is fishing
which is proving extremely difficult due to recent reduced levels of
water.
 The information collected indicates that 3 out of every 5 people
interviewed complained of the high standards of living owing to a
rise in prices of basic commodities. From the 50 people interviewed
only 12 have access to clean drinking water while the rest depend on
wells, the dam and other rural sources for drinking water.

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CHAPTER FIVE: PROBLEMS AND LIMITATIONS.

The depth and success of this research was highly affected by a number
of factor. The following are some of the challenges that were faced
during the field research in Simamba area.
 Insufficient funds for the project execution. This factor proved
highly challenging as it affected the mobility to and from the study
area. The money available was not enough to travel to all corners
of the study area and to support the required stationery and the
printing of the hardcopy of the report. This therefore affected the
quantity of primary data collected and the quality of this project.
 Lack of interest from people of the area to participate in the
project. Most people were unwilling to express their views on the
research questions of this project as they did not understand the
purpose of this field project. This meant that the data collected in
all areas of the study was uneven and consequently did not
represent the views of the entire population.
 Unguaranteed safety in the fields: the security and safety in the
fields was not guaranteed thus the movement was csrried out
with utmost care and caution and making some of the targeted
areas not be reached, this factor also affected the quantity of
primary data acquired thus drastically affecting the quality of this
project report.
 Some of the places of the study area were too unapproachable
due to their difficulty states in reaching. As a result of this factor
only a few places were investigated.
 Time for primary data research was minimal as the project was
carried in a place so remote in the southern part of Zambia. This
forced travel and camping for a week to the study are so as to
gather quality information for factual project report.

All factors stated above limited the quantity of primary collected thus
highly affecting the quality of this project report.

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Chapter six: conclusion and recommendations

6.1. CONCLUSION
In a nutshell, the main impacts of climate change in Simamba
area are constant variations in atmospheric weather
conditions, unpredictable rainfall patterns and water scarcity
among others.
From the findings, it is inevitably obvious that the main causes
of drastic climatic changes that take occurrence in this area are
deforestation and environmentally unfriendly farming
methodologies.

Consequently, climate change has resulted in catastrophic

calamities among the people of Simamba area and their
surrounding environments.
It has resulted into most of small holder farmers losing inputs
and a lot of funds as their expectation for both the previous
farming season and the recent ones have not lived up to their
expectations and the yields have not been plenty let alone
favorable enough.

Since most of the smallholder farmers have been affected by

climatic variations, it has constantly become difficult for them
to provide for their families and reach favorable living
standards. Most children are forced into dropping out of
schools and venturing into inappropriate activities such as
fornication and cohabitation among others.

The scourge has become inevitably challenging and if no

proper action is taken to mitigate the challenge, the chaos to
erupt shall become uncontrollable.

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6.2. RECOMMENDATIONS
The following are some of the initiatives that can be
undertaken to lower if not completely curb the
challenge of climate change in Simamba area and other
places across the country.

 The smallholder farmers should practice agro-

forestry. Agro forestry is the planting of trees as
well as crops on the same piece of land. This
would mean that plenty of trees will be available
for various commercial exploitation without
affecting the natural forests.
 The government should urbanise remote areas by
means of alternative energy sources such as solar
energy and gas stoves. This would reduce high
dependency on charcoal and hydro power.
 People should be sensitized and be made known
of how their day-to-day activities cause climate
change.
 People of Simamba area should practice irrigation
farming more often to reduce high dependency
on rains for farming.
 The government should empower people to carry
out diversified economic sources such as grocery,
skills and many other activities non-dependent on
climatic variations.
 Reforestation and afforestation programs should
be encouraged through institutions such as
schools and churches and through polices such as
cut 1 plant 10 trees policies and plant a tree to
save a life campaigns.

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