Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Climate Change Perception of the Farmers in the Hiran Region of Somalia

Abstract

The accomplishment of sustainable development goals in Somalia remains severely hampered by changes in the climate, particularly when it comes to food security. It jeopardizes national food security by threatening agricultural productivity. Designing practical strategies and policies for agricultural development and food security requires an understanding of farmers’ perceptions and the factors that influence their perception of climate change. Therefore, this study was designed to, (i) Evaluate farmers' perceptions of climate change, and (ii) identify the socioeconomic factors that influence farmers' perceptions of climate change in the Hiran region of Somalia. The study encompassed 222 respondents from six villages within two districts in the Hiran region. Gender, family size, farm size, and ownership of communication devices, significantly influenced farmers' perception of climate change. Therefore, the study recommended that the federal government of Somalia, and local/international NGOs, should design and implement intervention strategies for climate change cognizance of these factors.