This empirical study investigates the socio-demographic characteristics, perceptions of climate change, and observed impacts on agricultural production among rural households in Jowhar District, Somalia. Utilizing descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlation, the research quantifies the strong association between climate change awareness and perceived reductions in food availability, while offering practical, policy-driven solutions for sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural development in fragile environments.
Key Scientific Contributions of the Study:
Policy-Driven Institutional Adaptation Models: The research conceptualizes a macro-environmental framework that emphasizes the limits of traditional coping strategies. It offers practical policy directions for building climate-resilient agricultural systems through strategic investments in modern irrigation infrastructure, early warning systems (EWS), climate-resilient seeds, and national food security policies.
Socio-Demographic & Perceptual Frameworks: This study provides a rigorous empirical quantification of climate change awareness at the district level in Somalia, revealing a 96.1% baseline awareness among rural riverine households. It highlights how educational limitations (55.1% lacking formal education) and socio-cultural labor dynamics directly condition the community’s adaptive capacity.
Empirical Assessment of Hydro-Agricultural Vulnerabilities: Through structured quantitative modeling, the research proves a near-universal consensus (99%) regarding the adverse effects of hydro-climatic variability on agricultural productivity. It captures the direct toll of seasonal riverine floods, waterlogging, and prolonged drought stress on staple crop yields (maize, sorghum, rice, and sesame) across the Shabelle basin.
Statistical Correlation of Food Insecurity: At a high-resolution 1% significance level (p < 0.01), the study establishes a powerful statistical association between climate change awareness and perceived reductions in household food availability (Spearman’s rank correlation ρ = 0.700), scientifically mapping the direct bridge between climatic shocks and structural food insecurity.
Institutional Document Access
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