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This paper examines and compares smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate change with the collected
meteorological data (1980–2015) across the seven agroecological zones (AEZs) of Tanzania. Systematic and
simple random sampling procedures were employed in the selection of districts and villages, respectively. This
study used both quantitative and qualitative datasets. Quantitative data were derived from climatic records
and questionnaires, while the qualitative data were widely derived from interviews and discussions. The
Mann–Kendall test (software) and theme content (method) were used for data analyses. The results showed
that rain has experienced a significant change in terms of patterns, frequency, and intensity, while temperature
was locally increasing in all the AEZs. Moreover, the farmers’ responses to both closed and open questions
indicated that most of them (.70%) noticed these alterations. Comparatively, the farmers residing in the
most vulnerable AEZs, that is, arid and semiarid lands, were more responsive and sensitive to climatic impacts
than those in the least vulnerable zones, such as alluvial regions. The increase in temperature and change in
the rain patterns led to the decrease in crop yields. As a response to this, farmers have adopted new strategies
such as early planting and the use of shorter growing crops cultivars. This study concludes that, although
farmers’ perceptions were correct and echoed the meteorological/measured data in all the AEZs, adaptation
and mitigation strategies are inadequate.
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