Adaptation of Family Farming to Salina Intrusion in the Estuaries ofMoçambique: Case of the Baixo Limpopo Valley

Abstract

This article analyzes the adaptive capacity (AC) of smallholder farmers in the Lower Limpopo Irrigation Scheme (RBL acronym in Portuguese) and its drivers and identifies local adaptation strategies to saline intrusion in the  climate change context with a view to guaranteeing local livelihood and biodiversity. To this purpose, through a livelihoods framework approach, a survey was carried out with 150 households (HHs) that produce along the Limpopo River valley, from the mouth to 100 km inland, covering 5 Administrative Posts (third administrative level). Results showed that the AC varies from 0.3 to 0.4, and around 62% of the HHs had Low AC, and 35% moderate. Human capital indicators (education, women's leadership in HHs), and all indicators of social, financial (except number of sources of subsistence), technological and infrastructural capital (except the existence of infrastructure and its performance) showed a significant effect. To cope saline intrusion, local strategies are adopted based on agroecological principles: the diversification of production areas and salinitytolerant crops, and the incorporation of manure as a vegetal material.