Regional Sustainability (2025) 6(1) 100195

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Regional Sustainability
journal homepage: www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/regional-sustainability

Full Length Article

Unlocking climate change resilience: Socioeconomic factors shaping

smallholder farmers’ perceptions and adaptation strategies in
Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions
Osama AHMEDa, b, *, Mourad FAIZc, Laamari ABDELALId, Safwa KHOALIe,
Cataldo PULVENTf, Sameh MOHAMEDb, Mame Samba MBAYEg, Thomas GLAUBENa
a
Department of Agricultural Markets, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), Halle, 06120, Germany
b
Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt
c
Cadi Ayad University, Marrakech, 40000, Morocco
d
National Institute for Agricultural Research, Settat, 26000, Morocco
e
University of Hassan II Casablanca, Casablanca, 20000, Morocco
f
University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, 70121, Italy
g
Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, 10700, Senegal

ARTICLEINFO ABSTRACT

Keywords: Climate change poses substantial challenges to agricultural productivity and sustainability,
Climate change particularly in Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions. Local smallholder farmers’
Mediterranean and adaptation strategies to climate change are crucial for mitigating these impacts. Therefore,
Sub-Saharan Africa this study investigated the socioeconomic factors influencing smallholder farmers’
perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change in four countries (Morocco, Egypt,
regions
Italy, and Senegal) of Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions using a binary
Binary logistic
logistic regression (BLR) model. The results indicated that educational level, farming
regression (BLR) model experience, agricultural income, farm size, participation in agricultural workshops, and
Drought-tolerant crops training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) significantly impacted smallholder
Climate-smart farmers’ perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change (such as smallholder
agricultural practices farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops). Higher educational level was linked to the
greater possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Italy and
Egypt, while gaps in rural education limited the possibility of smallholder farmers
adopting drought-tolerant crops in Morocco and Senegal. Farming experience and
agricultural income also enhanced the possibility of smallholder farmers adopting
drought-tolerant crops, with notable variations across countries due to systemic barriers
such as limited infrastructure in Senegal. Larger farm size and participation in agricultural
workshops further improved the possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-
tolerant crops, particularly in Morocco and Egypt. The findings highlighted the
importance of tailored interventions and policy measures to support smallholder farmers
in effectively responding to the challenges of climate change under diverse agricultural

* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: [email protected] (Osama AHMED).

https://cstr.cn/32279.14.REGSUS.2025003
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regsus.2025.100195
Received 01 October 2024; Received in revised form 30 December 2024; Accepted 23 January 2025
2666-660X/© 2025 Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi
Communications Co. Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
O. AHMED, et al.: Unlocking climate change resilience: socioeconomic… Regional Sustainability (2025) 6(1) 100195

contexts. By understanding the specific needs and circumstances of smallholder farmers

in these countries, policymakers can develop more effective adaptation strategies to
enhance agricultural resilience and sustainability under the context of climate change.

1. Introduction
Climate change is a critical global challenge that considerably impacts agriculture and livelihoods. It encompasses
various phenomena, such as rising temperature, changing precipitation patterns, droughts, floods, and hurricanes
(IPCC, 2021, 2022). Globally, agriculture is under unprecedented stress due to consecutive heatwaves, erratic
precipitation, and growing water scarcity. Moreover, climate change results in declining crop yields, exacerbating
pest and disease outbreaks, and threatening food security, particularly for smallholder farmers with limited adaptive
capacity (Sterling et al., 2003; Chaplin-Kramer et al., 2019). Projections for regions located in Mediterranean and
Sub-Saharan Africa indicated worsening conditions, with sea surface temperature in Mediterranean rising four times
faster than the global ocean average, thereby intensifying irrigation demands and water scarcity (Lange, 2020; von
Schuckmann et al., 2020). In Sub-Saharan Africa, summer temperature is expected to increase by up to 5°C by 2100,
compounding vulnerabilities for agricultural systems reliant on stable climatic conditions (Serdeczny et al., 2017).
Given the direct and measurable impacts of climate change on agricultural productivity, water availability, and
food security, this study examined smallholder farmers’ perceptions and adaptation strategies to these challenges
across four countries in Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions, namely, Italy, Morocco, Egypt, and Senegal,
each representing diverse climatic zones and socioeconomic contexts. This focus complements the broader
understanding of climate change and its impacts. Northern Mediterranean country, such as Italy, is affected by rising
temperature and water shortages, whereas southern Mediterranean countries, including Morocco and Egypt, are
characterized by semiarid and arid climate. Senegal, situated in Sub-Saharan Africa, is affected by vulnerabilities
of irregular precipitation, droughts, and rising temperature, highlighting the region’s susceptibility to climate change
(Serdeczny et al., 2017; Cramer et al., 2018; Lange, 2020).
Addressing these regional vulnerabilities requires tailored approaches. For example, in Mediterranean, every 5°C
increase in sea temperature can lead to an estimated 18.00% increase in irrigation demand (Cramer et al., 2018).
Similarly, the irregular precipitation patterns of Sub-Saharan Africa challenge smallholder farmers’ ability to sustain
productivity, highlighting the importance of climate-smart agricultural practices and adaptation strategies (Habiba
et al., 2012; Funk et al., 2020a).
This study aimed to understand how smallholder farmers perceive and respond to the localized impact of rising
temperature in the context of climate change and its impacts on agriculture. The selection of these regions is strategic,
which facilitates the analysis of diverse climate change impacts and socioeconomic factors, such as education,
gender, farm size, and access to resources, which shape smallholder farmers’ adaptation behaviors (Below et al.,
2012b; Esham and Garforth, 2013; Xu et al., 2020). For example, participation in agricultural workshops and
training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) have been demonstrated to enhance smallholder farmers’
perceptions and adoption strategies to climate change (Pannell, 1999; Arbuckle et al., 2013; Foguesatto et al., 2019).
Several studies have highlighted the importance of understanding smallholder farmers’ perceptions and
adaptation strategies to climate change. For example, Pannell (1999) and Xu et al. (2020) reported that recognizing
and perceiving climate change is a key step for smallholder farmers in deciding to act in response to climate change.
In some regions, smallholder farmers’ perceptions of increased temperature and decreased precipitation have
positively influenced their decision to implement adoption strategies (Patt and Schroeter, 2008; Arunrat et al.,
2017b). Battaglini et al. (2009) found that smallholder farmers’ willingness to implement adaptation strategies (such
as changing crop varieties to mitigate droughts) varies across regions.
The adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices is influenced by various factors, including environmental,
economic, social, and psychological elements. Foguesatto et al. (2019) and Gosnell et al. (2019) reported the
importance of understanding farmers’ behaviours and perceptions to increase the possibility of adopting climate-
smart agricultural practices. Mihiretu et al. (2019) and Xu et al. (2020) further identified personal, psychological,
and socioeconomic factors (e.g., educational level, farming experience, social networks, and access to information)
that shaped smallholder farmers’ adaptive decisions. For example, below-average income, limited access to credit,
and inadequate information are major barriers to the adoption of effective climate-smart agricultural practices (Islam
et al., 2020; Ali et al., 2021). In particular, a well-established educational system that ensures gender equality and
provides access to agricultural extension services and microcredit facilities is essential for enhancing smallholder
farmers’ adaptive capacity (Below et al., 2012b). Moreover, empirical studies by Arbuckle et al. (2013) and Esham
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and Garforth (2013) showed that smallholder farmers who are more aware of climate change and its potential impact
are more likely to implement adaptation strategies.
Using a binary logistic regression (BLR) model, this study explored how socioeconomic factors, such as
educational level, farming experience, agricultural income, farm size, participation in agricultural workshops, and
training in GAPs, impact smallholder farmers’ perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change. By focusing
on the local contexts of Italy, Morocco, Egypt, and Senegal, this study aimed to provide actionable insights that can
inform targeted policy interventions and improve the effectiveness of adaptation strategies to climate change.

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Study area
The selection of the case study countries (Morocco, Egypt, Italy, and Senegal) was driven by the objective of
exploring the impact of climate change across diverse geographical and socioeconomic contexts.
Morocco and Egypt, located in southern Mediterranean, face pressing challenges, such as water scarcity,
unpredictable precipitation, and rising temperature, all of which exacerbate the vulnerability of their agricultural
systems. The analyses of these regions can provide valuable insights into the adaptive capacities of developing
countries, where factors such as limited resources, education, and access to technology considerably shape
smallholder farmers’ perceptions to climate change. Italy, situated in northern Mediterranean, represents more
developed agricultural sectors. Despite their advanced agricultural technologies and stronger institutional
frameworks, these countries are not immune to the effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and
shifting precipitation patterns. The selection of these countries can provide a basis for comparing climate-smart
agricultural practices in regions with greater access to resources and institutional support. Meanwhile, Senegal,
located in Sub-Saharan Africa, represents a contrasting perspective where smallholder farmers face acute
vulnerability to climate-related stressors, such as prolonged droughts and shifting agricultural seasons.
By incorporating a mix of developed and developing countries, this study aimed to gain sufficient understanding
on how socioeconomic factors influence smallholder farmers’ perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate
change, reflecting varying levels of development and complexities of agricultural system.
2.1.1. Case of Morocco
Oulad Boughadi is a rural community situated in Khouribga Province, Morocco, and predominantly relies on
rainfed agriculture, with a total population of 8147 persons, according to the latest census conducted by the High
Commission for Planning (HCP, 2024). It is one of the most significant production zones in Khouribga Province,
boasting a substantial agricultural area and production output.
Oulad Boughadi is characterized by a mixed agricultural system that encompasses crop cultivation and livestock
raising. In addition, the region’s forest rangeland plays a critical role as a primary source of animal feed. However,
water scarcity presents a significant challenge to agricultural production in this region, which is exacerbated by the
region’s heavy reliance on extremely low but highly unpredictable annual precipitation. Furthermore, soil in this
region is characterized by shallow depth and low water retention capacity, further complicating crop production
endeavors. Consequently, crop cultivation, particularly cereal production, is fraught with inherent risks. Oulad
Boughadi has a continental climate, which is influenced by the “Chergui” wind. Extreme temperature is notable,
with an average temperature ranging from 2°C in winter to 42°C in summer. Annual precipitation is relatively low,
with an average cumulative precipitation of 350 mm. These climatic conditions substantially impact agricultural
activities and contribute to the region’s vulnerability to climate change and its associated challenges.
2.1.2. Case of Egypt
El-Nubaria, located in northwestern Egypt, is a pivotal agricultural hub; however, its climatic conditions and
environmental challenges make it exceptionally vulnerable to climate change. This region is characterized by
obvious rainy seasons, long and intensely hot summers, high relative humidity, and substantial temperature
variations between day and night. These climatic conditions substantially impact agriculture by increasing
evapotranspiration and reducing water availability for crops. Climate change has exacerbated these challenges
through erratic precipitation patterns, rising temperature, and shifting weather extremes, leading to reduced
agricultural productivity and heightened water scarcity. Moreover, poor soil and water management practices such
as over-extraction of groundwater, inadequate irrigation methods, and soil salinization, undermine sustainable
agriculture in El-Nubaria. The reliance on chemical fertilizers further deteriorates soil quality, impacting crop health
and resilience. El-Nubaria represents Egypt’s diverse agricultural zones, providing insights into how smallholder
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farmers cope with climate change and implement adaptation strategies. The challenges in El-Nubaria mirror broader
national concerns about food security and sustainable agriculture, highlighting the need for adaptation strategies to
mitigate the impact of climate change on Egypt’s agricultural sectors (Aboukota et al., 2024).
2.1.3. Case of Italy
The survey in southern Italy was conducted in Bari (46.70%), Avellino (20.00%), Matera (21.70%), Cosenza
(5.00%), Benevento (3.20%), Potenza (1.70%), and Brindisi (1.70%) provinces in the southern Italy. This regional
diversity highlights varying agricultural and climatic challenges across the southern Italy. Mediterranean climate of
the southern Italy makes it highly vulnerable to climate change. The region faces increased extreme weather events,
including tornadoes, hailstorms, and prolonged droughts, increasing the risk of desertification. Precipitation
decreases in some areas of the southern Italy, whereas intense precipitation events increased. This trend reduces soil
water availability, limits arable land, increases runoff and erosion, decreases water storage in reservoirs, and
exacerbates water scarcity for irrigation. Prolonged droughts and rising temperature further strain water resources
through higher evapotranspiration demand, posing significant challenges to agriculture and sustainability (Pulvento
et al., 2022).
2.1.4. Case of Senegal
Niakhène, nestled within the Old Peanut Basin, Senegal, grapples with delicate light soils vulnerable to wind
erosion. These soil conditions, coupled with scant and irregular precipitation patterns and escalating temperature
due to climate change, adversely impact local landscape. Consequently, a considerable portion of the population
relies on agriculture for sustenance, yielding meager outputs that translate to low average income and limited access
to essential social welfare. Over the past five years (2019–2024), there has been a noticeable decline in the diversity
of cultivated species in the region. Although governmental agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs),
and other stakeholders have implemented agricultural initiatives and development projects to improve crop
productivity, crop diversity, agricultural sustainability, and ecosystem health, yields remain exceptionally low,
averaging less than 1 t/hm2 for all crops. Local constraints, such as soil impoverishment, droughts, erratic
precipitation, plant diseases, pests, and weed infestations, contribute to the low yields. Consequently, the incomes
of smallholder farmers dwindle annually in Niakhène, exacerbating social vulnerability and leading to a growing
trend of smallholder farmers temporarily migrating to urban areas in pursuit of better job opportunities.
2.2. Data sources
In this study, data were collected through a survey from 348 smallholder farmers during 2021–2022 in four
distinct regions: Oulad Boughadi (70), El-Nubaria (110), southern Italy (60), and Niakhène (108). The dataset
comprised over 1000 quantitative and qualitative variables, providing insights into agricultural productivity as well
as sociodemographic, economic, and environmental factors. Utilizing this comprehensive dataset, we employed a
BLR model to assess the probability of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops, considering six
socioeconomic factors including educational level, farming experience, agricultural income, farm size, participation
in agricultural workshops, and training in GAPs.

2.3. Methodology
In this study, the possibility of adopting climate change adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers was
evaluated using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. Socioeconomic factors specific to various
ecosystems were investigated through structured surveys and in-depth interviews with smallholder farmers across
different regions. Statistical models were used to identify key socioeconomic factors, whereas comparative analysis
across different regions allowed for the identification of localized driving factors. This approach ensures a detailed
understanding of adaptation strategies, providing a robust foundation for policy recommendations tailored to diverse
agro-ecological and socioeconomic contexts.
Several studies have delved into the impact of various factors on smallholder farmers’ perceptions and adaptation
strategies (Mihiretu et al., 2019; Funk et al., 2020b; Islam et al., 2020; Wang and Zhang, 2020; Xu et al., 2020).
These investigations have employed either the linear regression approach or the BLR model. In this study, we opted
for the BLR model to explore the relationship between a set of noncontinuous variables and binary dependent
variables. While the linear regression approach is adapted at analyzing the regression of continuous variables, it is
ill-suited for binary dependent variables (Gelman, 2020; Wickham and Grolemund, 2022). Hence, the BLR model
aligns better with our research objectives, prompting its implementation in this study (Fig. 1).
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O. AHMED, et al.: Unlocking climate change resilience: socioeconomic… Regional Sustainability (2025) 6(1) 100195

Fig. 1. Conceptual framework of this study.

Several studies have applied the BLR model to analyze adaptation strategies within agricultural systems
(Alemayehu and Bewket, 2017; Ali et al., 2021; Mwadzingeni et al., 2023). This approach provides valuable insights
into smallholder farmers’ perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change.
The BLR is a nonlinear model, in which the dependent variable is binary, and the independent variables can be
continuous or categorical. A binary dependent variable has two possible values; in this case “yes” and “no” usually
coded as 1 and 0, respectively:
0 if the answer is no (no action)
Yj   , (1)
1 if the answer is yes (taking action)
E(Yi)=Pr(Yi=1)×1+Pr(Yi=0)×1=Pr(Yi=1), (2)
where Y is the dependent variable, in this case, smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops; i is the number
of respondents (i=1, 2, …, n); n is the total number of respondents; E(Y) denotes the expectation of smallholder
farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops, which is a nominal qualitative variable representing the practice of utilizing
drought-tolerant crops or the decision of a surveyed farmer to implement an adaptation strategy to mitigate the
impact of climate change; and Pr is the probability that dependent variable takes a value of 1.
Based on Equation 1, we can identify the relationship between dependent variable and independent variables,
considering the possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops:
1 0 
Pr(Yj  )  Pr( X j   j  )  Pr( X j  j )  F ( X ) , (3)
Xj Xj Xj
where X is the independent variable; β is the coefficient; j is the number of independent variables; ε is the error term;
and F is the binomial distribution.
As the estimation of the BLR model is based on the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) method, the equation
can be expressed as follows:
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O. AHMED, et al.: Unlocking climate change resilience: socioeconomic… Regional Sustainability (2025) 6(1) 100195

X
e j 1
Pr j (Y j  1)  F (   X j ) 
 (   X j )
  (   X j )
, (4)
1 e 1 e
where α is the constant and e is the natural logarithm. This analysis provides insights into how smallholder farmers
perceive variations in temperature and precipitation patterns, as well as the innovative and policy-driven measures
they are taking to address climate change. This study posited that smallholder farmers’ adaptation strategies were
shaped by their perceptions of climate change. The factors influencing these decisions included educational level
(Alam et al., 2017; Ojo and Baiyegunhi, 2018), farming experience (Deressa et al., 2009; Tessema et al., 2013),
agricultural income (Hassan and Nhemachena, 2008; Mulwa et al., 2017), farm size (Sofoluwe et al., 2011; Below
et al., 2012a), participation in agricultural workshops, and training in GAPs (Anley et al., 2007; Makuvaro et al.,
2018). These variables have been widely recognized in previous studies as critical driving factors of smallholder
farmers adopting adaptation strategies to climate change. Within the framework of this study, the model is structured
as follows:
Y=f(X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6), (5)
where f represents the functional relationship between the independent and dependent variables; X1 is the
educational level; X2 is the farming experience (a); X3 is the agricultural income (USD); X4 is the farm size per
household (hm2/household); X5 is the participation in agricultural workshops (in this case, yes=1, otherwise=0); and
X6 is the training in GAPs (in this case, yes=1, otherwise=0). In Italy and Senegal, participation in agricultural
workshops and training in GAPs were combined as one independent variable due to data unavailability. However,
in Morocco and Egypt, participation in agricultural workshops and training in GAPs were regarded as two
independent variables due to data availability.
Therefore, the BLR model can be specified as follows:
1
P (Y )   (  1X1   2 X 2 +  3 X 3 +  4 X 4 +  5 X 5 +  6 X 6 )
. (6)
1 e
 Pr j 
When    X j  log   , we specified the BLR model as follows:
 1  Pr j 
 Pr j 
log       X 1  ...   X j , (7)
 1  Pr j 
where Pr is the probability of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops and 1–Prj is the probability of
smallholder farmers not adopting drought-tolerant crops.

3. Results
3.1. Characteristics of respondents
Table 1 shows notable differences among respondents in terms of educational level, socioeconomic status, and
perceptions of climate change in four countries. In Morocco, 29.33%, 19.27%, and 0.55% of respondents had
primary, secondary, and university education, respectively. Meanwhile, in Egypt, 3.50%, 35.70%, and 42.60% of
respondents had primary, secondary, and university education, respectively. In Italy, 6.70%, 21.70%, and 35.00%
of respondents held primary, secondary, and university education, respectively, whereas in Senegal, the percentages
were 14.65%, 13.96%, and 3.15%, respectively.
Approximately 64.40%, 75.20%, and 45.40% of respondents in Morocco, Egypt, and Senegal, respectively,
reported experiencing food insecurity. Conversely, none of respondents in Italy claimed food insecurity issues.
These findings highlighted the stark contrast in agricultural conditions between developing and developed countries,
with a considerable percentage of respondents in developing countries facing challenges related to low food
production and inadequate agricultural income. Notably, only approximately 16.00% of respondents in Morocco,
37.40% in Egypt, and 27.80% in Senegal perceived that they had sufficient agricultural income, highlighting the
prevalence of insufficient income among smallholder farmers in these regions. Moreover, 46.20%, 47.80%, 36.70%,
and 12.00% of respondents in Morocco, Egypt, Italy, and Senegal, respectively, reported that they implemented
climate-smart agricultural practices to adapt to climate change. Moreover, 63.30%, 17.40%, 53.30%, and 2.80% of
respondents contended participation in agricultural workshops and training in GAPs in Morocco, Egypt, Italy, and
Senegal, respectively, which reflected the degree of smallholder farmers’ involvement in shaping climate-smart
agricultural practices and policies, with lower participation in agricultural workshops observed in Egypt, Senegal,
and Italy compared with Morocco.
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Concerning the impact of climate change, a substantial majority of respondents across all regions acknowledged
its presence. Specifically, 100.00%, 81.00%, 71.00%, and 90.00% of respondents in Morocco, Egypt, Italy, and
Senegal, respectively, reported facing climate change-related challenges. Notably, a considerable percentage of
respondents in Morocco (100.00%), Egypt (100.00%), and Italy (96.70%) perceived a noticeable change in
temperature over the past decade (2013–2023), whereas in Senegal, this perception was shared by 74.00% of
respondents. Specifically, approximately 100.00%, 40.90%, 96.70%, and 31.50% of respondents in Morocco,
Egypt, Italy, and Senegal, respectively, perceived an increase in temperature over the same period. In response to
climate change-related threats, approximately 33.30%, 41.70%, 43.30%, and 4.60% of respondents in Morocco,
Egypt, Italy, and Senegal, respectively, reported adopting drought-tolerant crops as an adaptation strategy.
Table 1
Characteristics of respondents in four countries.
Percentage of respondents (%)
Category Sub-category
Morocco Egypt Italy Senegal
Pimary education 29.33 3.50 6.70 14.65
Educational level Secondary education 19.27 35.70 21.70 13.96
University education 0.55 42.60 35.00 3.15
On-farm demonstration 36.00 6.10 23.30 1.00
Sufficient agricultural income 16.00 37.40 75.00 27.80
Participation in agricultural workshops and
63.30 17.40 53.30 2.80
training in GAPs
Socioeconomic satus
Food insecurity 64.40 75.20 0.00 45.40
Implementing climate-smart agricultural
46.20 47.80 36.70 12.00
practices
Crop insurance 78.40 1.00 33.30 0.00
Facing climate change challenges 100.00 81.00 71.00 90.00
Change in temperature 100.00 100.00 96.70 74.10
Perceptions of climate change
Increase in temperature 100.00 40.90 96.70 31.50
Adopting drought-tolerant crops 33.30 41.70 43.30 4.60
Note: GAPs, Good Agricultural Practices.

3.2. Results of the BLR model

The BLR model was employed to identify which variables influence smallholder farmers’ perceptions and
adaptation strategies to climate change. The estimation of the BLR model was based on the MLE method, which
was employed and carried out in two steps. Step 1 served as an initial stage, where the regression is performed
without introducing independent variables. The outcomes of this initial estimation are presented in Table 2. The
–2 log-likelihood (–2LL) value was used to measure the model fit, achieving a perfect score at zero. The results
showed that the –2LL values for the model’s starting point were 81.020, 159.210, 81.500, and 149.570 for Morocco,
Egypt, Italy, and Senegal, respectively. In this analysis, the observed –2LL values were relatively high, indicating
that the model could be improved for a better fit. The overall correct classification rate of the model showed that
61.42% of respondents in Morocco, 54.54% in Egypt, 58.36% in Italy, and 81.85% in Senegal, were correctly
specified (Table 3). These results suggested that the model was moderately accurate in predicting the probability of
smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in these countries. Additionally, the Wald test results confirmed
that all independent variables (educational level, farming experience, agricultural income, farm size, participation
in agricultural workshops, and training in GAPs) included in the model were statistically significant at the 1% level
(Table 4). These results indicated that the independent variables collectively play a critical role in explaining the
dependent variable. From Table 4 we can see that all independent variables had significant impacts on dependent
variable in Morocco, Egypt, and Italy. However, participation in agricultural workshops and training in GAPs were
not significant in Senegal.
In the second step of estimation process, independent variables were incorporated into the model. The results, as
detailed in Table S1, indicated that the Cox & Snell R2 values accounted for 58.30%, 53.30%, 41.90%, and 24.50%
of the variance in the probability of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Morocco, Egypt, Italy,
and Senegal, respectively. Furthermore, the Nagelkerke’s R2 values indicated that the model had the respective
explanatory power of 81.20%, 71.10%, 56.40%, and 32.70% in Morocco, Egypt, Italy, and Senegal (Table 5).
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Table 2
History iterations of estimating the first step of the binary logistic regression (BLR) model in four countries.
Morocco Egypt Italy Senegal
Iteration
–2LL Coefficient –2LL Coefficient –2LL Coefficient –2LL Coefficient
***
1 81.020 0.680 159.210 0.090 81.500 0.330 149.570 0.074
***
Step 0 2 81.000 0.720 159.210 0.090 81.500 0.340 149.570 0.074
3 81.000 0.720*** - - 81.500 0.340 - -
***
Note: -, no value; –2LL, –2 log-likelihood; , significance at the P<0.01 level.

Table 3
Classification for predicting the probability of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in four countries.
Morocco Egypt Italy Senegal
Answer Number of Correct value Number of Correct value Number of Correct value Number of Correct value
people (%) people (%) people (%) people (%)
Are you adopting No 0 0.00 50 0.00 25 0.00 52 0.00
drought-tolerant crops? Yes 43 100.00 60 100.00 35 100.00 56 100.00
Overall correct classification rate
61.42 54.54 58.33 81.85
(%)

Table 4
Results of the BLR model for independent variables in four countries.
Morocco Egypt Italy Senegal
Independent variable
Score Significance Score Significance Score Significance Score Significance
*** *** ***
Educational level 10.200 0.001 47.050 0.000 10.620 0.001 1.850 0.173
Farming experience 8.600*** 0.003 40.370*** 0.000 3.730* 0.054 7.470*** 0.006
*** *** *** ***
Agricultural income 10.810 0.001 25.090 0.000 9.970 0.002 10.250 0.001
*** *** *** ***
Farm size 11.020 0.001 37.940 0.000 8.190 0.004 12.020 0.001
Participation in ***
2.380 0.123 26.040 0.000
agricultural workshops 10.290*** 0.001 0.424 0.515
*** ***
Training in GAPs 13.670 0.000 16.430 0.000
Coefficient 0.720*** 0.090* −0.340* 0.070*
Constant
Wald test 7.250 0.220 0.650 0.150
* ** ***
Note: -, no value; , significance at the P<0.10 level; , significance at the P<0.05 level; , significance at the P<0.01 level. In Italy and Senegal, participation
in agricultural workshops and training in GAPs were combined as one independent variable due to data unavailability. However, in Morocco and Egypt,
participation in agricultural workshops and training in GAPs were regarded as two independent variables due to data availability.

Table 5
Relationship between dependent variable and independent variables by the BLR model in four countries.
Morocco Egypt Italy Senegal
Independent variable
Coefficient Significance Coefficient Significance Coefficient Significance Coefficient Significance
Educational level 4.769*** 0.008 1.546** 0.033 1.567** 0.037 1.137** 0.028
** ** ** **
Farming experience 3.030 0.026 2.152 0.031 1.971 0.029 1.035 0.027
Agricultural income 2.462** 0.047 1.360** 0.040 1.901** 0.028 1.520*** 0.005
Farm size 3.109** 0.019 1.350** 0.039 1.782** 0.027 1.384*** 0.003
Participation in ** **
2.695 0.041 2.067 0.043
agricultural workshops 1.608 0.460 - -
Training in GAPs 2.467** 0.046 1.859 0.500
Constant –5.469*** 0.001 –4.266*** 0.000 –5.408*** 0.000 –1.859*** 0.000
2
Nagelkerke’s R (%) 81.20 71.10 56.40 32.70
Pseudo-R2 (%) 69.00 55.00 40.00 20.00
Note: -, no value; **, significance at the P<0.05 level; ***, significance at the P<0.01 level. In Italy and Senegal, participation in agricultural workshops and training
in GAPs were combined as one independent variable due to data unavailability. However, in Morocco and Egypt, participation in agricultural workshops and
training in GAPs were regarded as two independent variables due to data availability.
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O. AHMED, et al.: Unlocking climate change resilience: socioeconomic… Regional Sustainability (2025) 6(1) 100195

The results of the model specification tests indicated that the chi-square (χ2) test was significant at the 5% level
in four countries (Tables S2 and S3). This implied accepting the null hypothesis (H0) that “the model significantly
improves the probability of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops to cope with climate change”.
The results of the BLR model are presented in Table 5, suggesting that all independent variables contributed to
better predicting the probability of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Morocco and Egypt. All
independent variables contributed to better predicting the probability of smallholder farmers adopting drought-
tolerant crops in Italy except for participation in agricultural workshops and training in GAPs, which did not have
a significant impact. However, in Senegal, results indicated that educational level, farming experience, agricultural
income, and farm size contributed to the probability of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops. In
addition, the estimated coefficients using the BLR model consistently showed positive values, indicating a direct
correlation between dependent variable and independent variables. Moreover, we used the Pseudo-R2 to estimate
the variability explained by the model. Hence, the model explained approximately 69.00%, 55.00%, 20.00%, and
40.00% of the total variation in the probability of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Morocco,
Egypt, Senegal, and Italy, respectively (Table 5).

4. Discussion
The BLR model revealed that socioeconomic factors (educational level, farming experience, agricultural income,
farm size, participation in agricultural workshops, and training in GAPs) were consistently positive related with the
probability of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Morocco, Egypt, Italy, and Senegal. Previous
studies also highlighted the important role of educational level in enhancing smallholder farmers’ perceptions and
adaptation strategies to climate change (Deressa et al., 2011; Arunrat et al., 2017a; Alvar-Beltrán et al., 2020b;
Anabaraonye et al., 2020; Funk et al., 2020a; Xu et al., 2020).
4.1. Role of educational level in addressing climate change
The findings highlighted the critical role of educational level in the adoption of climate adaptation strategies. The
results indicated that educational level enabled smallholder farmers in Italy and Egypt to effectively access to and
apply climate-related knowledge. Educated smallholder farmers in these countries were more adept at interpreting
climate information and using climate-smart agricultural practices, as corroborated by Deressa et al. (2011) and
Arunrat et al. (2017a).
Contrarily, Morocco and Senegal exhibited lower percentages of respondents with secondary and university
education levels, suggesting gaps in educational infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. These findings
emphasized the need for tailored educational policies. Programs focusing on the education of climate change and
practical training, such as agricultural extension services, are crucial in regions with lower educational level. Deressa
et al. (2011) also highlighted the benefits of educational level for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia.
Despite its positive impact, there remains an urgent need to improve educational level, particularly in rural areas
of developing countries. Governments should prioritize policies that expand access to education for marginalized
groups, including women. Educational programs should also emphasize climate-related topics and provide training
GAPs. Empowering smallholder farmers through targeted educational initiatives is crucial to ensuring widespread
adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, thereby strengthening long-term resilience to climate change.
4.2. Role of farming experience in addressing climate change
The results also indicated that smallholder farmers with years of farming experience were better equipped to
adapt to climate change in Morocco, Egypt, Italy, and Senegal. Moreover, Mustafa et al. (2023) highlighted that
experienced smallholder farmers benefited from practical knowledge gained through years of exposure to local
climate dynamics.
The significant impact of farming experience on the probability of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant
crops in Egypt and Italy may reflect the advanced farming experience in facing climate change and better integration
of traditional and scientific knowledge in these countries. However, in Senegal and Morocco, barriers such as limited
access to updated climate information might reduce the efficacy of experienced smallholder farmers. Programs
integrating local and scientific knowledge through workshops or farmer-to-farmer exchanges could bridge this gap
and ensure that less experienced smallholder farmers can benefit from experienced smallholder farmers.
Agricultural extension services are also crucial for facilitating knowledge sharing and enhancing the impletion of
adaptation strategies to climate change.
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O. AHMED, et al.: Unlocking climate change resilience: socioeconomic… Regional Sustainability (2025) 6(1) 100195

4.3. Role of agricultural income in addressing climate change

A positive relationship between agricultural income and the probability of smallholder farmers adopting drought-
tolerant crops was found in four countries, but this relationship varied across countries. Smallholder farmers in
Morocco and Egypt with higher agricultural income can more readily invest in adaptation strategies such as
improved seeds and irrigation systems, consistent with the findings of Gbetibouo et al. (2010) and Habiba et al.
(2012). These investments can reduce smallholder farmers’ vulnerability to climate change and increase resilience.
In Senegal, even higher agricultural income might not suffice due to logistic and systemic issues, such as inadequate
infrastructure or limited market access. The positive relationship between agricultural income and the probability
of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Italy likely reflects the established government subsidies
and widespread availability of climate-smart technologies, which mitigate income-based disparities. To enhance the
resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change, policymakers should prioritize equitable access to resources
through subsidies, low-interest loans, and micro-insurance schemes, particularly for low-income smallholder
farmers.
Smallholder farmers with higher agricultural income are also more likely to invest in long-term adaptation
strategies, such as diversifying income sources or adopting climate-smart agricultural practices, which can help
protect them from the impact of climate change. This highlights a big gap in adopting adaptation strategies between
wealthy and poor smallholder farmers. Smallholder farmers with high agricultural income can afford to invest in
new climate-smart agricultural practices to adapt to climate change, whereas poor smallholder farmers often lack
the money to make these changes. To address this, policies should support low-income smallholder farmers with
subsidies for climate-smart tools, low-interest loans, or financial help for adaptation strategies. Micro-insurance
programs could also help smallholder farmers handle the financial risks of climate change.
4.4. Role of farm size in addressing climate change
Farm size substantially impacted the probability of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops. Larger
farm size is better equipped to diversify crops, invest in modern irrigation systems, and implement climate-smart
agricultural practices, as noted by Thornton et al. (2020). The positive relationship between farm size and the
probability of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Egypt, Italy, and Morocco highlighted the
advantages of farm size, whereas lower significance between them in Senegal indicated constraints, such as land
fragmentation and financial limitations.
Interventions such as cooperative farming, shared resource systems, and targeted microfinance can address these
disparities, enabling smallholder farmers to cope with climate change. Ensuring equitable access to resources is
vital in facilitating the transition to more climate-smart agricultural practices for all smallholder farmers regardless
of farm size.
4.5. Role of participation in agricultural workshops and training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) in
addressing climate change
Participation in agricultural workshops and training in GAPs substantially had positive impacts on adaptation
strategies; the increase in participation in agricultural workshops led to an increase in the probability of smallholder
farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Morocco and Egypt. Similarly, a 1.00% increase in training in GAPs was
linked to a 2.47% increase in the probability of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Morocco
and an 1.86% increase in Egypt. These agricultural workshops and GAPs can provide smallholder farmers with
essential technical skills and knowledge of climate-smart agricultural practices such as water conservation and soil
management (Mbow et al., 2019). The capacity-building initiatives in Italy benefit from robust extension networks
and collaboration between research institutions and smallholder farmers, enabling effective dissemination of
climate-smart agricultural practices (FAO, 2018). Conversely, in Morocco and Egypt, logistical challenges such as
limited access to training sites, inadequate transportation infrastructure, and scheduling conflicts combined with
financial barriers, may hinder smallholder farmers’ participation. Incorporating climate services such as localized
weather forecasts and early warning systems into training programs can amplify their effectiveness (Rao and
Surendran, 2019). These results indicated that the targeted training can provide smallholder farmers with the
necessary knowledge and skills to improve their capacity to address climate-related challenges. These programs
typically include workshops, field demonstrations, and farmer field schools that can provide climate-smart
agricultural practices, such as water conservation measures, soil health management, and drought-resistant crop
plantation. These practices not only mitigate the effect of climate change but also promote long-term sustainability
by enhancing soil quality and increasing crop resilience to cope with extreme weather events (Mbow et al., 2019).
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O. AHMED, et al.: Unlocking climate change resilience: socioeconomic… Regional Sustainability (2025) 6(1) 100195

Research consistently supports the effectiveness of capacity-building initiatives in improving smallholder farmers’
adaptation strategies to climate change. Deressa et al. (2011) found that Ethiopian smallholder farmers who
participated in capacity-building programs were more likely to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices, such as
using improved crops and water-efficient techniques. Similarly, Alvar-Beltrán et al. (2020a) reported that Kenyan
smallholder farmers who received training were better able to recognize climate change and implement adaptation
strategies, such as altering planting schedules and adapting drought-tolerant crops. Funk et al. (2020b) also
emphasized the critical role of participation in agricultural workshops and training in GAPs in enhancing resilience
to climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa.

5. Conclusions
This study focused on four countries: Italy, Morocco, Egypt, and Senegal, which were significantly affected by
climate change to explore how climate change challenges manifested in these countries. By analyzing the impact of
socioeconomic factors (educational level, farming experience, agricultural income, farm size, participation in
agricultural workshops, and training in GAPs) on smallholder farmers’ perceptions and adaptation strategies, this
study highlighted the need for tailored and region-specific solutions to enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers
to climate change and address the diverse impacts of climate change.
The findings confirmed that educational level, farming experience, agricultural income, and farm size influenced
smallholder farmers’ adaptation strategies. In Morocco, Egypt, and Italy, smallholder farmers with higher
educational level and better farming experience were more likely to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices. In
Senegal, while educational level and farming experience remained important, participation in agricultural
workshops and training in GAPs were less evident, highlighting the need for more targeted and context-specific
interventions. These differences indicated the importance of adopting adaptation strategies to climate change that
accounted for the distinct socioeconomic and institutional contexts of each region, ensuring their relevance and
effectiveness.
Furthermore, this study emphasized the critical need to integrate socioeconomic factors into climate change
adaptation strategies, particularly in rural and marginalized areas. Policymakers should prioritize enhancing
educational level, particularly for young people, to improve their perceptions of climate change and encourage to
adopt climate-smart agricultural practices. Strengthening agricultural extension services, improving access to
training programs, and promoting participatory governance are essential for bridging the gap between research
institutions and smallholder farmers, ensuring that adaptation strategies are practical and aligned with local needs.
This study provides valuable insights into adaptation strategies to climate change by comparing four countries—
Morocco, Egypt, Italy, and Senegal—across Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions. Unlike studies focused
on single regions, by highlighting differences across diverse economic and climatic contexts, this study offers
practical recommendations for strengthening resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change and addressing
climate change globally.

Authorship contribution statement

Osama AHMED: data curation, funding acquisition, methodology, software, project administration, and writing
- original draft; Mourad FAIZ: formal analysis, methodology, and writing - review & editing; Laamari ABDELALI:
data curation, writing - review & editing, and validation; Safwa KHOALI: data curation and writing - review &
editing; Cataldo PULVENT: data curation; Sameh MOHAMED: data curation; Mame Samba MBAYE: data
curation; and Thomas GLAUBEN: supervision and conceptualization. All authors approved the manuscript.

Ethics statement

Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Advisory Board of the the European Research Area Network
Cofund on Food Systems and Climate (ERA-NET FOSC). In addition, the participants provided their informed
consent to participate in this study.

Declaration of conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could
have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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O. AHMED, et al.: Unlocking climate change resilience: socioeconomic… Regional Sustainability (2025) 6(1) 100195

Acknowledgments

This study is an integral component of the TRUSTFARM Project, supported by the European Union’s Horizon
2020 research and innovation program. The TRUSTFARM Project was carried out under the European Research
Area Network Cofund on Food Systems and Climate (ERA-NET FOSC; 862555), and built upon and supported by
the experience from the Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security & Climate Change (FACCE-
JPI) and the European Research Area Network Cofund on Long-term Europe-Africa Partnership on Agricultural
Research for Development (LEAP-Agri).

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Appendix
Table S1
Results of estimating the second step of the binary logistic regression (BLR) model.
Morocco Egypt Italy Senegal

Step Cox and Cox and Cox and Cox and

Nagelkerke’s Nagelkerke’s Nagelkerke’s Nagelkerke’s
–2LL Snell’s R2 –2LL Snell’s R2 –2LL Snell’s R2 –2LL Snell’s R 2
R2 (%) R2 (%) R2 (%) R2 (%)
(%) (%) (%) (%)
1 65.525a 21.50 29.90 107.878a 36.00 48.00 48.957a 41.90 56.40 137.320a 10.70 14.30
2 51.452 b
37.00 51.50 96.065 a
42.30 56.40 - - - 128.232b 17.90 23.90
3 42.302 b
45.40 63.20 86.973 a
46.60 62.20 - - - 124.249 b
20.90 27.90
4 35.785c 50.70 70.60 81.027b 49.30 65.80 - - - 119.196c 24.50 32.70
5 30.715 c
54.40 75.80 76.940 b
51.10 68.20 - - - - - -
6 25.005c 58.30 81.20 71.666c 53.30 71.10 - - - - - -
Note: -, no value; a, the estimation process concluded at iteration 5 as the adjustments to the parameter estimates fell below the threshold of 0.001; b, the estimation
process concluded at iteration 6 as the adjustments to the parameter estimates fell below the threshold of 0.001; c, the estimation process concluded at iteration 7
as the adjustments to the parameter estimates fell below the threshold of 0.001.

Table S2
Composite tests of the BLR model’s coefficients.
Morocco Egypt Italy Senegal
Step 2 2 2 2
χ df Significance χ df Significance χ df Significance χ df Significance
Step 15.479 1 0.000 51.328 1 0.000 32.547 5 0.000 12.251 1 0.000
1 Block 15.479 1 0.000 51.328 1 0.000 32.547 5 0.000 12.251 1 0.000
Model 15.479 1 0.000 51.328 1 0.000 32.547 5 0.000 12.251 1 0.000
Step 14.073 1 0.000 11.813 1 0.001 - - - 9.088 1 0.003
2 Block 29.552 2 0.000 63.141 2 0.000 - - - 21.340 2 0.000
Model 29.552 2 0.000 63.141 2 0.000 - - - 21.340 2 0.000
Step 9.150 1 0.002 9.092 1 0.003 - - - 3.983 1 0.046
3 Block 38.701 3 0.000 72.233 3 0.000 - - - 25.323 3 0.000
Model 38.701 3 0.000 72.233 3 0.000 - - - 25.323 3 0.000
Step 6.517 1 0.011 5.946 1 0.015 - - - 5.053 1 0.025
4 Block 45.219 4 0.000 78.180 4 0.000 - - - 30.376 4 0.000
Model 45.219 4 0.000 78.180 4 0.000 - - - 30.376 4 0.000
Step 5.070 1 0.024 4.086 1 0.043 - - - - - -
5 Block 50.289 5 0.000 82.266 5 0.000 - - - - - -
Model 50.289 5 0.000 82.266 5 0.000 - - - - - -
Step 5.710 1 0.017 5.275 1 0.022 - - - - - -
6 Block 55.999 6 0.000 87.541 6 0.000 - - - - - -
Model 55.999 6 0.000 87.541 6 0.000 - - - - - -
Note: -, no value; χ2, chi-square; df, degree of freedom.

Table S3
Hosmer and Lemeshow test results.
Morocco Egypt Italy Senegal
Step
2 2 2 2
χ df Significance χ df Significance χ df Significance χ df Significance
1 0.000 0 0.000 0.000 0 0.000 5.233 8 0.732 0.000 0 0.000
2 0.050 2 0.975 0.000 2 1.000 - - - 0.324 2 0.850
3 1.026 6 0.985 4.487 5 0.482 - - - 1.975 5 0.853
4 19.254 7 0.007 1.247 4 0.870 - - - 8.749 7 0.271
5 5.144 8 0.742 5.017 6 0.542 - - - - - -
6 7.779 8 0.455 2.865 6 0.826 - - - - - -
Note: -, no value.

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