Farmers’ Perceptions of the Efficacy of Current Climate Risk Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies on Agriculture in The Gambia

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The impact of climate change on smallholder farmers and its coping strategies have always been a hot topic in the academic community. Based on first-hand survey data, the authors analyzed farmers' perceptions and behavioral responses to climate change in typical regions from multiple perspectives, such as farmers' perceptions and adaptive behaviors. In general, the topic selection has some significance, the research design is reasonable, and the argumentation ideas are clear. It is a good paper. In order to better improve the quality of the paper, several suggestions for reference:

(1) The introduction needs to be moderately rewritten. First, it is suggested to make some necessary introductions in the introduction, so that readers can better understand the core ideas that the author wants to convey. Second, compared with the existing research, the marginal contribution of this research is not very clear. It is suggested that the author use a separate paragraph to further summarize and condense the core contribution of this study.

(2) A more in-depth introduction of the study area and sampling process is recommended. The current introduction is relatively broad and not specific enough.

(3) The research lacks a comprehensive theoretical analysis framework to connect the core concepts involved in the research. At the same time, the author should explain the logic of the subsequent empirical part in the research design part. Otherwise, the reader will feel that the author's argument is too logical.

Author Response

Thank you for reviewing our paper. We appreciate your valuable comments. Please find attached the responses to the comments. 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript titled “Farmers’ Perception of the Efficacy of Current Climate Risk Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies on Agriculture in The Gambia” aims to assess the impact of these strategies on agricultural productivity, economic outcomes, and resilience to climate change. Additionally, it develops a Perception Index (PI) to quantify farmers' views on the effectiveness of the adaptation and mitigation strategies used. The paper is well-written and aligns with the scope of the journal. However, minor revisions are recommended before publication.

In the Introduction, the manuscript provides a comprehensive overview of the global impact of climate change on agriculture. To enhance its relevance for a broader audience, it is recommended to include a detailed characterization of The Gambia’s climate, including:

The timing of the rainy season (mid-June to mid-October) and the typical rainfall patterns (e.g., heavy, short-duration storms).

Seasonal temperature variations and evapotranspiration trends during the dry and wet seasons.

The contribution of The Gambia to global greenhouse gas emissions, which, although minimal, is relevant in the context of adaptation and mitigation discussions.

The significance of agriculture to The Gambia’s GDP (24.8% as noted in the study), highlighting its critical role in livelihoods and food security.

In the Study Area section, the description is clear and well-organized. To improve the visual presentation of Figure 1, it is recommended to eliminate decimal zeros, enhancing the figure's clarity and readability.

The Methodology is rigorous, utilizing a mixed-method approach that incorporates the Perception Index (PI), Effectiveness Score (ES), Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA), and statistical analysis. The structured survey of 420 smallholder farmers provides a robust and representative sample. However, including a brief explanation for the selection of the three study regions would add valuable context.

The Results are presented clearly, with well-organized tables and figures illustrating the frequency and perceived efficacy of the adaptation and mitigation strategies. The moderate level of perceived effectiveness (PI of 0.66) is effectively highlighted. To enhance accessibility for a wider audience, consider simplifying some of the statistical terminology

The Discussion is comprehensive and effectively relates the findings to existing literature. To strengthen the analysis, a comparison with other regions facing similar climate challenges is recommended. This would enhance the generalizability of the findings and provide a broader context for the adaptation strategies discussed. Comparative analysis could include other West African nations or regions experiencing similar agricultural challenges.

The Conclusion succinctly summarizes the key findings and their implications for policy and practice. To enhance its impact, it is suggested to explicitly connect the findings to potential policy interventions, such as the need for increased governmental support, financial aid, and enhanced knowledge-sharing platforms.

Author Response

Thank you for reviewing our paper. We appreciate your valuable comments. Please find attached the responses to the comments. 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

It was interesting to read the paper whose main objective is to explore smallholder farmers' perceptions of the effectiveness of adaptation and mitigation strategies in The Gambia using a mixed methods approach that includes a Perception Index (PI), Effectiveness Score (ES), Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) and statistical analysis. The paper provides valuable insights but requires minor revision.

Some comments to improve the paper can be found below:

1. Line 58 “Research by [5]” is not a good choice, in my opinion it is better to use Akhtar and Masud [5]
2. Lines 80-81: “Key elements influencing mitigation intention to engage in mitigation activities include the new ecological paradigm …” without the word “mitigation” in mitigation Intention?
3. Lines 89, 93 – same comments as in point 1. Revise the whole paper.
4. Line 106 - it is not good to start the sentence with [14].
5. It would be good to describe the questionnaire used to investigate the perceptions of farmers in The Gambia. It would be good to explain the questionnaire used, what components the questionnaire had, the type of questions - open, closed - when the questionnaire was conducted, how (online/live), how many farmers completed the survey and how many valid surveys were online.
6. In the results, in table 2 – the numbers are above the words. It would be better if the text was above the table.
7. How are “wage" and “praying” linked as strategies to climate change adaptation? Please describe mentioned and other strategies in the text. Support with literature.
8. It is not clear what 1,1,3,5 stand for in Table 5. The numbers are written above the numbers in Table 5, so it is difficult to read them. Please describe.
9. Please describe how the economic, social and environmental impacts of strategies are defined and analysed? How did you define that CR and CCV are in quadrant 1 or CCT, CSQ, CCL, PST, SCT and UIF are in quadrant 3. Support this with literature.
10. While recommendations are made in the discussion, more concrete policy implementation strategies could enhance the impact.
11. The contribution of the paper in the introduction section would be good.
12. Describe the limitation(s) of the research.
13. What could be recommendations for future research?
14. Some sections are lengthy and repetitive. A more concise structure would improve readability and increase the clarity of the paper.

Author Response

Thank you for reviewing our paper. We appreciate your valuable comments. Please find attached the responses to the comments. 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx