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Experiential learning and discovery through farmer field schools (FFS) have the potential to empower smallholder livestock farmers who face heightened vulnerability to climate change. However, there are various levels of learning and discovery in FFS that can inform smallholder livestock farmer knowledge and perception. Understanding this is vital, as farmers' perceptions influence their readiness to adopt climate-smart practices, informing effective resilience-building strategies. Therefore, this study sought to investigate and assess the impact of the FFS approach on smallholder livestock farmers' perceptions of climate change, taking Raymond Local Municipality in South Africa as a case. The design followed by the study was a longitudinal survey, with three pools each signifying various FFS intervention points. The study utilized simple random sampling to collect data from 80 smallholder livestock farmers using structured questionnaires in each of the three cross-sectional pools, while descriptive statistics, Min–Max Normalization, and t-tests were used for analysis. The results show that there was an increase in the awareness of climate change due to the interventions of the FFS. Furthermore, there are cumulative differences between the knowledge and perception towards climate change between the three pooled cross-sections. In conclusion, participating in FFS had a significant impact on farmers' level of understanding and adaptation to climate change. The study recommends that the government and policymakers extensively promote FFS and support them financially so that they can provide more support to rural farmers as well as enhance knowledge on climate change. This study recommends the provision of workshops and awareness campaigns on climate change for farmers through FFS as this will assist farmers to be more sustainable on their farming systems and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues relating to food availability, accessibility, affordability, and utilization remain of paramount importance among rural households. In order to formulate or implement relevant food security programs in rural areas, it is essential to have a deep understanding of the food security status of rural households. This study sought to determine the prevalence of food insecurity among rural households in the Eastern Cape Province, as well as its key socioeconomic and demographic factors. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 240 households using questionnaires about food security. A convenience sampling method was used to collect data, along with a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data. The binary logistic regression model revealed that age of household head, education level of household head, access to credit, household income, and household size were all associated with food security status. Thus, this study recommends that the government at all levels (local, state, and federal) have an adequate budget allocated to increasing awareness of the benefits of participating in farming to improve the livelihood outcomes of households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]