Assessing the Effectiveness of Drought Adaptation Strategies Employed by Small-Scale Maize Farmers in the Msekera Catchment Area of Chipata District, Eastern Province of Zambia

Climate change, especially frequent droughts, is threatening small-scale maize farming in Zambia, particularly in the Msekera Catchment Area of Chipata District. Although farmers are encouraged to use strategies like conservation agriculture, early-maturing maize, crop diversification, and agroforestry, their real impact has not been well studied. Many of these strategies are introduced without much farmer involvement, leading to low adoption and poor sustainability. Most studies also overlook the unique conditions in Msekera. This research therefore assesses how effective these drought adaptation strategies are, how widely they are used, their benefits, and the challenges farmers face. Using surveys, interviews, and field visits, the study aims to provide evidence to support locally relevant, farmer-led adaptation policies that improve resilience among maize farmers in drought-prone areas of Eastern Zambia.