Climate change affects agriculture and agriculture also affects climate change. Rural farmers, whose livelihoods depend
on the use of natural resources, are likely to bear the brunt of adverse impacts. Higher temperatures, reduced rainfall
and increased rainfall variability reduce crop yield and threaten food security in Itombwe massif low income and
agriculture-based economies. In particular, climate change is expected to intensify existing problems and create new
combinations of risks, particularly in Itombwe massif. The situation is made worst due to factor such as widespread
poverty, over dependence on rain fed agriculture, inequitable land distribution, limited access to capital and technology,
inadequate public infrastructure, such as agricultural service roads, long term weather forecasts and inadequate
research and extension. By lessening the severity of key damages to the agricultural sector, adaptation is the key
defensive measure. This paper reviews agricultural adaptation strategies employed by farmers in various villages in
Itombwe massif in cushioning the effects of climate change. This study explored smallholder farmers’ knowledge on
perceptions, vulnerability, adaptations and coping strategies, coupled with scientific analysis of the prevailing climatic
regimes in the study areas and established enhanced adaptations of the agricultural systems. Lack of modern early
warning systems, inflexible cropping calendar and narrow choice of crop varieties should aggravate the climate
vulnerability. Hence, improving forecasting and dissemination of climate information, developing drought resistant
varieties and promoting farm-level adaptation measures like use adjusting planting dates should be prioritized to
improve community resilience to climate change. This study examined farmers’ perceptions of long-term climate
change, adaptation measures undertaken, and the determinants of adaptation decisions based on household surveys
conducted in Itombwe massif. The information accrued from the study is expected to be used by smallholder farmers to
strengthen understanding about farmers’ decision-making process to enable policymakers and other stakeholders,
including scientific communities and policy makers to support adaptation to climate change at the farm-level and
address issues related to climate variability and change in similar agro-climatic conditions.