PCLM-D-24-00090

Understanding the local implications of climate change: Unpacking the experiences of smallholder farmers in South Africa

PLOS Climate

Dear Dr. Dumisani Shoko Kori

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Ferdous Ahmed, PhD

Academic Editor

PLOS Climate

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Partly

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: This manuscript addresses a timely topic on local implications of climate change from experiences of

smallholder farmers in South Africa. It makes a relevant contribution to the field. However, some major revisions are needed at this stage. I strongly encourage the authors to address the following points

1. It will be better to provide a location map of the study area under the description of the study area

2. Regarding the methodology and analysis, the authors have used only simple ‘averages or percentages’ as the major analysis methodology to present your valuable primary data, hence should go through better statistical analysis which suits your data and draw results accordingly so as to suit the journal standards.

3. Please incorporate future research, policy implications in the discussions/ recommendations section.

Specific Comments

1. In the Table. 2. You have mentioned precipitation variations and reduced rainfall as two different variables, Please explain how these variables are different, Or change the name of the variables specifically.

2. Section 3.1 . Line. 234: Although farmers’ educational level cannot do much in terms of reducing climate change impacts? And in Line 238…. statements like , This is because education creates opportunities for livelihood diversity which enhances resilience: Suggesting you to avoid such contradicting statements. Or explain it clearly.

3. In page number 13, explain both these terms remittance and social grants

4. Fig. Associated impacts, add a picture of maize crop impacts as it is one of the major crops in the study area

5. Kindly check with the author guidelines for citing an author inside the running text. Do not use the number alone when you have to mention or to cite an author, for eg : Findings tally with [18] who found out that loss of income is one of the main social consequences of climate change impacts

6. What does the authors mean by the subheading ‘Rate’ of impact of climatic changes on crop production? Explain Or change the word Rate and use Intensity of impacts.

Reviewer #2: See the attached PDF with comments. See the comments that are presented in the shared PDF online.

The authors cannot say South Africa when the study did not even cover one province of South Africa. Kindly revise.

Suggestion for the authors do add a reference here

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Reviewer #1: Yes: Dhanya Punnoli

Reviewer #2: No

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Attachments

Attachment

Submitted filename: PCLM-D-24-00090.pdf

Understanding the local implications of climate change: Unpacking the experiences of smallholder farmers in Thulamela Municipality

PCLM-D-24-00090R1

Dear Dumisani Shoko Kori

We are pleased to inform you that your manuscript 'Understanding the local implications of climate change: Unpacking the experiences of smallholder farmers in Thulamela Municipality' has been provisionally accepted for publication in PLOS Climate.

Before your manuscript can be formally accepted you will need to complete some formatting changes, which you will receive in a follow-up email from a member of our team. 

Please note that your manuscript will not be scheduled for publication until you have made the required changes, so a swift response is appreciated.

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Thank you again for supporting Open Access publishing; we are looking forward to publishing your work in PLOS Climate.

Best regards,

Ferdous Ahmed

Academic Editor

PLOS Climate