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Contextual vulnerability of rainfed crop-based farming communities in semi-arid Zimbabwe: A case of Chiredzi District

Obert Jiri (School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa, and Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe)
Paramu L. Mafongoya (School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa)
Pauline Chivenge (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa)

International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management

ISSN: 1756-8692

Article publication date: 18 September 2017

Issue publication date: 29 September 2017

188

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess smallholder farmers’ vulnerability to climate change and variability based on the socioeconomic and biophysical characteristics of Chiredzi District, a region that is susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change and variability.

Design/methodology/approach

Vulnerability was assessed using the Vulnerability to Resilience and the Climate Vulnerability and Capacity frameworks.

Findings

The major indicators and drivers of vulnerability were identified as droughts, flash floods, poor soil fertility and out-migration leaving female- and child-headed households. From sensitivity analysis, it was shown that different areas within the district considered different biophysical and socioeconomic indicators to climate change and variability. They also considered different vulnerability indicators to influence the decisions for adaptation to climate change and variability.

Originality/value

The results of this study indicate that the area and cropping systems are greatly exposed and are sensitive to climatic change stimuli, as shown by the decline in main cereal grain yield. These results also showed that there is a need to define and map local area vulnerability as a basis to recommend coping and adaptation measures to counter climate change hazards.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Funding: This study was funded by the National Research Foundation of South Africa through the Research Chair: Agronomy and Rural Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Citation

Jiri, O., Mafongoya, P.L. and Chivenge, P. (2017), "Contextual vulnerability of rainfed crop-based farming communities in semi-arid Zimbabwe: A case of Chiredzi District", International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Vol. 9 No. 6, pp. 777-789. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCCSM-03-2017-0070

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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