Abstract
PurposeThe 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/approachVulnerability was assessed using the Vulnerability to Resilience and the Climate Vulnerability and Capacity frameworks.FindingsThe 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/valueThe 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.
Highlights
Understanding people’s vulnerability to climate change and variability is complex, as this depends on both biophysical and socioeconomic drivers of climate change impact that determine the capacity to cope and adapt (Berkes, 2007)
3.1 Defining local vulnerabilities The farmers and key informants indicated that vulnerability to climate change is broad
Increased food insecurity and poverty was identified as a key indicator to vulnerability to climate change and variability
Summary
Understanding people’s vulnerability to climate change and variability is complex, as this depends on both biophysical and socioeconomic drivers of climate change impact that determine the capacity to cope and adapt (Berkes, 2007). Prevalence of drought and decline in food availability should not necessarily lead to famines and loss of livelihoods. Whether food availability decline would lead to disaster will depend on capability failure, which in turn depends on market access and people’s social, economic and political entitlements (The World Bank and GFDRR, 2013). In sub-Saharan Africa, rainfed agriculture provides about 90 per cent of the region’s food and feed, and it is the principal source of livelihood for more than 70 per cent of the population (Bauer and Scholz, 2010). Because of heavy dependence on rainfed agriculture, about 60 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa is vulnerable to frequent and severe droughts (Viljoen, 2014)
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