scholarly journals Food Security and Coping Strategies of Rural Household Livelihoods to Climate Change in the Eastern Cape of South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Novienyo Abla Amoah ◽  
Mulala Danny Simatele
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Rural Farmers ◽  
Local Municipality ◽  
The Government

Although governments across the globe have pledged resources and efforts to minimise the factors contributing to climate change, it is a concern that climate change continues to exert significant hardship on many rural communities of which South Africa is no exception. The Eastern Cape Province in South Africa is one of the driest provinces with prolonged water scarcity challenges. The purpose of this study is to investigate coping strategies adopted by the rural poor to build resilience against food insecurity. Primary data was collected from a total of 385 respondents in three rural communities using semi-structured questionnaires and interview. The findings suggest that farmers have been proactive in responding to climate change and food security. The study revealed that farmers are engaged in different coping strategies to ensure that there is enough food for the household. Although some of the coping strategies might assist, others would have severe consequences on the health of the population, especially children. Based on the findings, it is recommended that there should be regular engagement by the local municipality, the community and rural farmers on climate change events. The focus should be on the management of drought, heatwaves, flood, and soil erosion. The government within the local municipality should also focus on building a dam for rural farmers. The dam will serve as a reservoir of water for irrigation during drought.

Analysis of Causes and Coping Strategies of Food Insecurity: The Case of Central and North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
pp. 097300522110352
Author(s):  
Wondim Awoke ◽  
Kefale Eniyew ◽  
Belete Meseret
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Systematic Sampling ◽  
Cropping Pattern ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
And Coping

In Ethiopia, food insecurity is a major problem, which affects the livelihood of rural communities. Hence, this study was conducted in Central and North Gondar Zones with the main aim of analysing causes and coping strategies of food insecurity. Primary data were collected through an interview schedule, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. A total of 500 sample respondents were selected through a systematic sampling technique. Data were analysed through simple descriptive statistics and a chi-square test. Frequently used coping strategies by sample respondents were planting early maturing crop (82.4%), turning to low-quality and cheaper foodstuff (81.2%), changing cropping pattern (78.6%), sale of livestock (75.6%) and purchasing food on cash 75.0%. Sex, educational status, fertiliser utilisation, livelihood diversification and off-farm activities had an association and significant with a food security status of sample respondents at p ≤ 0.01. Furthermore, farmland and on-farm were significantly associated with food security status at 0.01 < p ≤ 0.05 and 0.05 < p ≤ 0.10, respectively. To ensure food security, different organisations that support rural households should be aware of peak food insecurity seasons. Moreover, due attention should be paid to practical-oriented education and training to diversify the household’s livelihood.

scholarly journals Illiteracy among Caregivers: Implications for Children's Educational and Social Development

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barrington Makunga ◽  
Catherina Johanna Schenck ◽  
Nicolette V Roman ◽  
Gary Spolander
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Primary Caregivers ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Social Inadequacy ◽  
Educational Advancement ◽  
External Stakeholders ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Village

The ability of primary caregivers to provide a healthy, nurturing and stimulating environment for their children is essential for children’s educational advancement and emotional development. However, caregivers who live in the rural areas in South Africa face many challenges, ranging from acute poverty and limited education and skills to feelings of social inadequacy and marginalisation. These factors directly and indirectly affect their ability to care for children and thus these children’s educational progress and future economic and social prospects. This article describes the experiences of illiterate caregivers in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, in attempting (or otherwise) to assist the children in their care with their schoolwork. An exploratory study was conducted in the village of Ku Jonga in the Eastern Cape’s rural Coffee Bay, which used focus groups comprising caregivers and teachers. Among the findings was that many children’s lack of educational advancement in the school system has complex origins, but that the illiteracy of their primary caregivers (which results in their inability to help with schoolwork or to provide the motivation or environment for learning) is a leading cause. A key conclusion was that caregivers, teachers and external stakeholders (for example the government and civil organisations) need to work together to arrive at a common understanding of the specific problems and priorities of rural communities, particularly with regard to education, and to introduce practical initiatives to help these communities become more motivated, productive and self-sustaining.

scholarly journals Climate change and water insecurity in rural uMkhanyakude District Municipality: an assessment of coping strategies for rural South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hosea Olayiwola Patrick
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Policy Issue ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Water Insecurity ◽  
Rural South ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Rural South Africa

Abstract The vulnerability of Africa to climate change extremes and eventual impacts is extremely high due to the weak coping strategies prevalent in the continent. The peculiarity of South Africa to these vulnerabilities, especially for water security, is an issue of socioeconomic and policy issue. Based on the premises of human security, the study assesses the coping strategies of rural communities in South Africa, focusing on uMkhanyakude District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal province, given the effects of climate change-induced water scarcity on the area. The study employed a multilayered descriptive mixed method triangulation approach. It focused specifically on the connection between water and climate change and the adopted everyday vertical and horizontal coping strategies. The findings revealed a strong correlation between the behavioral and traditional coping strategies in the study area, water depletion/scarcity, and climate change. It also showed that government institutions are reactionary in their response to climate change-induced impacts. The study, therefore, recommends a pre-resilience mechanism that makes institutions and individuals proactive rather than adopting a reactionary post-resilience strategy in response to the effects of climate change-induced water security.

scholarly journals Scaling up crop diversification among farming communities for food security under climate change: A case study of the Kenyan pelis programme

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (07) ◽  
pp. 17025-17044
Author(s):  
Mary Ngure ◽  
◽  
SO Wandiga ◽  
DO Olago ◽  
SO Oriaso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Systematic Sampling ◽  
Crop Diversification ◽  
Term Survival

Climate change poses significant risks to food security globally with predictions of 10-20 % decline in rain-fed crop yields by 2050. Sub-Saharan Africa remains highly susceptible to food shortage since over 95 % of the region’s total cropland is rain-fed. Kenya’s over reliance on rain-fed agriculture predisposes the country to climate-induced food insecurity. Murang’a County in Kenya is experiencing climate change challenges manifested in prolonged droughts and floods. The consequences,are failed cropping seasons, soil erosion, landslides, altered crop suitability and a resurgence of human, livestock, crop pests,and diseases,culminating into food insecurity. This study was conducted with Kimandi-Wanyaga community in the Gatanga Sub-County in Murang’a County, Kenya. Residents are smallholder subsistence rain-fed farmers. The study explored the potential of up-scaling crop diversification under the Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (PELIS) for food security vis-à-vis climate change. The community’s climate change coping strategies were explored to account for the need to up-scale crop diversification under PELIS. A mixed methods research design was applied whereby a systematic sampling method was used to select 281 household-heads. Three key informants were purposively selected and primary data were collected through a household survey, in-depth key stakeholder interviews, focus group discussions and on-farm trials. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics while qualitative data were analysed using thematic and content analysis. The study established that 92.9 % of the community perceived climate change and its impacts. They had adopted a combination of coping strategies most of which,were found to be informed by short-term survival and hence,considered inadequate for long-term adaptation. The PELIS approach had been piloted in Murang’a County and was found to be a promising strategy for crop diversification and food security among forest-adjacent communities. However, only 11 % of the studied community participated in the scheme. Therefore, the study endeavoured to work with the community to promote cultivation of traditional vegetables under PELIS for crop diversification and food security in the face of climate change.The PELIS beneficiaries who adopted cultivation of Black nightshade, Amaranths and Cowpeas managed to produce enough for household consumption and sale of surplus for income. The PELIS,therefore, possesses the co-benefits of climate change adaptation through crop diversification for food security and climate change mitigation through afforestation for carbon sequestration.

scholarly journals Rural Farmers’ Coping Strategies to Effects of Climate Change on Watermelon Production in Igboora, Oyo State, Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
Oyediran W. O ◽  
Omoare A. M ◽  
Alaka F. A ◽  
Shobowale A. A ◽  
Oladoyinbo O. B
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Rural Farmers ◽  
The Government ◽  
Chi Square Analysis ◽  
And Coping

In the past two decades watermelon production has been a major source of livelihood sustainability in the rural farming system especially among the younger farmers. In recent time however, climate change has threatened and undermined this potential. This study was therefore carried out to assess rural farmers’ coping strategies to effects of climate change on watermelon production in Igboora, Oyo State, Nigeria. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select 150 watermelon farmers as sample size for this study. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were used to analyse the data. The findings showed that there was significant relationship between respondent’s personal characteristics and coping strategies adopted by the watermelon farmers at p < 0.05 level. Also, there was significant relationship between sources of information and coping strategies adopted by the watermelon farmers at p < 0.05 level. It is hereby recommends that effort should be put in place by the government and Seed Council of Nigeria (SCN) to come up with improved, and high drought and disease resistant watermelon seeds to increase productivity and reduce cost of seeds importation in the study area.

Exploring the South African Government Communication on Land Expropriation without Compensation

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (1-3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lungisani Moyo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Security ◽  
South African ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
South African Government ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
The South ◽  
Land Expropriation ◽  
African Government ◽  
Government Communication

ABSTRACT This paper used qualitative methodology to explore the South African government communication and land expropriation without compensation and its effects on food security using Alice town located in the Eastern Cape Province South Africa as its case study. This was done to allow the participants to give their perceptions on the role of government communication on land expropriation without compensation and its effects on South African food security. In this paper, a total population of 30 comprising of 26 small scale farmers in rural Alice and 4 employees from the Department of Agriculture (Alice), Eastern Cape, South Africa were interviewed to get their perception and views on government communications and land expropriation without compensation and its effects on South African food security. The findings of this paper revealed that the agricultural sector plays a vital role in the South African economy hence there is a great need to speed up transformation in the sector.

scholarly journals The Impact of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies on Income and Food Security: Empirical Evidence from Small-Scale Fishers in Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7905
Author(s):  
Moh. Shadiqur Rahman ◽  
Hery Toiba ◽  
Wen-Chi Huang
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Substantial Effect ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Probit Regression ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation Strategies

The impacts of climate change on marine capture fisheries have been observed in several studies. It is likely to have a substantial effect on fishers’ income and food security. This study aims to estimate the impact of adaptation strategies on fishers’ income and their household’s food security. Data were collected from small-scale fishers’ households, which own a fishing boat smaller or equal to five gross tonnages (GT). The study sites were the two coastal regions of Malang and Probolinggo in East Java, Indonesia, due to the meager socioeconomic resources caused by climate change. A probit regression model was used to determine the factors influencing the fishers’ adaptation. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to evaluate the impact of the adaptation strategies on income and food security. Food security was measured by food consumption score (FCS). The findings indicated that participation in the fishers’ group affected adaptation strategies significantly, and so did the access to credit and climate information. Also, PSM showed that the adaptation strategies had a positive and significant impact on fishers’ income and food security. Those who applied the adaptation strategies had a higher income and FCS than those who did not. This finding implies that the fishery sector’s adaptation strategies can have significant expansion outcome and reduce exposure to risks posed by climate change. Therefore, the arrangement of more climate change adaptation strategies should be promoted by the government for small-scale fishers in Indonesia.

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