Climate change and vulnerability to food insecurity among smallholder farmers : a case study of Gweru and Lupane districts in Zimbabwe
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Date
2010
Authors
Mutsvangwa, Eness P.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
This thesis assesses the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to food insecurity in Gweru and
Lupane districts of Zimbabwe and links this to climate change. Current changes in climate for
most parts of Zimbabwe have resulted in increased frequency of droughts, dry spells and
erratic rainfall. This has resulted in loss of food production and smallholder farmers are most
vulnerable to these climatic catastrophes as they affect the food security status of the
household. Few studies have been done at local and household levels, most climatic studies
have been done at global and national levels. This study seeks to contribute to this knowledge
gap.
Poverty and food security studies have proved that poor and food insecure households are
more vulnerable to climate change, considering that they have limited options to curb against
climate change. Using data obtained from a survey carried out in Gweru and Lupane districts
in Zimbabwe, descriptive statistics analysis was undertaken to characterize the households, in
terms of gender, education of the household head, cropping patterns of the household,
perceptions to climate change and also organizations working within the communities and
how they help reduce vulnerability to climate change. Results show that cereal crop
production is common and important in these two districts, considering that the largest pieces
of land are allocated to cereals. Thus cereals constitute a large proportion to the household’s
food security. Chuadhuri’s model of measuring vulnerability to poverty was used to measure
vulnerability to food insecurity for households in Gweru and Lupane districts. Results show
about 88% of the households in both districts are vulnerable to food insecurity thus, have
more chances of being negatively impacted by climate change.
Description
Keywords
Food security -- Zimbabwe, Crops and climate -- Zimbabwe, Climatic changes -- Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe -- Climate, Dissertation (M.Sc.Agric. (Agricultural Economics)--University of the Free State, 2010