Climate change awareness and adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe

Agricultural production, food, nutrition and income security of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are threatened by extreme weather events, such as increased frequency of mid-season dry spells and increased temperatures. Their impacts are exacerbated by the prevalence of sandy soils, charact...

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Autores principales: Madamombe, Sandra Makaita, Ng Ang A, Stanley Karanja, Oborn, Ingrid, Nyamadzawo, George, Chirinda, Ngonidzashe, Kihara, Job, Nkurunziza, Libere
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Informa UK Limited 2024
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173744
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author Madamombe, Sandra Makaita
Ng Ang A, Stanley Karanja
Oborn, Ingrid
Nyamadzawo, George
Chirinda, Ngonidzashe
Kihara, Job
Nkurunziza, Libere
author_browse Chirinda, Ngonidzashe
Kihara, Job
Madamombe, Sandra Makaita
Ng Ang A, Stanley Karanja
Nkurunziza, Libere
Nyamadzawo, George
Oborn, Ingrid
author_facet Madamombe, Sandra Makaita
Ng Ang A, Stanley Karanja
Oborn, Ingrid
Nyamadzawo, George
Chirinda, Ngonidzashe
Kihara, Job
Nkurunziza, Libere
author_sort Madamombe, Sandra Makaita
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Agricultural production, food, nutrition and income security of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are threatened by extreme weather events, such as increased frequency of mid-season dry spells and increased temperatures. Their impacts are exacerbated by the prevalence of sandy soils, characterized by limited water and nutrient retention capacity leading to low crop productivity. In this study, we aimed at assessing farmers' awareness of extreme weather events, identify adaptation strategies and evaluate maize yield from different soil fertility and water management practices. A household survey including 245 smallholder farmers in Marange, Zimbabwe was carried out. The results revealed that farmers were aware of and had experienced extreme weather events. Among adaptation strategies used were soil water-harvesting, use of improved varieties, mulching and planting trees. Maize yield remains significantly low, averaging 0.62 t ha−1 among farmers using some forms of soil fertility and water management strategies. To further understand the reason for low maize yields and improve climate change related adaptation strategies, more research is needed to quantify and confirm management practices applied by farmers, such as fertilizer use and rates, water and nutrient management, use of improved varieties as well as socio-economic factors.
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language Inglés
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spelling CGSpace1737442025-11-11T18:47:15Z Climate change awareness and adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe Madamombe, Sandra Makaita Ng Ang A, Stanley Karanja Oborn, Ingrid Nyamadzawo, George Chirinda, Ngonidzashe Kihara, Job Nkurunziza, Libere agriculture food security soil fertility nutrient management Agricultural production, food, nutrition and income security of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are threatened by extreme weather events, such as increased frequency of mid-season dry spells and increased temperatures. Their impacts are exacerbated by the prevalence of sandy soils, characterized by limited water and nutrient retention capacity leading to low crop productivity. In this study, we aimed at assessing farmers' awareness of extreme weather events, identify adaptation strategies and evaluate maize yield from different soil fertility and water management practices. A household survey including 245 smallholder farmers in Marange, Zimbabwe was carried out. The results revealed that farmers were aware of and had experienced extreme weather events. Among adaptation strategies used were soil water-harvesting, use of improved varieties, mulching and planting trees. Maize yield remains significantly low, averaging 0.62 t ha−1 among farmers using some forms of soil fertility and water management strategies. To further understand the reason for low maize yields and improve climate change related adaptation strategies, more research is needed to quantify and confirm management practices applied by farmers, such as fertilizer use and rates, water and nutrient management, use of improved varieties as well as socio-economic factors. 2024-12-31 2025-03-20T07:58:04Z 2025-03-20T07:58:04Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173744 en Open Access application/pdf Informa UK Limited Madamombe, S.M.; Ng Ang A, S.K.; Oborn, I.; Nyamadzawo, G.; Chirinda, N.; Kihara, J.: Nkurunziza, L. (2024) Climate change awareness and adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 22(1): 2293588. ISSN: 1473-5903
spellingShingle agriculture
food security
soil fertility
nutrient management
Madamombe, Sandra Makaita
Ng Ang A, Stanley Karanja
Oborn, Ingrid
Nyamadzawo, George
Chirinda, Ngonidzashe
Kihara, Job
Nkurunziza, Libere
Climate change awareness and adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe
title Climate change awareness and adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe
title_full Climate change awareness and adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Climate change awareness and adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Climate change awareness and adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe
title_short Climate change awareness and adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe
title_sort climate change awareness and adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in semi arid areas of zimbabwe
topic agriculture
food security
soil fertility
nutrient management
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173744
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