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A Synthesis of Smallholder Farmers’ Adaptation to Climate Change in Southern Africa: Averting Adaptation Vacuum

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Climate Change Adaptation in Africa

Part of the book series: Climate Change Management ((CCM))

Abstract

Smallholder agricultural ecosystems are threatened by climate change. Based on available evidence, of all the climate change outcomes, southern Africa is one of the regions worst affected by climate change. Adaptation to climate change involves changes in agricultural management practices in response to changes in climate conditions. It often involves a combination of various individual responses at the farm-level and assumes that farmers have access to alternative practices and technologies. This review examines farmer adaptation strategies to climate change in southern Africa based on a cross-section database of three countries (South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe). We review the state of knowledge of agricultural vulnerability and responses to predicted climate change and consider adaptation options. The review describes farmer perceptions to changes in long-term temperature and precipitation as well as various farm-level adaptation measures and barriers to adaptation at the farm household level. It also reviews smallholder farmer constraints to autonomous adaptation and implications on adaptation policies. More research is needed on local level assessment methods and standard indicators of change in response to effects from climate change, while regional monitoring networks are needed to observe these responses to enable educated adaptation. Adaptation measures can offset anticipated agricultural losses, reduce vulnerability and improve resilience to climate change.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

    Obert Jiri & Paramu Mafongoya

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  1. Obert Jiri
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  2. Paramu Mafongoya
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Correspondence to Obert Jiri .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. FTZ-NK, HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

  2. Environmental and Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Simane Belay

  3. School of Water Resources, South Eastern Kenya University, Nairobi, Kenya

    Jokasha Kalangu

  4. Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Wuta Menas

  5. Department Ecosystems and Conservation, College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

    Pantaleo Munishi

  6. Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe

    Kumbirai Musiyiwa

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Jiri, O., Mafongoya, P. (2017). A Synthesis of Smallholder Farmers’ Adaptation to Climate Change in Southern Africa: Averting Adaptation Vacuum. In: Leal Filho, W., Belay, S., Kalangu, J., Menas, W., Munishi, P., Musiyiwa, K. (eds) Climate Change Adaptation in Africa. Climate Change Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49520-0_16

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