eprintid: 10331
rev_number: 12
eprint_status: archive
userid: 1305
dir: disk0/00/01/03/31
datestamp: 2017-11-29 08:30:03
lastmod: 2018-03-12 06:49:49
status_changed: 2017-11-29 08:30:03
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
contact_email: Library-ICRISAT@CGIAR.ORG
creators_name: Jiri, O
creators_name: Mafongoya, P L
creators_name: Chivenge, P
icrisatcreators_name: Chivenge, P
affiliation: School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Scottsville)
affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe (Harare)
affiliation: ICRISAT (Bulawayo)
country: South Africa
country: Zimbabwe
title: Contextual vulnerability of rainfed crop-based farming communities in semi-arid Zimbabwe: A case of Chiredzi District
ispublished: pub
subjects: GL1
subjects: S21
subjects: SM1
subjects: s2.8
divisions: CRPS5
full_text_status: restricted
keywords: Adaptive capacity, Vulnerability, Smallholder farmers, Sensitivity, Exposure, Rainfed crop-based farming communities, Semi-arid Zimbabwe
note: This study was funded by the National Research Foundation of South Africa through the
Research Chair: Agronomy and Rural Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg,
South Africa.
abstract: Purpose
The 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/approach
Vulnerability was assessed using the Vulnerability to Resilience and the Climate Vulnerability and Capacity frameworks.

Findings
The 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/value
The 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.
date: 2017
date_type: published
publication: International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management
volume: 9
number: 6
publisher: Emerald Publishing
pagerange: 777-789
id_number: 10.1108/IJCCSM-03-2017-0070
refereed: TRUE
issn: 1756-8692
official_url: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJCCSM-03-2017-0070
related_url_url: https://scholar.google.co.in/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Contextual+vulnerability+of+rainfed+crop-based+farming+communities+in+semi-arid+Zimbabwe+A+case+of+Chiredzi+District&btnG=
related_url_type: pub
funders: National Research Foundation of South Africa
citation:   Jiri, O and Mafongoya, P L and Chivenge, P  (2017) Contextual vulnerability of rainfed crop-based farming communities in semi-arid Zimbabwe: A case of Chiredzi District.  International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 9 (6).  pp. 777-789.  ISSN 1756-8692     
document_url: http://oar.icrisat.org/10331/1/Contextual_vulnerability_.pdf