Rural community perceptions on the impact of climate change on subsistence farming: Mutoko community in Zimbabwe
The present study explores the impact of climate change on subsistence farming in Mutoko community, Zimbabwe. Mutoko is a rural community situated in the eastern part of Zimbabwe. Climate change is one of the biggest environmental challenges. Its impact is more intense in developing countries,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2020
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/16990/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/16990/1/41601-133082-1-SM.pdf |
| Summary: | The present study explores the impact of climate change on subsistence farming in Mutoko
community, Zimbabwe. Mutoko is a rural community situated in the eastern part of Zimbabwe.
Climate change is one of the biggest environmental challenges. Its impact is more intense in
developing countries, particularly in rural communities which have become a major concern to the
societal livelihood. The most affected people are the rural poor because they are highly dependent
on climatic and environmental factors in addition to their greater reliance on climate-sensitive
sectors such as agriculture and health, posing critical challenges for natural development. Focus
group discussions were conducted to explore perceptions of climate change and its impacts on
subsistence farming. The study reports community members’ awareness of changes in the local
natural environment. The changes are increased temperature and scarcity of rain. Observable
impacts of these changes are decreased crop yields because of drought. The findings are supported
by observation that Zimbabwe lies in a semi-arid region with limited and unreliable rainfall
patterns and temperature variations. Rainfall exhibits considerable spatial and temporal variability.
It is concluded that the impact of climate change on subsistence farming is real and is negatively
affecting food security in the study area. |
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