Your search found 3 records
1 Hawkins, P.; Geza, W.; Mabhaudhi, T.; Sutherland, C.; Queenan, K.; Dangour, A.; Scheelbeek, P. 2022. Dietary and agricultural adaptations to drought among smallholder farmers in South Africa: a qualitative study. Weather and Climate Extremes, 35:100413. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wace.2022.100413]
Drought ; Climate change adaptation ; Dietary diversity ; Agriculture ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Coping strategies ; Food systems ; Food consumption ; Food insecurity ; Vulnerability ; Rural communities ; Resilience / South Africa / KwaZulu-Natal / Msinga / Richmond / Umbumbulu
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050972)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221209472200007X/pdfft?md5=e32af5d9ee4281d00ea13ff36c307b87&pid=1-s2.0-S221209472200007X-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050972.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050972.pdf
(3.14 MB) (3.14 MB)
Building resilience to environmental change is an integral part of long-term climate adaptation planning and local policy. There is an increased understanding of the impact of climate change on global crop production however, little focus has been given to local adaptation pathways and rural smallholder community responses, especially regarding food security. It is becoming increasingly evident that local level decision-making plays a vital role in reducing vulnerability to environmental change. This research aimed to qualitatively investigate coping and adaptive strategies adopted by smallholder farming households to respond to the impacts of drought in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Focus group discussions (n = 7) consisting of 5–9 participants and individual interviews (n = 9) using pre-tested topic guides, involving a total of 57 adults were conducted in rural areas of drought-affected districts: Msinga, Richmond and Umbumbulu of KwaZulu-Natal, in July 2018. The data were analysed using thematic analysis in NVivo 12. Thematic analysis identified three principal themes: 1. Perceived effects of droughts on the local food system and diets; 2. Current coping strategies; and 3. Enablers for successful adaptation. All sites reported a change in food consumption habits, with the majority perceiving drought to be the main driver behind a shift from vegetable-based to starch-based diets and decreased animal source food consumption. Only short-term coping strategies were implemented across the study sites. However, knowledge of long-term adaptation strategies existed but was unattainable to most respondents. Recommendations of perceived context-specific long-term adaptation strategies that could be used at a local scale were communicated by the respondents. However, they would need external help to actualize them. A need exists to support smallholder communities’ short-term response methods to drought to achieve more holistic resilience and successful adaptation. Short-term adaptation strategies, if implemented alone, often have significant tradeoffs with longer-term adaptation and building resilience. This study highlights the need for targeted, contextualised policy solutions to improve smallholder productivity during drought through a strategic combination of both short- and longer-term adaptation measures, i.e. short-term adaptation should be guided by a long-term adaptation strategy. Proper planning, including the use of climate scenarios combined with information on nutritional status, is needed to develop context-specific and transformative adaptation strategies. These strategies should aim to strengthen resilience at a local level and should be included as policy recommendations.
2 Geza, W.; Ngidi, M. S. C.; Slotow, R.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2022. The dynamics of youth employment and empowerment in agriculture and rural development in South Africa: a scoping review. Sustainability, 14(9):5041. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095041]
Youth employment ; Participation ; Empowerment ; Agriculture ; Rural development ; Unemployment ; Inclusion ; Strategies / South Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051085)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/9/5041/pdf?version=1650619803
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051085.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051085.pdf
(2.12 MB) (2.12 MB)
Over the years, South Africa has made significant investments aimed at transforming the agricultural sector to deliver on rural economic development and job creation. These investments have had varying levels of success; still, what is worrying is the high youth unemployment rate which is amongst the highest globally. We conducted a scoping review using the PRISMA-P guidelines to identify the challenges youth face in accessing sustainable employment in the agriculture sector. Peer-reviewed studies were retrieved from online databases (Web of Science, Cab Direct, and Science Direct) for 1994–2021. The findings showed that youth are still facing significant challenges in the demand and supply side of the labour market and lack of inclusivity in policy formulation and implementation, limiting their involvement in agriculture and rural development initiatives. Policies and strategies responding to these challenges exist, and the spectrum of support services provided are primarily focused on entrepreneurship. Yet, the implementation of programs and initiatives has not been successful. This could be attributed to the obstacles persisting in the sociopolitical environment in SA, causing additional barriers to program implementation. Therefore, to enhance youth involvement in agriculture and rural development, there is a need to connect more rural youth to support services, local employment programmes, and youth inclusion in policy formulation processes. Additionally, the focus of policy and programs should be broadened to cater to different youth knowledge and skill profiles.
3 Geza, W.; Ngidi, M. S. C.; Mudhara, M.; Slotow, R.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2023. ‘Is there value for us in agriculture?’ A case study of youth participation in agricultural value chains in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Cogent Food and Agriculture, 9(2):2280365. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2023.2280365]
Youth employment ; Participation ; Agricultural value chains ; Inclusion ; Empowerment ; Awareness-raising ; Partnerships ; Food systems ; Rural development ; Socioeconomic aspects ; Stakeholders ; Case studies / South Africa / KwaZulu-Natal
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052406)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/23311932.2023.2280365?needAccess=true
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052406.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052406.pdf
(4.91 MB) (4.91 MB)
Developing countries in Africa face an unemployment crisis, with many unemployed youth. Agriculture has been identified as a strategic sector for employment creation targeted at youth, including those who may not have agriculture-related qualifications. However, various challenges limit the effectiveness of youth participation in the agriculture value chain. The study aimed to (i) determine youth awareness of agricultural value-chain opportunities, (ii) determine their perception of their role in the value chain, (iii) determine their perception of agricultural programs targeting youth and their opinions on who is responsible for attracting youth into agriculture and, (iv) to characterise the dynamics of youth empowerment in agriculture. Data was collected using focus group discussions and an online survey and analysed using SPSS and NVivo. Poor knowledge, low levels of awareness of agricultural value-chain activities and careers, and not meeting the minimum requirements for employment in processing and retail businesses were identified as key challenges. Most youth were interested in non-primary activities such as agro-processing, which are less labour-intensive and have a quicker return on investment than agricultural production. However, support services and programs for promoting youth participation in agriculture mainly focus on primary activities, signifying a mismatch between youth aspirations and current support. Understanding youth aspirations, perceptions and dynamics underpinning youth empowerment and participation in value chains is critical for promoting participation and formulating relevant and responsive policies. Additionally, improving access to information and building awareness of agricultural value chains is crucial in reducing barriers to entry. Policymakers should integrate agriculture and food systems knowledge into the primary education curriculum to promote youth awareness and evoke interest in agri-food system careers at an early age.
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