ID Artigo: 1023
Titulo: Challenges and opportunities for climate change adaptation among small-holder farmers in southeast Zimbabwe
Resumo: The agricultural sector in Zimbabwe accounts for 15-19% of the GDP, 45% of export earnings and supports the livelihoods of at least 70% of the population. Recurrent droughts and intr-seasonal dry spells periodically lead to massive crop failure, livestock mortality and loss of livelihoods for many rural households in semi-arid regions in the country. Under the worst case scenario of climate change, the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report estimates that agricultural production across most of Africa could be reduced by 20-50%. Strengthening the resilience and preparedness to the impacts of climate related disasters on rainfed crops is therefore a priority for Zimbabwe. This paper explores the challenges and opportunities of optimizing the performance of rainfed agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions of southeast Zimbabwe as a climate change adaptation strategy. The paper is based on work done under the UNDP/GEF Coping with Drought and Climate Change project in Zimbabwe during the period 2008-2010 in Chiredzi district. The project worked with 96 men and women farmers from vulnerable households to identify priority adaptive strategies under a changing climate. Preliminary conclusions show that currently available ‘off-shelf’ technologies such as infield rainwater harvesting integrated with crop type and variety offer significant opportunities for the farmers to reduce crop failure and yield loss associated with drought.
Palavras Chave: Resilience, Climate Change, Livelihoods, Zimbabwe