Increasing resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change through multiple adoption of proven climate-smart agriculture innovations. Lessons from Southern Africa

Drought Risk to Agricultural Systems in Zimbabwe: A Spatial Analysis of Hazard, Exposure, and Vulnerability

“…However, the adoption of agricultural innovations, such as drought-resistant varieties or conservation agriculture, is often undermined by the financial constraints of low-resourced farmers [114], but carries enormous potential to make the overall agricultural production more resilient to drought [35]. During drought years in Zimbabwe, farmers are sometimes forced to replant several times, which is a large financial burden and could be avoided by agricultural adaptation strategies [115].…”

Building adaptive capacity: Reducing the climate vulnerability of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe

“…Increasing temperatures and unpredictable rainfall in amount and timing, frequent extreme weather, and higher severity of pests and diseases are among the more drastic changes impacting agriculture and food systems negatively (Lobell et al, ). As reported by Makate et al (), higher temperatures that are experienced regularly in Africa have reduced crop yields while encouraging weed and pest proliferation. Studies have shown that climate change and extreme climatic events pose great threats to agricultural production, food security, community health, natural resources, biodiversity, and water availability (Dube, Moyo, & Ncube, ; IPCC, ; Mashizha et al, ), and rural communities are not being spared from the rant.…”

“…Increasing temperatures and unpredictable rainfall in amount and timing, frequent extreme weather, and higher severity of pests and diseases are among the more drastic changes impacting agriculture and food systems negatively (Lobell et al, 2008). As reported by Makate et al (2018) Farming in both rural areas and within the margins of Zimbabwe's cities is at risk. In terms of household income, Zimbabwe is now the most unequal country in the world (Bonga, 2014;World Bank, 2017), with persistently high unemployment of over 75% (Mapuva & Makaye, 2017).…”

Introductory Chapter: Addressing Past Claims and Oncoming Challenges for Irrigation Systems

“…While increased food production will have to be done in the face of a changing climate and climate variability [22], agricultural and irrigation systems should reduce their carbon cost and its contribution to GHG [23]. In order to address this gap, increasing interest has been focused on ensuring that both agriculture and irrigation become climate smart as a driven factor to ensure food security, improve rural livelihoods, and alleviate environmental risks for small-scale farmers [24]. The multi-dimensional aspects of agricultural production under climate change are captured by the climate-smart agriculture (CSA), an approach in which agriculture is transformed and reoriented under the projected scenarios of climate change [25].…”