Integrating local indigenous knowledge to enhance risk reduction and adaptation strategies to drought and climate variability : The plight of smallholder farmers in Chirumhanzu district, Zimbabwe

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Date
2020Author
Grey, Mashoko S.
Masunungure, Current
Manyani, Amanda
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This article focuses on drought risk reduction and climate change adaptation strategies
adopted by rural households to sustain their livelihood activities. The overall objective was
to understand the local household’s responses to the changing climate especially drought.
The study was carried out in Chirumhanzu district in Zimbabwe and used a mixed methods
approach combining 217 household surveys, targeted focus group discussions, participatory
learning actions methods, key informant interviews and a document review. Household
data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences and thematic content analysis
was used for the qualitative data. We found that the majority of households showed
awareness of several risk reduction and adaptation strategies to implement during and/or
when drought was predicted, with 56% of the respondents stating stocking of grain as initial
strategy. Other strategies adopted at household level included early planting (at first rains),
conservation farming, planting small grains and dry planting. Indigenous and traditional
knowledge systems and practices, including local people’s holistic view of the community
and environment, were a major resource for adapting to climate change and drought risks.
However, these indigenous knowledge systems and practices had not been consistently used
in the existing adaptation and risk-reduction efforts. Indigenous knowledge was not
sufficiently acknowledged and integrated into formal risk reduction and adaptation
strategies, which resulted in limited success for external interventions. There is need for
integration of local and indigenous knowledge systems and external interventions to build
household livelihoods that are resilient to climate risks.