The Indigenous Adaptation Strategies on the Impacts of Rainfall Scarcity on Subsistence Food Production in Moletjie, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Keywords:
Climate Change; Rainfall Scarcity; Indigenous Adaptation Practices; Subsistence Food Production; Limpopo Province
Abstract
Severe climate change manifestations have a significant influence on subsistence food production, notably rainfall shortage, which causes drought, dust, crop and livestock loss, and hence hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. The purpose of this research was to highlight indigenous adaptation techniques to the effects of rainfall shortage on subsistence food production. In-depth interviews were used to gather data until saturation was reached. According to the research, subsistence farmers are aware of the effects of rainfall shortage on subsistence food production. Farmers, for example, are aware that crop and livestock output are lessened and poor as a consequence of drought and soil erosion. To deal with the effects of rainfall shortage on traditional food production mechanisms, indigenous adaptation practices such as growing drought-resistant crops and using animal dung as manure are used. The research suggests combining western and indigenous ways to mitigate the harmful effects of rainfall shortage.
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Bhusal, Y. “Local Peoples’ Perceptions on Climate Change, Its Impacts and Adaptation Measures in Mid-Mountain Region of Nepal.” (A Case study from Kaski District). Nepal: Tribhuvan University Institute of Forestry Pokhara, 2009.
Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2006). Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 77-101.
Brechin, S. R. (2003). Comparative Public Opinion and Knowledge on Global Climatic Change and the Kyoto Protocol: the U.S. versus the world. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy 23.10: 106-134.
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Chepkoech, W, Mungai, N W, Stöber S, Lotze-Campen H. “Understanding adaptive capacity of smallholder African indigenous vegetable farmers to climate change in Kenya”. Climate Risk Management. 27 (2020) :100204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2019.100204.
Dube, T. & Phiri, K. (2013). Rural livelihoods under stress: The impact of climate change on livelihoods in South Western Zimbabwe. American Journal Contemporary Research, (3) 5.
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Jianchu, X., Shrestha, A., Rameshananda, V.R., Eriksson, M. & Hewitt, K. “Regional Challenges and Local Impacts of Climate Change on Mountain Ecosystems and Livelihoods”. ICIMOD Technical Paper, (2007).
Kabanda, T. & Nenwiini, S. “Impacts of Climate Variation on the length of the Rainfall Season: An Analysis of Spatial Patterns in North-East South Africa.” Theories and Applications of Climatology 125, no. 93 (2016): 100. doi:10.1007/ s007040151498-7.
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Kok, J.A. (2005). Can Models for Knowledge Management be Successfully Implemented to Manage the Diversity of Indigenous Knowledge? South African Journal of Information Management, 7(4). Accessed on: 1 August 2006.
Kruger, A. C. & Shongwe, S. “Temperature Trends in South Africa: 1960–2003.” International Journal of Climatology 24, no. 15 (2004): 1929–1945.103.
Letsatsi-Duba, D. “Drought issues in Limpopo province, MEC of agriculture”. Polokwane, Limpopo province (2009).
Limpopo Department of Agriculture (LDA) (2010). Downloaded reports. http://www.lda.gov.za.
Macedo, D., Semali, L., & Kincheloe, J. (1999). Decolonizing indigenous knowledge. What is indigenous knowledge: Voices from the academy, 134-176.
Madzwamuse, M. (2010). Climate Governance in Africa: Adaptation Strategies and Institutions: Hienrich Boll Stiftung.
Majake, M.P. (2005). Evaluation of the Impact of a Household Food Security in Qwaqwa using a Coping Strategy Index. Unpublished M Agric (Food Security), African Centre for Food Security, University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
Maponya, P. & Mpandeli, S. “Climate Change and Agricultural Production in South Africa: Impacts and Adaptation Options.” 2012.
Mascarenhas, A. (2004). Knowledge, Indigenous Knowledge, Peace, and Development. Indilinga: African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, 3(1): 1-15.
Ministry of Environment and Tourism. (2006). National Capacity Self-Assessment. Government of Zimbabwe, Harare. Available at: http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/environmentenergy/integrating_environmentintodevelopment/ncsa-final-reports--action-plans-andccr.html. [Accessed May 2020].
Mohale, M. R. “Khelobedu Cultural Evolution through Oral Tradition.” (University of South Africa: Pretoria, 2014).
Mpandeli, N.S. “Coping with Climate Variability in Limpopo Province”. Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Technical Report, 2005.
Mugabe, F.T., Mubuya, C.P., Ninja, D.H., Munodawafa, A., Gondwe, P., Mutshwangwa E.A., Chagonda, C., Masere, P., Makuvaro, D.J. & Murewi, C. (2010). Using Indigenous Knowledge for Climate Change Adaptation in Southern Zambia and South-Western Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Journal Technical Science, 1 (1) 6-11.
Mugambiwa, S.S. “Adaptation Measures to Sustain Indigenous Practices and the use of Indigenous Knowledge Systems to Adapt to Climate Change in Mutoko Rural district of Zimbabwe”, Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 10 no.1(2018) a388. https://doi.org/10.4102/ jamba. v10i1.388.
Nakashima D (2008) An Indigenous Knowledge forum on Climate Change Impacts. Pachamama 2: 3-6.
Nenwiini, S & Kabanda, T. “Impacts of Climate Variation on the Length of the Rainfall Season: An Analysis of Spatial Patterns in North-East South Africa.” Theories and Applications of Climatology 125, no. 93 (2016):100. doi:10.1007/ s007040151498-7.
Nazarea-Sndoval, V. (1995). Local Knowledge and Agricultural Decision-making in the Philippines: Class, Gender, and Resistance. Ithaca: Cornel University Press. Neumann, W.L. 2005. Social research methods: Qualitative and Quantitative approaches. 4th edition. Boston: Allyn Bacon.
Njiraine, D., Ocholla, D. N., & Onyancha, O. B. (2010). Indigenous knowledge research in Kenya and South Africa: an informetric study. Indilinga African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, 9(2), 194-210.
Nyahunda L, Matlakala F.K, & Makhubele J.C. Role of social workers in mitigating the effects of climate change in Makonde communal lands, Zimbabwe. e-Bangi 16 no.9 (2019):1–8.
Phokele, M. & Mpandeli, S. (2012). Climate Change Adaptation Strategies used by Limpopo Province Farmers in South Africa, Journal of Agricultural Science.
Rankoana, S.A. “Perceptions of Climate Change and the Potential for Adaptation in a Rural Community in Limpopo Province, South Africa”. Sustainability Journal, 8 no. 8 (2016): 672, 1-10.
Rankoana, S.A. & Mothiba, T.M. “Perceptions on Climate Change and its Effects on the Health Conditions of Mogalakwena Community members in Limpopo Province, South Africa.” African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance, 1, no. 1 (2015): 244-254.
Robinson, J. B., & Herbert, D. (2001). Integrating climate change and sustainable development. International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 1(2), 130-149.
Semali, L. and Kincheloe, J. (1999). Introduction: What is Indigenous Knowledge and Why Should We Study It? In Semali, L. and Kincheloe, J. (ed), What is Indigenous Knowledge? Voices from the Academy, pp. 3-58. New York and London: Falmer Press.
Smit. A.J & Masoga M, 2012. African Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Sustainable Development: Challenges and Prospects, People’s Publishers, Wandsbeck. South Africa.
Spencer, A., Poorting, W., Butler, C. & Pidgeon N. S. (2011). Perceptions of Climate Change and Willingness to save Energy related to Flood Experience. National Climate Change, 1, 46–49.
Somah, T. P. (2013). Climatic Change Impacts on Subsistence Agriculture in the Sudano-Sahel Zone of Cameroon - Constraints, and Opportunities for Adaptation. Ph.D. Thesis. Brandenburgische Technical University.
South African Weather Services (SAWS). “Annual Rainfall, min/max Temperature”. (South African Weather Services, Pretoria, 2015).
StatsSA. “Report on the Survey of Large and Small-scale Agriculture.” (Statistics South Africa, Pretoria, 2016).
Tambo, J. A. (2016). Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change and Variability in north-east Ghana. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 17, 85–94.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). “Adaptation Assessment, Planning, and Practice: An Overview from The Nairobi Work Programme on Impacts, Vulnerability, and Adaptation to Climate Change.” Climate Change Secretariat UNFCCC, Bonn, 2010.
World Health Organisation. (WHO). “Climate Change and Health.” (Geneva: World Health Organisation, 2015).
Yohe, G. & Tol, R. (2002). Indicators for Social and Economic Coping Capacity: Moving toward a working definition of Adaptive Capacity. Global Environmental Change. 1 (12) 25-40.
Ziervogel, G., Taylor, A., Hachigonta, S. & Hoffmaister, J. (2008). Climate Adaptation in southern Africa: Addressing the needs of Vulnerable Communities. Environment Institute (SEI), Stockholm, Sweden. Retrieved from https://www.sei-international.org/publications [Accessed September 2020].
Byers AC. Historical and contemporary human disturbance in the upper Barun valley, Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area, east Nepal. Mt Res Dev. 1996; 16:235-247.
Published
2022-08-24
How to Cite
Modise, T. R. (2022). The Indigenous Adaptation Strategies on the Impacts of Rainfall Scarcity on Subsistence Food Production in Moletjie, Limpopo Province, South Africa. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 5(8), 519-531. https://doi.org/10.47814/ijssrr.v5i8.2108
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