Climate Change Impact on Indigenous Food Resources

Abstract

Change in climate conditions is real and obvious to people who depend on the natural resources to meet livelihood needs. Climate manifestations such as rising temperatures and scarce rainfall negatively affect the natural resource-based livelihoods of most rural communities. The present study describes a local community members’ perceptions on climate change and how it impacts on the indigenous food resources. Materials and methods: Data derived from semi-structured interviews with a sample of 120 community members selected from a rural community in Limpopo Province, South Africa, show that community members have a reasonable understanding of climate change. Results, Discussion and Conclusion: The members’ explanations of climate change are centered disparities in temperature and rainfall patterns. Also, community members are aware of the devastating impacts of extreme heat and unpredictable rainfall on the indigenous resources such as subsistence crop and livestock production, and gathering of vegetables and fruits. The study suggests the use of innovative measures to conserve and sustain the indigenous food resources reported in this study to address the challenge of poverty and malnutrition in South Africa’s local communities where the resources are available and used as sources of food.