Assessment of drought impacts: results of a

dialogue with stakeholders

Patrick Mushove and Emmanuel Matsika, Miombo Network/Project

AF38

Relevant Research Issues

•On-farm management practices under changed climate

•Appropriate crop varieties and livestock breeds under changed climate

Case study approach-Zambia

• Semi-structured questionnaire and informal interviews

• 22 respondents in Ndola Rural district (agro-ecological zone III)

• 26 respondents in Choma district (agro-ecological zone II)

• Rainfall data for period 1980/81 to 2001/2002

Case study approach-Zimbabwe

• Semi-structured questionnaire

• Sample size of 214 households from 11 of Buhera District’s 32 wards

• Rainfall data for period 1960/61 to 2001/2002

RESULTS

• Farmers estimate that drought frequency is up from 1 in 5-10 years to 1 in 5 years

• Small-scale, poor farmers are more vulnerable to droughts than the wealthier large-scale farmers

• Farmers attribute the shortening of rainfall seasons to climate variability

Masvingo Dekadal Rainfall

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2001/2002 Season Normal

Rainfall Anomalies

Problems and Solutions

• Bureaucracy in accessing rural farmers’ agricultural production data (Zw)

• Strengthen networking and stakeholder engagement

• Lack of reliable meteorological data at local level

• Promote establishment of low cost rainfall stations and improve farm records