Adaptive livelihood strategies employed by farmers to close the food gap in semi-arid south eastern Zimbabwe

摘要: Rural households in semi-arid areas of southern Africa are confronted with numerous hazards that threaten the household food base. The new wildlife policy establishing transfrontier conservation aims to increase resources while improving local livelihoods. This can be better appreciated by people if it embraces knowledge adaptive strategies they employ close gap. We assessed how different responded major hazard, drought, order gain insight into these addressed critical questions availability. Informal interviews, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted determine disaggregated according their livelihood patterns a questionnaire was applied learn each drought. Data analysed within three types identified described at level as cattle-based, crop-based non-farm based. found factors aggravated effects drought specific responses also particular type. Disaggregation revealed between type relations interactions important cope. For example, even though cropping is an activity across types, specifically cattle becomes restocking inputs after serious through cross-border trading. Livestock trading coping for all cattle-based cattle, goats poultry based linking markets livestock, drugs restocked groups. These linkages among reducing vulnerability change only become visible result this disaggregation. conclude additional policies enhancing resilience systems stimulating across-border livestock formal market set-up adaptation already existence (e.g., crop production Banyeni) add value success Africa.