Environmental learning for coping with drought among small scale farmers of Luangwa district, Zambia.
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Date
2017
Authors
Chipatu, Lillian
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
Luangwa District in Zambia’s Lusaka province lies within a marginal area that is prone to
both drought and floods in the rainy season (Luangwa District Council, 2007). Despite small
scale farmers of Luangwa District employing various drought coping strategies, drought and
floods continue to adversely affect them in terms of food security and the general livelihood
of the population (Kaminsa, 2008). Although environmental learning for coping with drought
among small scale farmers has not been studied or explored, some scholars have explained
the role that environmental learning plays in coping with environmental hazards (Goulder,
1999; Holdren, 1990). The aim of the study was to examine environmental learning of coping
with drought among small scale farmers of Zambia’s Luangwa District so as to determine its
approapriateness.
To achieve this aim, the study established drought coping strategies among small scale
farmers of Zambia’s Luangwa district. Having done this, an examination of environmental
learning related to such drought coping strategies was done.
The study was a critical realist case study within a setting of qualitative methodologies. A
semi structured interview guide was used on disaster management officers, agriculture
supervisor, town planner and extension officer, while a focus group discussion was conducted
among the small scale farmers. Observations of farming activities on small holdings were
also done.
The study established that small scale farmers of Luangwa District mainly employed
traditional drought coping strategies. Furthermore, the study findings revealed that
environmental learning among small scale farmers was on general farming practices and not
specifically on drought coping. Thus the study findings confirmed literature assertion that
there was superficial environmental learning among small scale farmers.
Finally, the study comes up with a proposed environmental learning programme for drought
coping which may potentially be useful in addressing drought coping challenges among the
small scale farmers of Luangwa District. Thus a major recommendation is for the Ministry of
Agriculture and other stakeholders to introduce environmental learning for drought coping
among small scale farmers.Further, the government of the republic of Zambia needs to
allocate more funds to extension service.
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Drought--Luangwa--Zambia