Enhancing food security amidst climate variability among smallholder farmers.
| dc.contributor.author | Mwale, Mabvuto | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2023-07-06T08:26:47Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2023-07-06T08:26:47Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023 | |
| dc.description | Master of Science Degree in Geography. | en |
| dc.description.abstract | Neglected and underutilized crops (NUCs) are useful species of crops which are largely overlooked by farmers, consumers, breeders, extentionists, researchers and policy makers. They represent a cluster of biodiversity with potential to solve food security problems among smallholder farmers in the developing world especially in the spectre of climate variability. This study examined the potential of NUCs in enhancing food security of smallholder farming households amidst climate variability in Petauke, Zambia. Objectives of the study were to: (i) determine knowledge levels on NUCs among smallholder farming households in Petauke district, (ii) investigate the extent to which cultivation of NUCs has improved food security amidst climate change amongst smallholder farming households in Petauke, and (iii) examine the role of government and other stakeholders in promoting the cultivation of NUCs in enhancing food security amidst climate variability amongst smallholder farmers. Data was collected through structured interviews with 165 smallholder farmers and nine key informants. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results show that respondents identified 24 crops as NUCs. Thus, 25 percent of respondents identified cow peas (Vigna unguiculata), 26 percent identified Bambara nuts (Vigna subterranean), 23 percent identified local maize varieties while below 13 percent each were identified for pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and cassava (Manihot esculenta) amongst crops that were neglected and underutilised. Reasons advanced for their neglect and underutilisation were loss of knowledge about production, use and storage (19 percent); non-availability of seeds (30 percent); preference for hybrid crop varieties (40 percent); shortage of land (4 percent); low yields (10 percent); and maize-centric government policies. Two thirds (66 percent) of respondents acknowledged the importance of NUCs in enhancing food security amidst increased climate variability. This was because, inter alia NUCs were adapted to the climatic variability within the local environments in which they are bred through local seed distribution systems. Being open pollinated varieties, farmers can replant them season after season with little or no loss in yields. Henceforth, diversification using NUCs is an important option to hedge against risk of individual crop failure amidst climate variability. The study noted low participation from both public and private sectors in enhancing NUCs production. The study concludes that improving household food security requires enhancing production of NUCs without which household food security will remain a challenge amidst climate variability among smallholder farming households in a developing country context. The study recommends that the Ministry of Agriculture must expand its input subsidy programme to include NUC seeds. Further, stakeholders in the agricultural sector must involve smallholder farmers in selecting the type of crops to be given to beneficiaries to reduce on problems of low adoption rates. There is need to research on community seed banks which used to exist in the past and establish what led to their failure. | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://dspace.unza.zm/handle/123456789/8042 | |
| dc.publisher | The University of Zambia | en |
| dc.subject | Neglected and underutilized crops--Potential of. | en |
| dc.subject | Household food security--Zambia. | en |
| dc.title | Enhancing food security amidst climate variability among smallholder farmers. | en |
| dc.title.alternative | : what role for neglected and underutilised crops in Petauke, Zambia? | en |
| dc.type | Thesis | en |