Measures to Mitigate Climate Induced Threats in Promoting Good Health and Social Well-Being of Small Scale Crop Farmers in Nega Nega Community of Mazabuka District, Zambia

Empirical evidence has shown that billions of people, particularly those in developing countries, Zambia inclusive are facing shortages of water and food as a result of climate threats. The climate threats are also perceived and predicted to be a greater risks to health and lives of people affected. The situation is predicted to worsen in the future if no measures are taken. This implies that concerted global action is needed to enable developing countries to adapt to the effects of climate threats. Therefore this research was undertaken primarily to explore measures that can be used to mitigate climate induced threats in promoting good health and social well-being of small scale crop farmers in Nega Nega community of Mazabuka District, Zambia. This research was undertaken using a qualitative interpretive phenomenological design. The design was appropriate as it helped to obtain detailed insights on perceived measures from 30 purposively selected indigenous small-scale crop farmers Interviews were the main source of data supplemented by document review.The main findings of this research were that, in order to combat the effects associated with climate shocks in Nega Nega community, famers should begin to practice the using of irrigation systems and planting of drought resilient crops such as beans and cassava. The research also found that farmers should embrace afforestation as this has been scietifically proven to help reduce climate changes’ effects. Small scale crop farners perceived these measures to be smart agriculture practices and if well harnessed, they can positvely impact their health and social wellbeing. Equally, secondary data brings to light the importance of enhancing the capacity of rural economies to diversify, by promoting alternative income generating activities that are climate resilient. The research concluded that these measures are crtical because they speak to how humanity can overcome objectionable conditions such as climate induced threats that have the potential to jeopardize human existence on planet earth.This research recommends that the Ministry of Agriculture through agriculture extention officers should educate small scale farmers on smart agricure practice such as crop diversification, kind of crop for each soil type and irrigation. These practises have the potential to enhance productivity, optimise water management, and promote soil health, thereby mitigating susceptibility to climate-related disturbances.