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Adapting to climate variability: Pumpkins, people and policy

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  • Gina Ziervogel
  • Sukaina Bharwani
  • Thomas E. Downing

Abstract

Understanding of how best to support those most vulnerable to climate stress is imperative given expected changes in climate variability. This paper investigates local adaptation strategies to climate variability, focusing on agricultural decision‐making in a communal irrigation scheme in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Research done through interviews, surveys and participatory methods demonstrates that adaptation strategies within a community are socially differentiated and present differing objectives and priorities. These results highlight the need for intervention and policy that support a heterogeneous response to a wide range of stresses. Evidence for climate change is clear and the need for adaptation is urgent. However, adaptation measures have to be sensitively integrated with ongoing development pathways to ensure they are sustainable and relevant to local priorities.

Suggested Citation

  • Gina Ziervogel & Sukaina Bharwani & Thomas E. Downing, 2006. "Adapting to climate variability: Pumpkins, people and policy," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 30(4), pages 294-305, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:30:y:2006:i:4:p:294-305
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-8947.2006.00121.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Frank Ellis, 2000. "The Determinants of Rural Livelihood Diversification in Developing Countries," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(2), pages 289-302, May.
    2. Sarah Murphy & Richard Washington & Thomas Downing & Randall Martin & Gina Ziervogel & Anthony Preston & Martin Todd & Ruth Butterfield & Jim Briden, 2001. "Seasonal Forecasting for Climate Hazards: Prospects and Responses," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 23(2), pages 171-196, March.
    3. Ziervogel, Gina & Bithell, Mike & Washington, Richard & Downing, Tom, 2005. "Agent-based social simulation: a method for assessing the impact of seasonal climate forecast applications among smallholder farmers," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 83(1), pages 1-26, January.
    4. Ellis, Frank, 2000. "Rural Livelihoods and Diversity in Developing Countries," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198296966.
    5. Ian Burton & Saleemul Huq & Bo Lim & Olga Pilifosova & Emma Lisa Schipper, 2002. "From impacts assessment to adaptation priorities: the shaping of adaptation policy," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(2-3), pages 145-159, September.
    6. Sharp, J. S. & Smith, M. B., 2003. "Social capital and farming at the rural-urban interface: the importance of nonfarmer and farmer relations," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 76(3), pages 913-927, June.
    7. Emma Tompkins & W Neil Adger & Katrina Brown, 2002. "Institutional Networks for Inclusive Coastal Management in Trinidad and Tobago," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 34(6), pages 1095-1111, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Brink, Siegrun & Löher, Jonas & Levering, Britta & Icks, Annette, 2021. "Resilienz von Unternehmen: Einflussfaktoren in der Corona-Pandemie," IfM-Materialien 289, Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (IfM) Bonn.
    2. Sagni Regasa & Jeleta Kebede, 2024. "Vulnerability to climate change and variability: gender and agro-ecological perspectives," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 177(8), pages 1-26, August.
    3. Ashley R. Coles & Christopher A. Scott, 2009. "Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change and variability in semi‐arid rural southeastern Arizona, USA," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 33(4), pages 297-309, November.

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