Abstract:
With the increased threat of climate change effects on the
African continent, this study was carried out to document the
coping mechanisms against the rampant droughts by the agropastoral
communities in Botswana. The study was carried out
in Kgalagadi North and Bobonong. Effects of drought in these
areas included livestock death, reduced crop yields, low pasture
production and increased distances to water livestock. Coping
measures included enrolling into government’s labour intensive
Public Works Programme, harvesting larvae of Imbrasia belina
with food or turning to other sources of income, and storage of
crops during good harvests. Other means were planting drought
resistant crops, supplemental livestock feeding, transferring
livestock to better areas, and selling off animals. These methods
however did not ameliorate farmers’ problems. There is
therefore need to have more holistic research efforts to tackle
the effects of drought in Botswana and elsewhere in Africa.
Avec la menace accrue d’effets du changement climatique sur
le continent africain, cette étude a été réalisée afin de
documenter les mécanismes d’adaptation contre la sécheresse
rampante que vivent les communautés agro-pastorales au
Botswana. L’étude a été réalisée dans le Nord Kgalagadi
Bobonong. Les effets de la sécheresse dans ces domaines inclus
la mort du bétail, la réduction des rendements des cultures, la
faible production de pâturage et l’augmentation des distances
pour abreuver le bétail. Les mesures d’adaptation comprennent
l’inscription dans le travail intensif du programme du
gouvernement dans les travaux publics, la récolte des larves de
Imbrasia belina avec de la nourriture ou se tourner vers
d’autres sources de revenu, et le stockage des cultures au cours
de bonnes récoltes. D’autres moyens ont été la semence des
cultures résistant à la sécheresse, l’alimentation supplémentaire du bétail, le transfert du bétail dans les meilleures zones, et en
vendant des animaux. Ces méthodes n’ont toutefois réduit les
problèmes des agriculteurs. Il y a donc besoin de fournir des
efforts de recherche plus globale de lutte contre les effets de la
sécheresse au Botswana et ailleurs en Afrique.
Language:
English
Date of publication:
2010
Country:
Region Focus:
Southern Africa
University/affiliation:
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
Agrovoc terms:
Additional keywords:
Licence conditions:
Open Access
Access restriction:
Form:
Printed resource
Publisher:
ISSN:
E_ISSN:
Edition:
Extent:
75-79
Notes:
"The 2010 RUFORUM Biennial Conference was the second in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme climate change"
