The Impact of Climate Change and Variability on Small-Scale Peri-Urban Horticultural Farmers in Domboshawa, Zimbabwe

Background to the Study

Domboshawa has been in existence before the colonization of Zimbabwe by the British South Africa Company (BSAC) in 1896. Domboshawa residents have been living as horticultural farmers. However, with the advent of colonization these local people were some of the first to witness “land grabs” by the settlers as their lands are very close to Harare. Resultantly, their cultivated lands dwindled in size due to appropriation by setters. They had to look for alternative livelihood strategies to compensate for the lost land in order to pay for various taxes that were levied on them (Vambe, 1972).

Farmers in Domboshawa have always been predominantly horticultural although with, land grabs, economic challenges and climate change farmers have faced significant challenges. The change in climate is a challenge for both present and future generations. Rainfed agriculture accounts for 80% and 93% of cultivated areas globally and in Sub Saharan Africa respectively and contribute to 62% of the world's staples (FAO, 2004). Africa is particularly vulnerable; its 140 million small holder farmers rely on rainfed farming which is affected by disasters compounded by conflicts, low adaptive capacity, poverty, weak institutions and drought (Rukuni, 2001). The biggest concerns for many in Africa are that yields keep on decreasing while the semi- arid conditions are increasing. (Drechsu & Kunze 2001). In Zimbabwe climate changes has had devastating effects especially in the agriculture sector. Climate change and its associated stressors influence human development through supporting or destabilizing livelihood systems especially that of poor and vulnerable people.