Original Research

The adaptive capacity of smallholder mixed-farming systems to the impact of climate change: The case of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa

Nonhlanzeko N. Mthembu, Elliot M. Zwane
Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies | Vol 9, No 1 | a469 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v9i1.469 | © 2017 Nonhlanzeko N. Mthembu, Elliot M. Zwane | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 31 March 2017 | Published: 27 November 2017

About the author(s)

Nonhlanzeko N. Mthembu, South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa
Elliot M. Zwane, Department of Economics and Animal Science, Centre for Rural Community Empowerment, University of Limpopo, South Africa

Abstract

Climate change poses a serious threat to efforts by developing countries to ensure food security and poverty reduction. The National Development goals of South Africa envisage the agricultural sector as a key driver for job creation and economic growth. This article seeks to investigate the adaptive capacity of the Ncunjane farming community in Msinga, KwaZuluNatal in response to drought spells of 2010 and 2014. This article draws on data collected using both qualitative and quantitative methods in 2011 and later in 2015 with the data analysed through the Statistical Package for Social Science to determine significant correlations between variables. Analysis of the vulnerability and adaptive capacity is performed using conceptual framework. This study found that both smallholder farmers who engaged in livestock and crop production have experienced high cattle mortalities and stagnant crop productivity, which in turn put pressure on already constrained disposable household income because of increased food costs and agricultural input costs, particularly supplementary animal feed. Cattle owners were more vulnerable to drought because of poor risk management and thus became highly dependent on government to provide drought relief. Application for government drought relief was found not to be effective in cases of large herds of cattle. Variability of rainfall and prolonged heat spells has a significant impact on the sustainability of smallholder mixed-farming systems, leaving agriculture as a highly questionable form of livelihood for rural farming communities such as Msinga. The article recommends strengthened institutional mechanisms so that stakeholders should play a more meaningful role within provincial and local agriculture in leveraging government support but places emphasis on the adoption of innovative strategies that can potentially yield significantly resilient smallholder mixed-farming systems in the wake of climate variability.

Keywords

adaptive; agriculture; capacity; variability; livelihood; vulnerability

Metrics

Total abstract views: 5044
Total article views: 6654

 

Crossref Citations

1. The impact of the 2015-16 El Nino drought on the irrigated home gardens of the Komati downstream development project, Swaziland
Alan Keith Terry
South African Geographical Journal  vol: 102  issue: 1  first page: 41  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1080/03736245.2019.1614477

2. COVID-19 impact and resilience mechanisms in Limpopo province’s farming communities
Lazarus Chapungu, Godwell Nhamo, Munyaradzi Chitakira, Khangwelo Desmond Musetsho
Discover Food  vol: 5  issue: 1  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1007/s44187-025-00554-9

3. Adapting to climate change: Reflections of peasant farmers in Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe
Tinashe M. Mashizha
Jàmbá Journal of Disaster Risk Studies  vol: 11  issue: 1  year: 2019  
doi: 10.4102/jamba.v11i1.571

4. Adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture by Communal Livestock Farmers in South Africa
Lerato Molieleng, Pieter Fourie, Ifeoma Nwafor
Sustainability  vol: 13  issue: 18  first page: 10468  year: 2021  
doi: 10.3390/su131810468

5. A Systematic Review of Climate Change Risks to Communal Livestock Production and Response Strategies in South Africa
Leocadia Zhou, Mhlangabezi Slayi, Saul Ngarava, Ishmael Festus Jaja, Lovemore Musemwa
Frontiers in Animal Science  vol: 3  year: 2022  
doi: 10.3389/fanim.2022.868468

6. Understanding Socioeconomic Risk and Vulnerability to Climate Change–Induced Disasters: The Case of Informal Settlements in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Simangele Dlamini, Bathabile Nhleko, Nomcebo Ubisi
Journal of Asian and African Studies  vol: 60  issue: 7  first page: 4594  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1177/00219096241275398

7. Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Costs of Agriculture to Climate Change in the Lima Region, Peru
Edelina Coayla, Elizabeth Culqui
International Journal of Environmental Science and Development  vol: 11  issue: 1  first page: 26  year: 2020  
doi: 10.18178/ijesd.2020.11.1.1221

8. Efficiency of a mixed farming system in a marginal winter rainfall area of the Overberg, South Africa, with implications for thinking about sustainability
Beatrice Conradie, Amelia Genis
Agrekon  vol: 59  issue: 4  first page: 387  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1080/03031853.2020.1828116

9. Economic, social and demographic impacts of drought on treatment adherence among people living with HIV in rural South Africa: A qualitative analysis
Kingsley Orievulu, Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson, Nothando Ngwenya, Sthembile Ngema, Hayley McGregor, Oluwafemi Adeagbo, Mark J. Siedner, Willem Hanekom, Dominic Kniveton, Janet Seeley, Collins Iwuji
Climate Risk Management  vol: 36  first page: 100423  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1016/j.crm.2022.100423

10. Impacts of Crop Production and Value Chains on Household Food Insecurity in Kwazulu-Natal: An Ordered Probit Analysis
Thobani Cele, Maxwell Mudhara
Sustainability  vol: 16  issue: 2  first page: 700  year: 2024  
doi: 10.3390/su16020700

11. The Inter-Relationship between Climate Change, Inequality, Poverty and Food Security in Africa: A Bibliometric Review and Content Analysis Approach
Phemelo Tamasiga, Helen Onyeaka, Adenike Akinsemolu, Malebogo Bakwena
Sustainability  vol: 15  issue: 7  first page: 5628  year: 2023  
doi: 10.3390/su15075628

12. Adaptive capacity beyond the household: a systematic review of empirical social-ecological research
Sechindra Vallury, Ada P Smith, Brian C Chaffin, Holly K Nesbitt, Sapana Lohani, Sabrina Gulab, Simanti Banerjee, Theresa M Floyd, Alexander L Metcalf, Elizabeth C Metcalf, Dirac Twidwell, Daniel R Uden, Matthew A Williamson, Craig R Allen
Environmental Research Letters  vol: 17  issue: 6  first page: 063001  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac68fb

13. Circular Regenerative Agricultural Practices in Africa: Techniques and Their Potential for Soil Restoration and Sustainable Food Production
Hamisi J. Tindwa, Ernest W. Semu, Bal Ram Singh
Agronomy  vol: 14  issue: 10  first page: 2423  year: 2024  
doi: 10.3390/agronomy14102423

14. Building Africa’s climate resilience: understanding the impacts and future strategies in the face of climate change
Lacour M. Ayompe, Wesner N. Epie
Frontiers in Climate  vol: 7  year: 2025  
doi: 10.3389/fclim.2025.1619799

15. Climate change adaptation and mitigation in different livestock production systems and agro-ecological zones in South Africa: A systematic review
Mashford Zenda
Tropical Animal Health and Production  vol: 57  issue: 8  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1007/s11250-025-04660-9

16. Building adaptive capacity: Reducing the climate vulnerability of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
Tinashe Mitchell Mashizha
Business Strategy & Development  vol: 2  issue: 3  first page: 166  year: 2019  
doi: 10.1002/bsd2.50