Coping mechanisms in the aftermath of the 2023/24 drought and their implications on food security and livelihoods: a case study of Bindura district
- Author
- Davis, Ashley
- Title
- Coping mechanisms in the aftermath of the 2023/24 drought and their implications on food security and livelihoods: a case study of Bindura district
- Abstract
- The research was about coping mechanisms in the aftermath of the 2023/24 drought and their implications on food security and livelihoods. The study employed the sustainable livelihood approach. Guided by the mixed approach paradigm, the researcher used a mixed research methodology which included the use of questionnaires and key informant interviews for data collection. Purposive and stratified sampling method was used to select 80 respondents. SPSS was used for data analysis. The study found the common coping strategies as a result of the drought. Most of the households were food insecure, their food consumption patterns were negatively affected and also the drought severely disrupted livelihoods. As a coping mechanism, households have resorted to reduced food intake, selling livestock or assets. Therefore from the study, the researcher recommends that the gorvernment should enforce detailed drought response methods that includes immediate relief efforts for example food aid and financial assistance, focus on training farmers in sustainable practices and providing assess to drought-resistant seeds and technologies, and lastly the government should also raise awareness and educate people about climate change, drought specifically and its impacts on agriculture and food security and this can empower them to take measures in case it does happen again in the future.
- Date
- July 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Drought
- food security
- coping mechanism
- Supervisor
- Dr Mhlanga
- Item sets
- Department of Sustainable Development
- Media
-
Ashley Davis DS.pdf