Abstract

Peri-urban agriculture plays a critical role in sustaining food security and livelihoods in urban communities. In spite of the critical role it plays in food security, peri-urban agriculture has not received adequate attention with regards to its interface with climate change in Zimbabwe. Using a sample of thirty peri-urban plots selected through snowballing, this study investigated the farmers’ perceived effects of climate change on peri-urban agriculture in Bulawayo, and how farmers were adapting to climate change. The findings of the study revealed that peri-urban farmers perceived and observed significant climatic and related changes that were negatively impacting their farming activities. Observed changes included reduced precipitation levels, increased atmospheric temperature and diminishing borehole yields. Farmers were adapting with a variety of methods which included repeated planting, watering plants during the night, renting animal space in other farms with more water sources and purchasing supplementary feed for livestock. Among other issues, this study recommends the promotion of the use of drought tolerant seed varieties, improved water harvesting and a more rationalised system in managing livestock numbers in the plots.

摘要

城郊农业在维持城市社区的粮食安全和生计方面发挥着关键作用。尽管它在粮食安全中发挥着关键作用，但城市周边农业在与津巴布韦气候变化的相互作用方面并未得到足够的关注。本研究使用通过滚雪球选择的 30 个城郊地块样本，调查了农民对气候变化对布拉瓦约城郊农业的感知影响，以及农民如何适应气候变化。研究结果表明，城郊农民感知并观察到了对他们的农业活动产生负面影响的重大气候和相关变化。观察到的变化包括降水量减少、大气温度升高和钻孔产量减少。农民们正在适应各种方法，包括重复种植、夜间给植物浇水、在其他水源较多的农场租用动物空间以及为牲畜购买补充饲料。除其他问题外，本研究建议推广使用耐旱种子品种、改进集水和更合理的系统来管理地块中的牲畜数量。