Multi-stakeholder perceptions of drought utilizing a conceptual framework for drought

ABSTRACT Drought is a phenomenon that leads to complex issues that affect vulnerable communities across the globe. Small-scale farmers and rural communities are considered the most vulnerable to the impacts of drought, due to their high reliance on agriculture and the numerous socio-economic conditions that sustain their vulnerability. Understanding the perceptions of those that are the most vulnerable to drought as well as the relevant stakeholders that are involved in drought management is important to gain a holistic understanding of the impacts of droughts and how they affect individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds. The objective of this research study was to assess the perceptions of droughts from a Multi-stakeholder perspective. This was achieved by assessing a range of stakeholder perceptions utilizing a conceptual framework for drought perception which is built on the elements that shape perceptions of drought which are, experience, memory, definitions and expectations. The study utilized a qualitative research approach incorporating focus group discussions, interviews and participatory research techniques. The results of the research study revealed that drought is a relative concept and is experienced differently by individuals from different socio-economic backgrounds. This also influenced the way respondents adapted to the impacts of droughts.

[1]  K. Navaneetham,et al.  Measuring social vulnerability to natural hazards at the district level in Botswana , 2019, Jamba.

[2]  M. Kamruzzaman,et al.  Indigenous people’s responses to drought in northwest Bangladesh , 2019, Environmental Development.

[3]  L. Nhamo,et al.  Preparedness or repeated short-term relief aid? Building drought resilience through early warning in southern Africa , 2019, Water SA.

[4]  Y. T. Bahta,et al.  The impact of drought on commercial livestock farmers in South Africa , 2018, Development in Practice.

[5]  Amanda E. Cravens,et al.  Defining Ecological Drought for the Twenty-First Century , 2017 .

[6]  T. Masipa.  The impact of climate change on food security in South Africa: Current realities and challenges ahead , 2017, Jamba.

[7]  C. Vogel,et al.  Living with drought in South Africa: lessons learnt from the recent El Niño drought period , 2017 .

[8]  A. Jordaan,et al.  The role of indigenous knowledge in drought risk reduction: A case of communal farmers in South Africa , 2017, Jamba.

[9]  S. Xenarios,et al.  Gender differentiated impacts from weather extremes: Insight from rural communities in South India , 2017 .

[10]  A. Jordaan,et al.  Assessing social vulnerability to drought in South Africa: Policy implication for drought risk reduction , 2017, Jamba.

[11]  M. Mudhara,et al.  What factors determine household food security among smallholder farmers? Insights from Msinga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa , 2017 .

[12]  A. Jordaan,et al.  Communal farmers' perception of drought in South Africa: Policy implication for drought risk reduction , 2016 .

[13]  The future of food and agriculture: Trends and challenges , 2016 .

[14]  H. Ishidaira,et al.  How did the 2012 drought affect rural livelihoods in vulnerable areas? Empirical evidence from India , 2015 .

[15]  S. Klasen,et al.  A Feminization of Vulnerability? Female Headship, Poverty, and Vulnerability in Thailand and Vietnam , 2015 .

[16]  F. C. Zamawe,et al.  The Implication of Using NVivo Software in Qualitative Data Analysis: Evidence-Based Reflections. , 2015, Malawi medical journal : the journal of Medical Association of Malawi.

[17]  J. urquijo,et al.  Perception of Drought and Local Responses by Farmers: A Perspective from the Jucar River Basin, Spain , 2015, Water Resources Management.

[18]  H. Lawson.  Participatory action research , 2015 .

[19]  Yutaka Ichikawa,et al.  Farmers׳ perception of drought impacts, local adaptation and administrative mitigation measures in Maharashtra State, India , 2014 .

[20]  I. Masih,et al.  A review of droughts on the African continent: a geospatial and long-term perspective , 2014 .

[21]  B. Shiferaw,et al.  Managing vulnerability to drought and enhancing livelihood resilience in sub-Saharan Africa: Technological, institutional and policy options , 2014 .

[22]  C. Mariotti,et al.  The Chronic Poverty Report 2014-2015 : The road to zero extreme poverty Overview , 2014 .

[23]  Syed Ainuddin,et al.  The need for local involvement: Decentralization of disaster management institutions in Baluchistan, Pakistan , 2013 .

[24]  R. Hayman,et al.  Legal frameworks and political space for non-governmental organisations: an overview of six countries - phase II , 2013 .

[25]  Ashish Sharma,et al.  Characterizing Drought Using the Reliability-Resilience-Vulnerability Concept , 2013 .

[26]  K. Mutabazi,et al.  Can farmers’ adaptation to climate change be explained by socio-economic household-level variables? , 2012 .

[27]  K. Seers.  Qualitative data analysis , 2011, Evidence Based Nursing.

[28]  S. Madhavan,et al.  Female-headed households contending with AIDS-related hardship in rural South Africa , 2011, Health & place.

[29]  U. Bob.  Land-related conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa , 2011 .

[30]  D. Dubihlela.  Socio–economic challenges and the survival mechanisms for the female–headed households in the Bophelong Township , 2011 .

[31]  S. Koma.  The state of local government in South Africa : issues, trends and options , 2010 .

[32]  A. Malik,et al.  Autonomous Adaptation to Climate Change: A Literature Review* , 2010 .

[33]  Gonzalo Fanjul,et al.  Markets working for the rural poor , 2010 .

[34]  B. Shiferaw,et al.  Saharan Africa : An essential first step in adapting to future climate change ? , 2008 .

[35]  Israel Tsatsire.  A critical analysis of challenges facing developmental local government : a case study of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality , 2008 .

[36]  Nelly M Kole.  An evaluation of the integrated sustainable rural development programme highlighting stakeholder mobilisation and engagement , 2007 .

[37]  M. Guha.  The Sage Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods , 2005 .

[38]  Tim Futing Liao,et al.  The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods, Volume II , 2003 .

[39]  N. Brooks.  Vulnerability, risk and adaptation: A conceptual framework , 2002 .

[40]  H. Russell Bernard,et al.  Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches , 2000 .

[41]  Hanan G. Jacoby,et al.  Access to Markets and the Benefits of Rural Roads , 1998 .

[42]  Deon E. Terblanche,et al.  Results of the South African Cloud-Seeding Experiments Using Hygroscopic Flares , 1997 .

[43]  I. Dey.  Qualitative Data Analysis: A User Friendly Guide for Social Scientists , 1993 .

[44]  Idrc,et al.  Living with drought , 1990 .

[45]  Peter Walker,et al.  Famine Early Warning Systems: Victims and Destitution , 1989 .

[46]  Mary W. Downton,et al.  Perceptions of Drought in the Ogallala Aquifer Region , 1988 .

[47]  Dami,et al.  THE IMPACT OF DROUGHT , 2022 .