Environmental Learning for Coping with Drought Among Small Scale Farmers of Luangwa District, Zambia
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING FOR COPING WITH DROUGHT AMONG SMALL SCALE FARMERS OF LUANGWA DISTRICT, ZAMBIA BY LILLIAN CHIPATU A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA LUSAKA 2017. i DECLARATION I, Chipatu Lillian, declare that this thesis represents my own work and has not been previously submitted for a degree at the University of Zambia or any other University and that it does not incorporate any published work or material from another University. Name: Chipatu Lillian. Signed _______ Date ____________________ i COPYRIGHT All rights reserved. No part of this thesis may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise-without prior written permission of the author or the University of Zambia. ii APPROVAL This thesis by Chipatu Lillian is approved as fulfilling the requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Education by the University of Zambia. Examiners’ signatures 1. ___________________________________________Date _________________________ 2. ___________________________________________Date__________________________ 3. ___________________________________________Date___________________________ iii ABSTRACT Luangwa District in Zambia’s Lusaka province lies within a marginal area that is prone to both drought and floods in the rainy season (Luangwa District Council, 2007). Despite small scale farmers of Luangwa District employing various drought coping strategies, drought and floods continue to adversely affect them in terms of food security and the general livelihood of the population (Kaminsa, 2008). Although environmental learning for coping with drought among small scale farmers has not been studied or explored, some scholars have explained the role that environmental learning plays in coping with environmental hazards (Goulder, 1999; Holdren, 1990). The aim of the study was to examine environmental learning of coping with drought among small scale farmers of Zambia’s Luangwa District so as to determine its approapriateness. To achieve this aim, the study established drought coping strategies among small scale farmers of Zambia’s Luangwa district. Having done this, an examination of environmental learning related to such drought coping strategies was done. The study was a critical realist case study within a setting of qualitative methodologies. A semi structured interview guide was used on disaster management officers, agriculture supervisor, town planner and extension officer, while a focus group discussion was conducted among the small scale farmers. Observations of farming activities on small holdings were also done. The study established that small scale farmers of Luangwa District mainly employed traditional drought coping strategies. Furthermore, the study findings revealed that environmental learning among small scale farmers was on general farming practices and not specifically on drought coping. Thus the study findings confirmed literature assertion that there was superficial environmental learning among small scale farmers. Finally, the study comes up with a proposed environmental learning programme for drought coping which may potentially be useful in addressing drought coping challenges among the small scale farmers of Luangwa District. Thus a major recommendation is for the Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders to introduce environmental learning for drought coping among small scale farmers.Further, the government of the republic of Zambia needs to allocate more funds to extension service. iv DEDICATION To my late grandmother Jennipher Mambwe Mutengo, my mother Beatrice Mambwe and my sisters Lombe, Barbra, Suwilanji, Marrian, Mutale and my niece Lukwesa for their encouragement and moral support. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank my God for the many mercies he has shown me to sustain my life. I would also be failing if I do not mention the University of Zambia for providing the necessary facilities. Many thanks also to my research supervisor Professor C.M. Namafe for his parental guidance, encouragement and steadfast professional supervision. I further wish to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Gift Masaiti, Dr. Patricia Phiri Nalube, Dr. Dennis Banda, Dr. Liberty Mweemba and Mr. Manoah Muchanga for their guidance and expert contributions to my study. I also appreciate the courage and support from a dear friend Matilda Nakazwe Kumbwa. Lastly, I acknowledge other individuals, organizations and departments that made it possible for me to fulfil the requirements for this doctoral thesis. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration............................................................................................................................. i Approval .............................................................................................................................. iii Abstract ............................................................................................................................... iv Dedication ............................................................................................................................. v Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................. vi List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... xii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... xiii List of Appendices ............................................................................................................. xiv List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................ xv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ 1 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Description of the Study Area ..................................................................................... 4 1.1.1.2 Location of Luangwa District ........................................................................... 5 1.1.1.3 Topography of Luangwa District ...................................................................... 5 1.1.1.4 Climate and Vegetation in Luangwa District .................................................... 7 1.1.1.5 Choice of Study Area ....................................................................................... 7 1.2 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................ 8 1.3 Aim ............................................................................................................................ 9 1.4 Objectives .................................................................................................................. 9 1.5 General Research Question ....................................................................................... 10 1.5.1 Specific Research Questions .............................................................................. 10 1.6 Significance of the Study .......................................................................................... 10 1.7 Organization of the Thesis ........................................................................................ 11 1.8 Summary .................................................................................................................. 12 vii CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................. 13 2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 13 2.2 Review of Literature on Drought .............................................................................. 13 2.2.1 Historical Perspective of Drought Coping in Zambia...................................... 14 2.2.2 Geographical Studies of Drought in Zambia ................................................... 15 2.2.3 Mitigation Perspective ................................................................................... 17 2.2.4 Agricultural Perspective of Drought Coping in Zambia .................................. 18 2.2.5 Drought ......................................................................................................... 18 2.2.6 Environmental Learning ................................................................................. 21 2.3 Spatial Levels of Drought ......................................................................................... 25 2.3.1 Small Scale farmers’ Learning and Drought coping at Global Level ............... 25 2.3.2 Small Scale Farmers’ Learning and Drought Coping in Sahel region, Eastern Africa ...................................................................................................................... 26 2.3.3 Small Scale Farmers’ Learning and Drought Coping in Southern Africa ........ 29 2.3.4 Small Scale Farmers’ Learning and Drought coping in Zambia ...................... 32 2.4 Summary