The impacts of drought on the rural communities of Msinga in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
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Date
2022
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Abstract
Drought is viewed as an important feature of climate change that results in extended periods of
dryness, increasing temperatures and heatwaves. Additionally, drought is an extreme event in
the hydrological cycle, and it is considered to be one of the most detrimental natural disasters
occurring around the world. With the increasing impacts of climate change and anthropogenic
activities, the seriousness and frequency of drought is expected to rise in the upcoming decades.
Furthermore, a drought is defined as a period of below-average precipitation which results in
drier than normal conditions. Globally, droughts are viewed as one of the most distressing
natural disasters, which affects food production, water resources, biodiversity and livelihoods.
Approximately, 1.5 billion people have been directly impacted by drought this century, whilst
every year an estimated 55 million people are affected around the world (Harvey, 2021 &
WHO, 2021). Droughts are a key feature of South African climatic conditions, because of its
topography, location and below average rainfall. In 2015/2016, South Africa had experienced
one of the worst droughts in 30 years because of the extreme weather system, El Nino. The
South African drought had resulted in threatened livelihoods, water shortages, loss of
agricultural production and increased food prices. Additionally, drought is one of the most
difficult challenges affecting developing countries, with the most detrimental effects being felt
by rural communities and subsistence farmers, since they mainly rely on rain-fed agriculture.
The main aim of this study is to determine the impacts of drought on the rural communities of
Msinga in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The objectives for this study are to determine the
socio-economic impacts of drought, to examine the perceived seriousness and frequency of
drought and to investigate the adaptation strategies of drought.
This research study also focuses on a theoretical framework. It discusses the sustainable
livelihoods approach and the drought perception theory. The SLA assumes that all individuals
have assets and abilities that can improve their livelihoods, whilst the drought perception theory
discusses how farmers perceive drought based on four elements. The data obtained for this
research study is archival data that was collected in June 2019 till August 2019 at the Msinga
Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. However, this research project was conducted
over a period of three years during 2020 – 2022. The data that was used for this project was
collected using a quantitative research method. Additionally, the collection of data was
conducted using a purposive sampling method, which is utilised when the researcher uses their
own judgement to choose a group of participants that requires the people with the most
characteristics based on their relevance to the research study. From the Msinga region – 180 respondents were chosen. Furthermore, the tools that were used in this study included a
questionnaire which provided a deeper understanding of the community dynamics.
Questionnaires are a research tool that consists of a series of questions that aim to collect data
from a respondent. Furthermore, to analyse the data that was collected, a programme called
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used. Data from the completed
questionnaires were entered onto the SPSS programme.
The demographic results have indicated that majority of residents within the Msinga
Municipality were female, with a large portion of the surveyed population being single. The
age distribution was disproportionate, with the older generation being the majority and the
working-class population being the minority. The findings also showed a high level of
uneducated residents, with majority of the population being unemployed and relying on social
grants. The socio-economic impacts of droughts were also discussed, with the results showing
high levels of malnutrition, food insecurity, limited food choices, crop failure, unemployment
and poverty. The findings also presented adaptation and mitigation measures for dealing with
drought, as well as strategies based on indigenous knowledge. The results also showed the
different types of water that respondents used for irrigational purposes, as well as the perceived
seriousness and frequency of droughts. Additionally, the results presented the percentages of
respondents that received agricultural training and assistance from the government during a
drought. It also discussed early warning systems and drought management programmes within
the area. This project also presents some recommendations based on the results in the study.
These included; women empowerment, environmental education, sustainable agricultural
practices and governmental involvement and interventions.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.