Optimising drought adaptation by small-scale farmers in southern Africa through integration of indigenous and technologically-driven practices

Abstract

This paper reviews and synthesises research-based literature on drought adaptation practices among small-scale farmers in southern Africa. The paper reviews the existing literature in order to identify ways in which small-scale poor farmers in southern Africa adapt to the effects of drought. The paper further presents some constraints that limit small-scale farmers from adopting technologically-driven drought adaptation practices. The main message of this paper is that neither indigenous nor technologically-driven practices should be seen as panacea on their own, but integrating the two sets of practices could optimise adaptation by small-scale farmers. The material presented in this paper could be helpful to researchers, development planners and policy makers in their quest towards finding means of enhancing drought adaptation practices by small-scale farmers.