Drought and Adaptive Strategies in the Dande Valley of Zimbabwe

Purpose of the study: The thrust of this paper was to explore the adaptive strategies to climate change employed by the vakore kore community in Dande valley of Zimbabwe. Focus was on copping strategies in drought since the area experienced low, un reliable erratic rains the inhabitants of the area rely on the rain fed agriculture. Design / Methodology: This was a qualitative study, focus group discussions, interviews and field observations were used to get information from the Dande community. Rural appraisal was applied to solicit information on percerption. adaptation, and awareness to climate change. Findings: Results from the study revealed that the Dande community used a number of applicable adaptive strategies to counter the effects of drought. The strategies include, diversified farming, inter cropping, use of alternative sources of income based on the dominant fruit tree species, Zeziphus Mauritana Musawu, growing drought resistant crop like millet mhunga, rappoco, wetlands farming, hunting, gathering of non timber products like mushroom howa and wild fruits as well as migration. The study also established that besides their own efforts the Dande valley communities depend heavily on the civil society. Non governmental organizations like World Versions and International federation of Red cross have played a significant role in assisting them during drought periods. Drought has paused a serious threat to the livelihood of vakore- kore and they also tend to rely on their indigenous knowledge as coping strategies. The adaptive strategies taken by this community, the study recommends should be taken with the seriousness they deserve to ensure that whatever invention should first respect and incorporate the existing strategies Originality: This study was conducted in one of the peripheral areas often ignored by many academics yet it houses the most vulnerable members of Zimbabwe, Dande Valley. This study will provide very important /valuable input to policy makers, academics, scholars on Climate change, adaptation discourse in Semi arid regions like Dande Valley. Future Scope of Study: Future studies should have the following as their background information, that climate change is real, and has impacted the society and ecosystems in different ways. Examples include drought, flooding which a influence agricultural crop yields, cause human health problems, changes to forests and other ecosystems, and change our energy supply. Focus should be on enhancing adaptation measures by the most vulnerable members of the society, through local National and International planning for the changes that are expected to occur.