Francis, A.Zuwarimwe, P.Mpandeli, S.Hamadziripi, Alfred2025-10-082025-10-082025-09-05Hamadziripi, A. 2025. Examining the drivers of adoption of climate-smart practices in smallholder farming systems of Zvimba District in Zimbabwe. . .https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/2984PhDRDVInstitute for Rural DevelopmentPopulation growth, increasing urbanisation, competition for and changes in land use, changing diets, and disparities in food supply and demand compounded by the effects of climate change exert pressure on food and agriculture systems. In sub-Saharan Africa, climate change has far-reaching adverse impacts on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, elevating the urgency to increase agricultural productivity and incomes, and resilience of food and agricultural systems. Discourse is dominated by how climate change risks drive smallholder farmer risk perception and adaptation decision-making. Household risks are less documented for their influence on risk perception. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices have demonstrated positive social, economic and environmental impact, despite sustainability remaining low, raising questions on the adequacy of knowledge on the breadth of the risk context of farmers. This exploratory mixed method study involving smallholder farmers who adopted CSA practices in Zvimba District of Zimbabwe focused on understanding how household risks influenced adaptation decision-making. The data collected using five FGDs and one survey with 55 households was analysed using latent content analysis, Venn diagrams and matrices of consensus combined with frequency analysis, descriptive tabulations, and Fisher’s exact test. The study reveals household risks experienced by farmers that include food insecurity, high cost of living, poor housing condition, water, sanitation and hygiene services, illness, lack of access to quality agriculture inputs, crop and livestock pests and diseases, livestock deaths, lack of skills and unemployment and lack of access to land. These co-existed with climate change risks and both influenced perception and decisions to adopt CSA practices and participation in programmes. While some perceived household risks to have been triggered by climate change risks, most viewed them as risks that pre-existed and were independent of climate change risks. The risk consequences of household risks that most farmers were anxious to avoid include failed parenting, loss of self-esteem, social labelling and deviation from values and norms. Though external factors are relevant, being intentional and pragmatic about the multidimensional nature of the risk context of households can guide policies and programmes to include elements that address barriers to scale up and sustainability of adaptation behaviours. The engagement of smallholder farmers and incorporating risks important to them must be fundamental in designing CSA programmes.1 online resource (xi, 200 leaves): color illustrations, color mapsenUniversity of VendaSmallholder farmersUCTDClimate-smart agricultureClimate change risksHousehold risksAdaptation measures338.1896891Forms, Small -- ZimbabweForms, Size of -- South Africa -- ZimbabweAgriculture and state -- South Africa -- LimpopoAgriculture -- Economic aspects -- ZimbabweThesisHamadziripi A. Examining the drivers of adoption of climate-smart practices in smallholder farming systems of Zvimba District in Zimbabwe. []. , 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from:Hamadziripi, A. (2025). <i>Examining the drivers of adoption of climate-smart practices in smallholder farming systems of Zvimba District in Zimbabwe</i>. (). . Retrieved fromHamadziripi, Alfred. <i>"Examining the drivers of adoption of climate-smart practices in smallholder farming systems of Zvimba District in Zimbabwe."</i> ., , 2025.TY - Thesis AU - Hamadziripi, Alfred AB - Population growth, increasing urbanisation, competition for and changes in land use, changing diets, and disparities in food supply and demand compounded by the effects of climate change exert pressure on food and agriculture systems. In sub-Saharan Africa, climate change has far-reaching adverse impacts on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, elevating the urgency to increase agricultural productivity and incomes, and resilience of food and agricultural systems. Discourse is dominated by how climate change risks drive smallholder farmer risk perception and adaptation decision-making. Household risks are less documented for their influence on risk perception. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices have demonstrated positive social, economic and environmental impact, despite sustainability remaining low, raising questions on the adequacy of knowledge on the breadth of the risk context of farmers. This exploratory mixed method study involving smallholder farmers who adopted CSA practices in Zvimba District of Zimbabwe focused on understanding how household risks influenced adaptation decision-making. The data collected using five FGDs and one survey with 55 households was analysed using latent content analysis, Venn diagrams and matrices of consensus combined with frequency analysis, descriptive tabulations, and Fisher’s exact test. The study reveals household risks experienced by farmers that include food insecurity, high cost of living, poor housing condition, water, sanitation and hygiene services, illness, lack of access to quality agriculture inputs, crop and livestock pests and diseases, livestock deaths, lack of skills and unemployment and lack of access to land. These co-existed with climate change risks and both influenced perception and decisions to adopt CSA practices and participation in programmes. While some perceived household risks to have been triggered by climate change risks, most viewed them as risks that pre-existed and were independent of climate change risks. The risk consequences of household risks that most farmers were anxious to avoid include failed parenting, loss of self-esteem, social labelling and deviation from values and norms. Though external factors are relevant, being intentional and pragmatic about the multidimensional nature of the risk context of households can guide policies and programmes to include elements that address barriers to scale up and sustainability of adaptation behaviours. The engagement of smallholder farmers and incorporating risks important to them must be fundamental in designing CSA programmes. DA - 2025-09-05 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen KW - Smallholder farmers KW - Climate-smart agriculture KW - Climate change risks KW - Household risks KW - Adaptation measures LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2025 T1 - Examining the drivers of adoption of climate-smart practices in smallholder farming systems of Zvimba District in Zimbabwe TI - Examining the drivers of adoption of climate-smart practices in smallholder farming systems of Zvimba District in Zimbabwe UR - ER -