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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Differential Vulnerability to Severe Agricultural Drought in Zimbabwe
Authors:Weiner, DanielISNI
Murphy, Marilyn
Year:1992
Periodical:Eastern and Southern Africa Geographical Journal
Volume:3
Issue:1
Period:January
Pages:13-33
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs., ills.
Geographic terms:Zimbabwe
Southern Africa
Subjects:droughts
agriculture
Drought and Desertification
Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment
Agriculture, Agronomy, Forestry
Resources depletion
agricultural development
Agriculture and state
Abstract:The 1982-1984 drought in Zimbabwe was the most severe in recorded history. Surplus maize, sophisticated infrastructure, and government commitment were the ingredients for a successful food relief programme. The recent drought, however, highlighted high levels of vulnerability due to resource degradation, reduced employment opportunities and historically derived inequalities in access to agricultural resources. Drought impacts included increased malnutrition, disease and infant mortality, as well as the long-term loss of agricultural capital for large segments of the black smallholder sector. Sustainable agricultural development will require the reduction of drought vulnerability for millions of people living in semiarid and overcrowded labour reserves. This paper investigates the physical and socioeconomic components of drought vulnerability and impact in Zimbabwe. This is done by an analysis of the 'Zimbabwe Herald' for two years (1982-1983), through a series of interviews conducted in August 1983 in heavily impacted areas, and by collecting miscellaneous informational pieces from the local meteorological services. Bibliogr., notes, ref.
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