Constructing Ubudehe? Farmers’ perceptions of drought impacts and resilience capacities in Bugesera, Rwanda
Purpose – This paper analyses Rwandan farmers’ perceptions of historical drivers of landscape vulnerability (past), current livelihood assets (present) and existing or potential capacities (future) to increase resilience to drought. The specific focus is on linking experiences from the past and pres...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Emerald Publishing
2024-10-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management |
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| Online Access: | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJCCSM-04-2023-0046/full/pdf |
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| author | Lazare Nzeyimana Åsa Danielsson Veronica Brodén-Gyberg Lotta Andersson |
| author_facet | Lazare Nzeyimana Åsa Danielsson Veronica Brodén-Gyberg Lotta Andersson |
| author_sort | Lazare Nzeyimana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose – This paper analyses Rwandan farmers’ perceptions of historical drivers of landscape vulnerability (past), current livelihood assets (present) and existing or potential capacities (future) to increase resilience to drought. The specific focus is on linking experiences from the past and present with ideas for a drought-resilient future. It explores how farmers' perceptions of past droughts and future visioning can contribute to rural development policy and multi-level collaborations. Design/methodology/approach – This study was conducted in Bugesera, a drought-prone district in south-eastern Rwanda. Empirical data was collected through participatory observation, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The analytical points of departure are based on sustainable landscapes and livelihood approaches, combining spatial and temporal perspectives on challenges and opportunities identified by farmers’ communities in addressing droughts. Findings – All respondents had a high awareness of the impact of droughts. Perceived drivers of landscape change include historical climate events, such as droughts and floods, immigration and agricultural expansion, which have led to demographic pressure on land, deforestation and infringement on natural resources. Factors enhancing resilience capacities include access to diversified sources of livelihood, knowledge of appropriate irrigation techniques and availability of safety nets and credits. Furthermore, farmers identified collaborative opportunities as important for resilience capacity, including peer learning, and sharing best practices through knowledge exchange and on-field training. In addition, farmers brought up the need for innovative institutions that can facilitate access to markets and enable collaboration between different agricultural sectors. Originality/value – This study analyses farmers’ perceptions of resilience capacities to droughts through a spatiotemporal lens of past droughts, present capital and future challenges by linking scales, knowledge and human–environment nexus. This paper contributes to the knowledge of climate adaptation in Rwanda and to discussions about smallholder farming in the literature on climate change adaptation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-731bb68afbd04a4fae1d8141763ee440 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1756-8692 1756-8706 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | Emerald Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-731bb68afbd04a4fae1d8141763ee4402025-02-04T04:57:17ZengEmerald PublishingInternational Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management1756-86921756-87062024-10-011718910810.1108/IJCCSM-04-2023-0046Constructing Ubudehe? Farmers’ perceptions of drought impacts and resilience capacities in Bugesera, RwandaLazare Nzeyimana0Åsa Danielsson1Veronica Brodén-Gyberg2Lotta Andersson3Department of Thematic Studies – Environmental Change, Centre for Climate Science and Policy Research, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden and SWECO Sweden AB, Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Thematic Studies – Environmental Change, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Thematic Studies – Environmental Change, Centre for Climate Science and Policy Research, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenSwedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Norrköping, SwedenPurpose – This paper analyses Rwandan farmers’ perceptions of historical drivers of landscape vulnerability (past), current livelihood assets (present) and existing or potential capacities (future) to increase resilience to drought. The specific focus is on linking experiences from the past and present with ideas for a drought-resilient future. It explores how farmers' perceptions of past droughts and future visioning can contribute to rural development policy and multi-level collaborations. Design/methodology/approach – This study was conducted in Bugesera, a drought-prone district in south-eastern Rwanda. Empirical data was collected through participatory observation, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The analytical points of departure are based on sustainable landscapes and livelihood approaches, combining spatial and temporal perspectives on challenges and opportunities identified by farmers’ communities in addressing droughts. Findings – All respondents had a high awareness of the impact of droughts. Perceived drivers of landscape change include historical climate events, such as droughts and floods, immigration and agricultural expansion, which have led to demographic pressure on land, deforestation and infringement on natural resources. Factors enhancing resilience capacities include access to diversified sources of livelihood, knowledge of appropriate irrigation techniques and availability of safety nets and credits. Furthermore, farmers identified collaborative opportunities as important for resilience capacity, including peer learning, and sharing best practices through knowledge exchange and on-field training. In addition, farmers brought up the need for innovative institutions that can facilitate access to markets and enable collaboration between different agricultural sectors. Originality/value – This study analyses farmers’ perceptions of resilience capacities to droughts through a spatiotemporal lens of past droughts, present capital and future challenges by linking scales, knowledge and human–environment nexus. This paper contributes to the knowledge of climate adaptation in Rwanda and to discussions about smallholder farming in the literature on climate change adaptation.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJCCSM-04-2023-0046/full/pdfDrought vulnerability perceptionsLandscapes and livelihoodsResilience capacitiesBugeseraRwanda |
| spellingShingle | Lazare Nzeyimana Åsa Danielsson Veronica Brodén-Gyberg Lotta Andersson Constructing Ubudehe? Farmers’ perceptions of drought impacts and resilience capacities in Bugesera, Rwanda International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management Drought vulnerability perceptions Landscapes and livelihoods Resilience capacities Bugesera Rwanda |
| title | Constructing Ubudehe? Farmers’ perceptions of drought impacts and resilience capacities in Bugesera, Rwanda |
| title_full | Constructing Ubudehe? Farmers’ perceptions of drought impacts and resilience capacities in Bugesera, Rwanda |
| title_fullStr | Constructing Ubudehe? Farmers’ perceptions of drought impacts and resilience capacities in Bugesera, Rwanda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Constructing Ubudehe? Farmers’ perceptions of drought impacts and resilience capacities in Bugesera, Rwanda |
| title_short | Constructing Ubudehe? Farmers’ perceptions of drought impacts and resilience capacities in Bugesera, Rwanda |
| title_sort | constructing ubudehe farmers perceptions of drought impacts and resilience capacities in bugesera rwanda |
| topic | Drought vulnerability perceptions Landscapes and livelihoods Resilience capacities Bugesera Rwanda |
| url | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJCCSM-04-2023-0046/full/pdf |
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