Abstract
Climate variability and change is a global phenomenon that has affected many lives and livelihoods, however, poor rural communities are arguably the most affected. Rural communities are the most vulnerable to climate change due to their geographical location, land characteristics, high dependency on natural resources, and high exposure to frequent climate-induced natural disasters. The majority of rural livelihoods rely largely on climate-sensitive resources such as arable farming, local water supply, and livestock keeping. These natural resources are extremely vulnerable to climate variability and change. In the recent past, climate variability and change have become a reality for rural communities whose livelihoods are being altered. This study was designed to investigate climate variability and change trends as well as the makeup of livelihoods and how they have changed over time in the Tiyani village, located in the Limpopo province. It is widely believed that rural communities adhere to traditional lifestyles and depend heavily on natural resources for their livelihoods, however, this is not always the case. This research was carried out to give a more comprehensive background of local rural livelihoods to better understand the effects of climatic variability and change, with particular emphasis on agricultural practices and livestock keeping.
To accomplish the aim of this dissertation, three objectives were established to serve as a roadmap for this study. These objectives were as follows: to identify the trends in climate over the last 32 years (1989-2021) using meteorological data; to explore the impacts of climate variability and change on agriculture and livestock, and to evaluate the changes in livelihoods that the village members have made in the recent past in response to climate variability and in particular during periods of droughts. To achieve the aim and objectives, the research was conducted using household surveys and field observations. The conceptual framework of this study succeeded in generating information on overall livelihood change in Tiyani village. The main findings illustrate that in recent years, the residents of Tiyani village have observed a decrease in rainfall and an increase in temperature. The meteorological information acquired from South African Weather Services (SAWS) provided credence to these observations. These changes along with
vii
other drivers contributed to a significant decrease in agricultural activities, notably as a result of extended droughts, insufficient rainfall, uneven distribution of rainfall, and unpredictable onset and cessation of the rainy season. This dissertation discusses not only the dynamics of rural livelihood composition but also the shift from agricultural to cash-based livelihoods, primarily through the social welfare system. Based on the findings of this dissertation, it can be inferred that climate change has had a negative impact on the residents of Tiyani village's standard of living. Therefore, collective efforts are necessary to enhance the resilience of households to the effects of climatic variability and change.