Climate change is broadly defined as any variation in climate over time whether due to natural variability or due to anthropogenic activity IPCC, (2001a). As developing countries are highly dependent on agriculture, there are growing concerns that this change in weather variability will further threaten the food security of already vulnerable rural households in developing nations and pose a serious challenge to development efforts. In light of this unending threat, it is imperative that a deeper understanding of the impact of weather extremes on the rural poor and the effectiveness of current coping mechanisms be captured. Although changes in rainfall and weather patterns are being felt worldwide, Barrios et al (2008) found that agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly sensitive to weather variability as the availability of water differs widely throughout the geographically diverse continent.
Rainfall variation is a key constraint to agricultural productivity and economic growth in many developing nations. This is likely to be exacerbated in many …show more content…
The most vulnerable are often the poor, politically disenfranchised and sidelined communities, who are among the first to experience the effects and least equipped to diversify their livelihoods activities (Eriksen, 2011; Mannke, 2011). As a result, low income persons dependent on subsistence farming will arguably face severe hardships because they have little flexibility to cushion potentially large shifts in their production bases (FAO, 2008; Ribot, 2010). Climate stresses particularly rainfall variability will push these populations over an all-too-low threshold into an insecurity and poverty that jeopardizes their basic human rights (Moser & Norton,
Rainfall variation is a key constraint to agricultural productivity and economic growth in many developing nations. This is likely to be exacerbated in many …show more content…
The most vulnerable are often the poor, politically disenfranchised and sidelined communities, who are among the first to experience the effects and least equipped to diversify their livelihoods activities (Eriksen, 2011; Mannke, 2011). As a result, low income persons dependent on subsistence farming will arguably face severe hardships because they have little flexibility to cushion potentially large shifts in their production bases (FAO, 2008; Ribot, 2010). Climate stresses particularly rainfall variability will push these populations over an all-too-low threshold into an insecurity and poverty that jeopardizes their basic human rights (Moser & Norton,