2026/01/01 by Farirai Rusere, Nina Rholan Hounguè, Siyabusa Mkuhlani +4 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Agricultural risk and resilience #Climate change impacts on agriculture #Hydrology and Drought Analysis
paper · doi:10.1016/j.pdisas.2026.100520
openalex publication_date 2026/01/01 · openalex created_date 2026/01/25 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
The increasing frequency of droughts in southern Africa is placing pressure on resource-dependent populations and constraining their ability to build resilience. This study investigates how rural communities in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, South Africa, perceive and respond to El Niño -induced droughts. Using a mixed-methods approach, including surveys and interviews, this research examines household awareness, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, as well as the factors shaping these dimensions. The findings show that households with greater climate awareness better recognize the potential impacts of El Niño -related drought on agriculture, livestock, and the local economy. Households with members engaged in local non-farm activities or migrant labor displayed higher adaptive capacity but also greater vulnerability in terms of sensitivity, as reliance on external income often reduced on-farm labor and adaptation efforts. Social networks emerged as both an asset, facilitating the spread of adaptation information, and a liability, sometimes reinforcing misinformation and delaying the uptake of science-based strategies. Gender dynamics also influenced adaptive capacity, with male-headed households generally having more resources and labor to implement adaptation measures. These findings highlight that resilience is not solely determined by material resources but emerges from the interaction of awareness, livelihood diversification, social relations, and gendered access to assets. The study underscores the need for resilience initiatives that strengthen local extension services, improve risk communication, and engage social networks while addressing gendered constraints, in order to support timely, informed, and equitable drought adaptation in rural communities. • Rural households see El Niño–induced droughts as a major threat to livelihoods. • Climate awareness boosts recognition of drought impacts across households. • Local non-employment and migrant labor boost adaptive capacity but heighten drought sensitivity • Social networks can contribute to both adaptation and vulnerability. • Gender disparities influence resources and adaptive capacity of households