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Weather and climate extremes such as heat waves, droughts and floods are projected to become more frequent and intense in several regions. There is compelling evidence indicating that changes in climate and its extremes over time influence the living conditions of society and the surrounding environment across the globe. This study applies max-stable models to capture the spatio–temporal extremes with dependence. The objective was to analyse the risk of drought caused by extremely high temperatures and deficient rainfall. Hopkin's statistic was used to assess the clustering tendency before using the agglomerative method of hierarchical clustering to cluster the study area into n = 3 temperature clusters and n = 3 precipitation clusters. For the precipitation and temperature data, the values of Hopkin's statistic were 0.7317 and 0.8446, respectively, which shows that both are significantly clusterable. Various max-stable process models were then fitted to each cluster of each variable, and the Schlather model with several covariance functions was found to be a good fit on both datasets compared to the Smith model with the Gaussian covariance function. The modelling approach presented in this paper could be useful to hydrologists, meteorologists and climatologists, including decision-makers in the agricultural sector, in enhancing their understanding of the behaviour of drought caused by extremely high temperatures and low rainfall. The modelling of these compound extremes could also assist in assessing the impact of climate change. It can be seen from this study that the size, including the topography of the location (cluster/region), provides important information about the strength of the extremal dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to global climate change, droughts are likely to become more frequent and more severe in many regions such as in South Africa. In Limpopo, observed high climate variability and projected future climate change will likely increase future maize production risks. This paper evaluates drought patterns in Limpopo at two representative sites. We studied how drought patterns are projected to change under future climatic conditions as an important step in identifying adaptation measures (e.g., breeding maize ideotypes resilient to future conditions). Thirty-year time horizons were analyzed, considering three emission scenarios and five global climate models. We applied the WOFOST crop model to simulate maize crop growth and yield formation over South Africa's summer season. We considered three different crop emergence dates. Drought indices indicated that mainly in the scenario SSP5-8.5 (2051–2080), Univen and Syferkuil will experience worsened drought conditions (DC) in the future. Maize yield tends to decline and future changes in the emergence date seem to impact yield significantly. A possible alternative is to delay sowing date to November or December to reduce the potential yield losses. The grain filling period tends to decrease in the future, and a decrease in the duration of the growth cycle is very likely. Combinations of changed sowing time with more drought tolerant maize cultivars having a longer post-anthesis phase will likely reduce the potential negative impact of climate change on maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is considered one of the most complex and least-understood natural threats, affecting more people than any other hazard. In sub-Saharan Africa, it is believed that at least 60% of the region is vulnerable to climate change effects, and probably 30% is highly vulnerable. South Africa's Limpopo province is no exception (Department of Environmental Affairs, 2012:12). Extreme drought in the Limpopo River Basin, for example, is a regular phenomenon and has been recorded for more than a century at intervals of 10 to 20 years, even though the periodicity of droughts is not foreseeable. To cope with such challenges, resources ranging from skills to funding are needed to enable municipalities in the local sphere of government to respond effectively to climate change effects. As the local planning authorities in their jurisdictions, municipalities in South Africa have a mandate in terms of policy and legislation to conduct situational analyses on climate change and devise coping strategies when preparing their five-year and consultation-based Integrated Development Plans (IDPs). By reviewing and analysing IDPs and other government publications, this paper intends to understand how rural-based municipalities in Limpopo province cope with climate change effects. The uniqueness of this paper is that it deals with a cross-disciplinary subject (climate change) that can be studied outside of its modern discipline of environmental science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers are aware of challenges brought by climate change yet struggle with adaptation measures due to a lack of resources such as early warning systems, ecosystem restoration, climate-resilient infrastructure, and water supply. This study, undertaken to assess smallholder crop farmers' awareness of, and adaptation to, the impacts of climate change, was conducted in the three local municipalities of Mopani district in the Limpopo Province, South Africa: Giyani, Letaba and Maruleng. The proportionate sampling technique was used to obtain the study sample size of 291 farmers. A Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28 was used to analyze data, along with descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model. The results indicated that 100% of smallholder crop farmers were aware of climate change but struggled to implement adaptation measures. The binary logistic regression results revealed that the variables gender, farm size and change of weather had a significant influence on farmers' adaptation measures. Ninety per cent of smallholder crop farmers were aware of, and implemented, climate change adaptation measures. The study recommends a heightened focus on improving the level of farmers' efforts to adapt, to mitigate the effects of climate change in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common problem that arises in extreme value theory when dealing with several variables (such as weather or meteorological) is to find an appropriate method to assess their joint or conditional multivariate extremal dependence behaviour. The method for choosing an appropriate threshold in peaks-over threshold approach is also another problem of endless debate. In this era of climate change and global warming, extreme temperatures accompanied by heat waves and cold waves pose serious economic and health challenges particularly in small economies or developing countries like South Africa. The present study attempts to address these problems, in particular, to deal with and capture dependencies in extreme values of two variables, by applying bivariate conditional extremes modelling with a time-varying threshold to Limpopo province's monthly maximum temperature series. Limpopo and North West provinces are the two hottest provinces in South Africa characterised by heat waves and the present study is carried out in the Limpopo province at Mara, Messina, Polokwane and Thabazimbi meteorological stations for the period 1994–2009. With the aim to model extremal dependence of maximum temperature at these four meteorological stations, two modelling approaches are applied: bivariate conditional extremes model and time-varying threshold. The latter approach was used to capture the climate change effects in the data. The main contribution of this paper is in combining these two approaches in bivariate extremal dependence modelling of maximum temperature extremes in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The findings of the study revealed both significant positive and negative extremal dependence in some pairs of meteorological stations. Among the major findings were the significant strong positive extremal dependence of Thabazimbi on high-temperature values at Mara and the strong negative extremal dependence of Polokwane on high-temperature values at Messina. The findings of this study play an important role in revealing information useful to meteorologists, climatologists, agriculturalists, and planners in the energy sector among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, southern Africa has experienced a shift towards hotter and drier climate conditions, affecting vital sectors like agriculture, health, water, and energy. Scientific research has shown that the combination of high temperatures and unreliable rainfall can have detrimental effects on agricultural production. Thus, this study focused on assessing climate variability, with implications on rangelands in the Limpopo Province of South Africa over 38 years. Historical climate data from 15 stations, including rainfall and minimum and maximum temperatures from 1980 to 2018, were analysed. To achieve the main objective, various statistics including mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation (CV) were computed for all variables across four seasons. The results highlighted significant variability in rainfall, with Musina (71.2%) and Tshiombo (88.3%) stations displaying the highest variability during the September-to-April season. Both minimum and maximum temperatures displayed low variability. The Mann–Kendall test revealed both increasing and decreasing trends in minimum temperatures and rainfall across different stations. Notably, there was a significant increase in maximum temperatures. This study provides valuable climate information for decision makers, aiding in the planning and management of agricultural activities, particularly in understanding how climate variations affect forage availability in rangelands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study measures the vulnerability of households to food insecurity by measuring the risk or threat posed by climate change. This is conducted using multilevel or hierarchal regression, an extension of the "Three Stage Least Squares" model. Unlike the standard ordinary least squares regression model, this model can produce estimates of different hierarchal levels and produce unbiased reliable standard errors. With a sample size of 18,444 households nested within nine provinces, the findings show that climate change is a reality in South Africa, and it poses serious threats that expose households to future food consumption inadequacies. This study also offers a deeper understanding of the different sources of vulnerability among these households. Poverty or structural-induced vulnerability emerged as the main source of vulnerability for South African households. Climate change-induced vulnerabilities were also found to be prevalent and detrimental in rural areas with Limpopo and Eastern Cape being the most vulnerable provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria cases in South Africa's Northern Province of Limpopo have surpassed known endemic KwaZulu Natal and Mpumalanga Provinces. This paper applies statistical methods: regression analysis and impulse response function to understand the timing of impact and the length that such impacts last. Climate data (rainfall and temperature) are obtained from South African Weather Services (SAWs); global data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), while clinical malaria data came from Malaria Control Centre in Tzaneen (Limpopo Province). Data collected span from January 1998 to July 2007. Signs of the coefficients are positive for rainfall and temperature and negative for their exponents. Three out of five independent variables consistently maintain a very high statistical level of significance. The coefficients for climate variables describe an inverted u-shape: parameters for the exponents of rainfall (−0.02, −0.01, −0.02, −0.00) and temperature (−46.61, −47.46, −48.14, −36.04) are both negative. A one standard deviation rise in rainfall (rainfall onset) increases malaria cases, and the effects become sustained for at least 3 months and conclude that onset of rainfall therefore triggers a 'malaria season'. Malaria control programme and early warning system should be intensified in the first 3 months following the onset of rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limpopo Province is characterized by high climatic variability and change. Smallholder farmers are mostly hard hit by high climatic variability and change. In order for the smallholder farmers to optimize their agricultural practices they need to use different climate change adaptation strategies such as early maturing crops, drought resistant crop varieties, crop and livestock diversification, culling animals and food storage. The impacts of high climatic variability and change vary from district to district and consequently climate change adaptations are expected to vary widely across Limpopo Province. One of the major constraints to effectively responding to climate extremes is the lack of early warning information systems. Despite the availability of weather information and good meteorological science, poor dissemination of data and early warning information may severely reduce effective responses to climate risk. A long term climatological record is used to characterize the nature climatic risk faced by farmers in the Capricorn district and also an assessment of the associated adaptive capacity within a rural scale. Results show that despite the efforts by farmers to cope and adapt, more efforts can be put in place to increase the resilience. Furthermore, farmers respond differently according to location and regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study documented adaptation strategies employed by rural women in Vhembe district as they reel with climate change impacts. Women are heavily plagued by climate change impacts than any other genders worldwide. This is attributed to their high dependence on the natural resources for survival, low adaptive capacity, illiteracy, social ascribed roles that limit their participation in climate change initiatives like men and high poverty levels. Despite the daunting fact of women's vulnerability to climate change and its vagary impacts, women are agents of social change who have not remained passive victims to climate change and its impacts. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopted a qualitative methodology guided by multi-case study design. A sample of 25 participants was selected through simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected using Focus Group Discussions and individual interviews and analysed thematically. Rural women and traditional leaders served as key informants and participated in the study. Findings: The study established that the effects of climate change on rural women are real; however, there is a cocktail of strategies employed by women in Vhembe district in response to these effects. The strategies include livelihood and crop diversification, use of indigenous knowledge systems and harnessing of social capital among other household-based adaptation strategies. Originality/value: The study recommends that the best way of assisting rural women in adapting to climate change is through the amelioration of poverty, enhancing capacity building for women and elimination of all systems that serve as barriers to effective adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While much has been written about the instrumental roles of Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) in the promotion of co-operative government between the national, provincial and local spheres of government in South Africa, limited attention has been paid to the intergovernmental management of environmental changes between provincial governments and municipalities in the local sphere of government. As a result, critical linkages, challenges and opportunities, as well as synergies between the two spheres, often go unnoticed. Focusing on the nexus between provincial and local governments, and using the case study of Limpopo Province, this study enquires on the role of the Limpopo Provincial Government in assisting municipalities cope with climate change-related effects in Limpopo Province. Although challenges relating to human resource capacities remain a thorn in the provincial-local relations in managing climate change risks and effects, the consulted municipalities (Greater Letaba and Polokwane) have acknowledged the support role the Limpopo Provincial Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) continues to play as a responsible provincial department in the local space. Apart from this, assisting municipalities cope with climate change effects transcends rhetoric and requires more than a provincial intervention. In this regard, this study concludes that the question of human inertia, amongst others, could be resolved through an established national curriculum embedded in the education system of Technical Vocational Education and Training Colleges and some traditional universities. This way, skills crises could be resolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the demographic characteristics of smallholder livestock farmers in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Province of South Africa and their effect on the capacity of the farmers to adapt to climate change and variability. Respondents were mainly heads (58.7%) and parents (25.7%) to heads of households and were mostly male (63.4%) with good health (97.8%) associated with high adaptive capacity to climate change and variability. Regarding socio-economic status, four in five (81.5%) of the livestock farmers had only secondary education at most, and incomes were generally low, probably associated with low capacity to adapt to climate change and variability. On the contrary, the quality of housing for the livestock farmers was either top (48.5% of farmers) or medium (47.4%). Some 45.9% of farmers owned 4 to 5 rooms, 44.5% owned six or more rooms, with 88.5% of them having financed their houses. Almost all the respondents (97.3%) had access to electricity, and these suggest the high capacity to adapt to climate change and variability. With regards to aspects of livestock farming, one male (40.1% of households) and female (39.3%) member was fit to work in farming, livestock was owned by heads (52.9% of the households) and by children (29.0%), affirming the high capacity to adapt to climate change and variability. Almost all respondents (99.2%) used communal land, had fewer livestock, lacked training (99.5%), never belonged to a farmers' union (99.7%) or a producer organization (100.0%), and had no access to financial support from the government (99.2%) associated with low adaptive capacity. The findings of the study revealed that demographic factors had different influences on the capacity of smallholder livestock farmers to adapt to adverse effects of climate change and variability on the farming enterprises. This was true for all the three types of demographic factors studied, namely: personal characteristics, economic status, and aspects of livestock farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was carried out to investigate the level of awareness, knowledge and information of small-holder farmers (SHLF) on the impact of climatic change (CC) and extremes on livestock production in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. At least 366 small-holder farmers were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire to elicit responses on vulnerability. Almost all the farmers (96 %) have heard about CC only a few farmers (4 %) did not know CC. The medium for the conveyance of CC information was the main radio (94.32%). Newspapers and television were also efficient mediums in the conveyance of this information, each with the outreach of 16.76 and 32.67%, respectively. Central to the impact of CC was the fact that (90%) of the farmers confirmed that there was a change in grass availability; which contributed to major livestock fatalities of which over half of the farmers (55.19%) attested as the cause. The study found that 86.67% of SHLF who attended awareness meetings indicated that the discussions prioritized adapting to CC. However, SHLF (80.77%) did not have an early warning system. This was coupled with a lack of contingency plans by (84.36%) the farmers to deal with the impact of the said drought on their farms. SHLF (19%) who had facilitated contingency plans indicated that improved aspects of the plan should incorporate the support of their provision feeds, drilling of boreholes, and erection of dams. Based on SHLF perceptions there is a need for strategic shifts from grazing to small scale feed-lots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined gaps in climate information within public agricultural extension in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It assessed extension officers' climate change perceptions, knowledge and climate education. Lastly, the study examined the extension approaches for overall suitability of climate information disseminated to rural smallholder farmers. The results indicated that participants were predominately male, with tertiary education. Education levels had an influence on exposure to climate education and extension approaches in disseminating agricultural information to farmers. There is a need to retool extension officers in climate change extension work, integrating indigenous knowledge to increase suitability and acceptability of information by smallholder farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women as key food producers in a subsistence economy have developed knowledge to process and preserve surplus crops to ensure sustainable provision of food. This study explored the indigenous food processing and preservation practices adopted by women to ensure household quality food availability and accessibility. The main goal was to describe the methods of processing and preserving subsistence food crops produced in the home gardens for future consumption. Focus group discussions were conducted with 250 women aged between 35 and 78. The study results showed that women, as food providers for their families, produce subsistence crops for consumption. Surplus crops were processed for sustainable provision of staple food in the form of porridge, vegetables and side dishes in the seasons of low food productivity. Sun-drying, hanging on roof and the use of Aloe Ferox plant's ash were the indigenous food preservation methods used to conserve the crops and vegetables to enhance quality food availability and access to the households in periods of food scarcity. The indigenous preservation practices presented in the study could be used to inform policy on adaptation to climate change impacts on food security in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated climate change awareness and adaptation strategies among female farmers in the Lephalale municipal area in the Limpopo province of South Africa. A concurrent mixed method research approach was undertaken. Qualitative data were obtained through five focus group discussions and a semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain quantitative data from 208 female farmers. The chi-square test of independence analysis showed that the climate change awareness level and the adaptation measures were significantly related to the educational level and geographic location of the female farmers. Moreover, 84% of the respondents considered the national government social grant as a major means of income and not farming. Although 53% of the respondents were not aware of the term 'climate change', the female farmers confirmed having observed variance in temperature and rainfall over the years which they regarded as natural phenomena. Inadequate knowledge of climate change and limited access to credit facilities affected the respondents' capacity to adapt to climate change. The study concluded that climate change awareness level among female farmers influences their adaptation measures against climate change. The study recommends the promotion of farmer-to-farmer extension and intensification of extension services in the study area to enhance the level of awareness of climate change through physical interaction with the farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several climatic indices have been contributed by the scientific community to analyse climate change implications on the environment, society, and economic growth. In this study, daily temperature time series for minimum and maximum temperatures were used to compute 12 extreme climate indices and 2 plant heat resource indices. The indices for the historical period 1941–2016 are computed from the observed temperature records at 10 climate stations within the Limpopo province in South Africa. The time series for the annual heat-related indices were analysed to obtain the climatology and trends for each of the indices per station. In general, statistically significant warming trends, accounting for at least 5 out of the 10 stations for all indices, were observed over the 65-year period. These are except statistically significant cooling trends observed for a few geographically high-lying stations that constitute at least 1 station. The recorded trends in growing degree days and heat stress indices suggest that the majority of stations experienced a gain in the conditions conducive for native plants to grow, while for crops sensitive to temperatures from 25 to 35 °C, the conditions went through a deterioration during the period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disproportional impacts of climate change on rural women are undisputable. Climate change impacts that manifest through droughts, heat waves, floods, scarcity of water and depletion of the natural resource base are becoming more precarious in the lives and livelihoods of rural women. This study aims to delineate factors hampering the participation of rural women in the climate change discourse in the Vhembe District, Limpopo, South Africa. The study adopted the qualitative methodology guided by a multi-case study design. A sample of 24 participants was selected through multistage sampling techniques. Rural women and social workers participated in the study. The data were collected using focus group discussions and semi-structured individual interviews and were analysed thematically. The study established that rural women in the Vhembe District are not participating in climate change decisionmaking processes, especially when it comes to community level politics where climate change-related decisions are made. Furthermore, the pervasive patriarchal dominance in the district discriminates against women and prevents them from acquiring land and property rights as well as adequate information about climate change adaptation and mitigation. The low social status of women is reducing their efforts to participate in the climate change discourse despite their perennial vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. These challenges faced by rural women in the climate change discourse are a cause for concern for the social work profession which is premised on enhancing human wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the provision of informal training offered by the Limpopo Department of Agriculture, South Africa, to agricultural extension officers (AEOs). The study used surveyed 90 public extension officers purposively sampled. There were statistically significant differences in extension officers' exposure to climate change between their education levels and in the provision of climate change training between extension officers' work experience (P ⩽0.05). The study concluded that the majority of AEOs have not been fully exposed to climate information prior to their employment. This suggests that the information gap in Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) stems from the slow mainstreaming and integration of climate change information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to examine how climate change is perceived by a rural community in Limpopo Province, South Africa, and to investigate how such changes affect endemic plant species upon which community members depend for their livelihoods. The initiatives employed by community members to preserve endemic plants which have cultural value are also examined. The results of the study were obtained from semi‐structured interviews with traditional health practitioners and other community members. It was found that participants' perceptions of the current state of climate change were linked to their observations of changes in temperature and rainfall patterns. Interviewees reported having experienced rising temperatures in the form of an increased frequency of excessively hot summers, as well as warmer winters. Rainfall was described as scarce, and rain episodes were characterised by more frequent thunderstorms. These observations have been confirmed in an independent analysis of meteorological observations by Ziervogel et al. (2014), who found that the mean annual temperature has increased by at least 1.5‐fold over the past five decades, and that extreme rainfall events have increased in frequency. The consequences of these changes in temperature and rainfall are significant and mostly negative, including poor plant growth, the withering of immature plants and the total loss of some useful species. However, members of this rural community have adopted indigenous conservation practices to limit the risk of indigenous plant loss and to maintain their cultural usage. Conservation practices adopted in the study area include the observance of cultural taboos, as well as other traditional customs, which restrict the harvesting and collection of useful plant materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The landfall of Tropical Storm Dando resulted in a severe flood event in the Lowveld region of the Limpopo Province in South Africa from 17 to 19 January 2012, with over 500 mm of rainfall recorded over a 24-hour period. The Mopani District Municipality declared a local state of disaster following these floods. Interviews conducted with 24 lodges and conservation establishments indicate a total direct cost of R58.92 million, ‘costs’ of loss of business of R4.230 million, and an increase in long-term expenses, including insurance, adaptation and mitigation, of R458 600. Due to the low response rate, the economic damage to the tourism sector exceeds that of the 42 farms and 11 local businesses interviewed. Damage ranged from the loss of household contents to the complete destruction of all buildings on the property. The capacity for tourism establishments to recover from the floods depended primarily on the type and value of their insurance. Additional strain was placed on tourism establishments through the damage to roads, poor water supply during the floods, the removal of trees, and a loss of the aesthetic quality of the region. This case study provides a valuable insight into the nature and severity of the impacts of floods on the South African tourism sector, and contributes to projecting impacts of global climate change on tourism in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Malaria in Limpopo Province of South Africa is shifting and now observed in originally non-malaria districts, and it is unclear whether climate change drives this shift. This study examines the distribution of malaria at district level in the province, determines direction and strength of the linear relationship and causality between malaria with the meteorological variables (rainfall and temperature) and ascertains their short- and long-run variations. Spatio-temporal method, Correlation analysis and econometric methods are applied. Time series monthly meteorological data (1998-2007) were obtained from South Africa Weather Services, while clinical malaria data came from Malaria Control Centre in Tzaneen (Limpopo Province) and South African Department of Health. We find that malaria changes and pressures vary in different districts with a strong positive correlation between temperature with malaria, r = 0.5212, and a weak positive relationship for rainfall, r = 0.2810. Strong unidirectional causality runs from rainfall and temperature to malaria cases ( and not vice versa): F (1, 117) = 3.89, ρ = 0.0232 and F (1, 117) = 20.08, P < 0.001 and between rainfall and temperature, a bi-directional causality exists: F (1, 117) = 19.80; F (1,117) = 17.14, P < 0.001, respectively, meaning that rainfall affects temperature and vice versa. Results show evidence of strong existence of a long-run relationship between climate variables and malaria, with temperature maintaining very high level of significance than rainfall. Temperature, therefore, is more important in influencing malaria transmission in Limpopo Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of climate-smart irrigation technologies amongst smallholder farmers generally remains low beside their role in combating food and nutrition security in a society and in climate change adaptation strategies. This study identified the factors influencing smallholder farmers' decision to adopt Climate Smart Irrigation Technologies (CSIT) in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Data were collected through the completion of a face-to-face structured questionnaire by 100 smallholder farmers selected through convenience and purposive sampling. A probit regression and OLS model were used to identify factors that influence the smallholder farmer's decision to adopt CSIT and the level of adoption. The results indicated that only 46% of the smallholder farmers adopted climate-smart irrigation technologies and suggested that adoption is influenced positively by factors such as gender, age, district, farm size, staple food production and knowledge on CSIT. There is an urgent need for related stakeholders to transform the smallholder farmer subsector through improved extension services, training, adopting resilient crop varieties, promoting underutilized and nutrient-dense crops adapted to harsh local conditions, and other interventions. This should be done by promoting awareness to smallholder farmers regarding these interventions and new technologies that have the potential to improve rural livelihoods and enhance resilience and adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various species of Euphorbia occur in South Africa, including herbaceous, succulent and woody types. The largest of the succulent Euphorbia spp. in South Africa is Euphorbia ingens. These trees have been dying at an alarming rate in the Limpopo province during the course of the last 15 years. Investigations into the possible causes of the death have included the possible role of fungal pathogens. Amongst the fungi isolated from diseased trees were species in the Botryosphaeriaceae. The aim of this study was to identify these fungi using morphology and DNA sequence data of two gene regions (TEF 1-α and ITS). Results showed that Lasiodiplodia theobromae and L. mahajangana were present, representing the first report of Lasiodiplodia species on a succulent Euphorbia species. Pathogenicity studies showed that these Lasiodiplodia species can cause infections on healthy E. ingens trees, implicating them as contributors to the decline of E. ingens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changing climate and its current rate, frequency, as well as its life-threatening impacts are undoubtedly abnormal and globally worrisome. Its effects are expected to be severely different across segments of the society. It is disposed to leaving no facet of human endeavor immune, particularly in vulnerable cities of developing countries where there is dearth of empirical studies. For the context-specific nature of climate change impacts and place-based character of vulnerability, this study explores the influence of socioeconomic attributes on household vulnerability in Mopani District northeast of South Africa to provide basis for targeting, formulating, evaluating, and monitoring adaptation policies, programs, and projects. The study adopted a multistage random sampling to draw 500 households from six towns in Mopani District, Limpopo Province. Mixed methods approach was used for data collection, while Household Vulnerability Index (HVI) was estimated using principal component analysis and regressed with socioeconomic attributes. The study reveals that climate is changing with high HVI across selected towns. It further depicted that age and marital status have positive and significant relationships with HVI, while gender and educational levels have inverse and significant relationship with HVI in some towns. The study recommends the need for municipalities to partner with private sector to empower household and mainstream micro level coping strategies in urban planning across the district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]