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Experiential learning and discovery through farmer field schools (FFS) have the potential to empower smallholder livestock farmers who face heightened vulnerability to climate change. However, there are various levels of learning and discovery in FFS that can inform smallholder livestock farmer knowledge and perception. Understanding this is vital, as farmers' perceptions influence their readiness to adopt climate-smart practices, informing effective resilience-building strategies. Therefore, this study sought to investigate and assess the impact of the FFS approach on smallholder livestock farmers' perceptions of climate change, taking Raymond Local Municipality in South Africa as a case. The design followed by the study was a longitudinal survey, with three pools each signifying various FFS intervention points. The study utilized simple random sampling to collect data from 80 smallholder livestock farmers using structured questionnaires in each of the three cross-sectional pools, while descriptive statistics, Min–Max Normalization, and t-tests were used for analysis. The results show that there was an increase in the awareness of climate change due to the interventions of the FFS. Furthermore, there are cumulative differences between the knowledge and perception towards climate change between the three pooled cross-sections. In conclusion, participating in FFS had a significant impact on farmers' level of understanding and adaptation to climate change. The study recommends that the government and policymakers extensively promote FFS and support them financially so that they can provide more support to rural farmers as well as enhance knowledge on climate change. This study recommends the provision of workshops and awareness campaigns on climate change for farmers through FFS as this will assist farmers to be more sustainable on their farming systems and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2005.09.010 Byline: Michael Aliber Keywords: land tenure; AIDS; Kenya; Africa Abstract: The study examined the impact of HIV/AIDS on land tenure in rural Kenya. The study found fewer examples of dispossession of widows' and orphans' land rights than had been anticipated in light of the existing literature and anecdotal accounts, and some evidence that Kenya's statutory tenure system, notwithstanding its problems, can protect vulnerable individuals from tenure loss. This is not to diminish the social and economic costs of HIV/AIDS, but to caution against focusing on HIV/AIDS as the major threat to tenure security. Where HIV/AIDS does aggravate tenure insecurity, it is due to the conjunction of population pressure, stigmatization, and gendered power relations. Author Affiliation: Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa Article History: Accepted 6 September 2005

The purpose of this article is threefold: first, to summarize recent research that helps distinguish chronic from transitory poverty in South Africa; second, to identify groups that are especially prone to chronic poverty in South Africa, and venture estimates as to how many such people there are; and third, to examine how an understanding of chronic poverty could enhance the fight against poverty generally. The article makes the case that, in taking the lead in the fight to eradicate poverty, the government would be wise to disaggregate 'the poor' according to those who are chronically and transitorily poor. Two policy areas are discussed in light of this recommendation, namely the unemployment crisis and the prospects for future growth in the formal and informal sectors; and rural land reform and the policy choices it presents. The article begins with a brief historical sketch and an overview of socioeconomic policies since 1994. Key words--chronic poverty, South Africa, employment, land reform, public works

Issues relating to food availability, accessibility, affordability, and utilization remain of paramount importance among rural households. In order to formulate or implement relevant food security programs in rural areas, it is essential to have a deep understanding of the food security status of rural households. This study sought to determine the prevalence of food insecurity among rural households in the Eastern Cape Province, as well as its key socioeconomic and demographic factors. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 240 households using questionnaires about food security. A convenience sampling method was used to collect data, along with a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data. The binary logistic regression model revealed that age of household head, education level of household head, access to credit, household income, and household size were all associated with food security status. Thus, this study recommends that the government at all levels (local, state, and federal) have an adequate budget allocated to increasing awareness of the benefits of participating in farming to improve the livelihood outcomes of households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few decades, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa have pursued redistributive land reform as a means to address rural poverty. The Livelihoods after Land Reform ( LaLR) study was carried out between 2007 and 2009, to understand the livelihood and poverty reduction outcomes of land reform in each of the three countries. The South African component focused on Limpopo province, and investigated land reform processes, trajectories of change and outcomes in thirteen detailed case studies. This paper summarizes some of the main findings from the South African study, and briefly compares them with findings from Namibia and Zimbabwe. The paper argues that a fundamental problem affecting land reform in both South Africa and Namibia is the uncritical application of the Large- Scale Commercial Farming ( LSCF) model, which has led to unworkable project design and/or projects that are irrelevant to the circumstances of the rural poor. Nevertheless, some 'beneficiaries' have experienced modest improvements in their livelihoods, often through abandoning or amending official project plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]