{"id":{"repo_id":"stellenbosch","oai_identifier":"oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135722"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/stellenbosch/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135722","repository":{"repo_id":"stellenbosch","name":"Stellenbosch University","base_url":"https://scholar.sun.ac.za/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Flood hazards and preparedness of subsistence farmers in the Vhembe District municipality in the Limpopo province","abstract":"ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Climate change risks and consequences in Africa are now widely acknowledged as critical considerations for development organizations, particularly in terms of sustainable development, poverty reduction, and food security. The severity and frequency of cyclones, floods, and droughts have risen over the previous 20 years, with a major adverse effect on the economy globally, particularly the agricultural sector. Farmers in Africa continue to face challenges in developing resilience to floods, which adversely affects agriculture. This research aims to investigate the flood awareness and preparedness of subsistence farmers in the Vhembe District municipality. The study employed a qualitative approach to explore the flood disaster awareness and preparedness of subsistence farmers in the VDM. In total 30 participants were identified through a web analysis and a snowball approach where stakeholders were asked to identify others for interviews and the qualitative data was recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically using NVivo. Findings of this study indicated majority of the participants had directly encountered flooding events. Furthermore, factors such as personal experience, education and financial resources contribute to farmers awareness and knowledge of floods. Additionally, findings indicate that farmers in all three research regions reported several flood-related issues, including increase in crop and animal illnesses, soil erosion, delayed planting, and insect infestations. Overall subsistence farmers in Tshakhuma, Thohoyandou, and Vuwani are actively responding to the challenges posed by flooding through a range of adaptation strategies, including using higher yielding crops, shortening the crop cycle, changing planting dates, mixed crop farming and indigenous knowledge. However, factors such as access to information, institutional support, and financial preparedness hinder their efforts to be prepared and resilient against flood risk. Therefore, further studies should assess the effectiveness of agricultural extension services in promoting preparedness strategies among subsistence farmers. This can include examining the training needs of extension officers, the relevance of the information provided, and the accessibility of these services to farmers.","abstract_html":"ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Climate change risks and consequences in Africa are now widely acknowledged as critical considerations for development organizations, particularly in terms of sustainable development, poverty reduction, and food security. The severity and frequency of cyclones, floods, and droughts have risen over the previous 20 years, with a major adverse effect on the economy globally, particularly the agricultural sector. Farmers in Africa continue to face challenges in developing resilience to floods, which adversely affects agriculture. This research aims to investigate the flood awareness and preparedness of subsistence farmers in the Vhembe District municipality. The study employed a qualitative approach to explore the flood disaster awareness and preparedness of subsistence farmers in the VDM. In total 30 participants were identified through a web analysis and a snowball approach where stakeholders were asked to identify others for interviews and the qualitative data was recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically using NVivo. Findings of this study indicated majority of the participants had directly encountered flooding events. Furthermore, factors such as personal experience, education and financial resources contribute to farmers awareness and knowledge of floods. Additionally, findings indicate that farmers in all three research regions reported several flood-related issues, including increase in crop and animal illnesses, soil erosion, delayed planting, and insect infestations. Overall subsistence farmers in Tshakhuma, Thohoyandou, and Vuwani are actively responding to the challenges posed by flooding through a range of adaptation strategies, including using higher yielding crops, shortening the crop cycle, changing planting dates, mixed crop farming and indigenous knowledge. However, factors such as access to information, institutional support, and financial preparedness hinder their efforts to be prepared and resilient against flood risk. Therefore, further studies should assess the effectiveness of agricultural extension services in promoting preparedness strategies among subsistence farmers. This can include examining the training needs of extension officers, the relevance of the information provided, and the accessibility of these services to farmers.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Tshishonga, Ndimuhulu"],"institution":"Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Pharoah, Robyn"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2026,"date_issued":"2026-03","date_published":"2026-03","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:40:12Z","subjects":[],"languages":["en_ZA"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135722","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Pharoah, Robyn"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.other","label":"Dc Contributor Other","values":["Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Geography and Environmental Studies."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Tshishonga, Ndimuhulu"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2026-04-08T14:04:21Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2026-04-08T14:04:21Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2026-03"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en_ZA"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135722"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.","Tshishonga, N. 2026. Flood hazards and preparedness of subsistence farmers in the Vhembe District municipality in the Limpopo province. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/9321ab9b-db6b-47df-9107-a364ae77ee08"]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Climate change risks and consequences in Africa are now widely acknowledged as critical considerations for development organizations, particularly in terms of sustainable development, poverty reduction, and food security. The severity and frequency of cyclones, floods, and droughts have risen over the previous 20 years, with a major adverse effect on the economy globally, particularly the agricultural sector. Farmers in Africa continue to face challenges in developing resilience to floods, which adversely affects agriculture. This research aims to investigate the flood awareness and preparedness of subsistence farmers in the Vhembe District municipality. The study employed a qualitative approach to explore the flood disaster awareness and preparedness of subsistence farmers in the VDM. In total 30 participants were identified through a web analysis and a snowball approach where stakeholders were asked to identify others for interviews and the qualitative data was recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically using NVivo. Findings of this study indicated majority of the participants had directly encountered flooding events. Furthermore, factors such as personal experience, education and financial resources contribute to farmers awareness and knowledge of floods. Additionally, findings indicate that farmers in all three research regions reported several flood-related issues, including increase in crop and animal illnesses, soil erosion, delayed planting, and insect infestations. Overall subsistence farmers in Tshakhuma, Thohoyandou, and Vuwani are actively responding to the challenges posed by flooding through a range of adaptation strategies, including using higher yielding crops, shortening the crop cycle, changing planting dates, mixed crop farming and indigenous knowledge. However, factors such as access to information, institutional support, and financial preparedness hinder their efforts to be prepared and resilient against flood risk. Therefore, further studies should assess the effectiveness of agricultural extension services in promoting preparedness strategies among subsistence farmers. This can include examining the training needs of extension officers, the relevance of the information provided, and the accessibility of these services to farmers.","AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: se risiko’s en gevolge in Afrika word tans wyd erken as kritieke oorwegings vir ontwikkelingsorganisasies, veral met betrekking tot volhoubare ontwikkeling, armoedeverligting en voedselsekuriteit. Die erns en frekwensie van siklone, vloede en droogtes het oor die afgelope 20 jaar toegeneem, met ’n groot nadelige uitwerking op die wêreldekonomie, veral die landbousektor. Boere in Afrika staar steeds uitdagings in die gesig om veerkragtigheid teenoor vloede te ontwikkel, wat landbou nadelig beïnvloed. Hierdie navorsing het ten doel om die vloedbewustheid en -gereedheid van kleinskaalse boere in die Vhembe Distriksmunisipaliteit te ondersoek. Die studie het ’n kwalitatiewe benadering gebruik om die rampbewustheid en -gereedheid van kleinskaalse boere in die VDM te verken. Deelnemers is geïdentifiseer deur middel van ’n web-ontleding en ’n sneeubal-benadering waar belanghebbendes gevra is om ander vir onderhoude aan te wys, en die kwalitatiewe data is opgeneem, getranskribeer en tematies ontleed met behulp van NVivo.Bevindinge van hierdie studie het aangedui dat die meerderheid van die deelnemers direk vloedgebeure ervaar het. Verder is faktore soos persoonlike ervaring, onderwys en finansiële hulpbronne bydraende faktore tot boere se bewustheid en kennis van vloede. Daarbenewens dui bevindinge aan dat boere in al drie navorsingsgebiede verskeie vloedverwante probleme gerapporteer het, insluitend ’n toename in gewas- en diere-siektes, gronderosie, vertraagde aanplantings, en insekplae. Oor die algemeen reageer kleinskaalse boere in Tshakhuma, Thohoyandou en Vuwani aktief op die uitdagings wat deur vloede veroorsaak word, deur middel van ’n reeks aanpassingsstrategieë, insluitend die gebruik van hoër opbrengsgewasse, verkorting van die gewassiklus, verandering van plantdatums, gemengde gewasboerdery en inheemse kennis. Tog belemmer faktore soos toegang tot inligting, institusionele ondersteuning en finansiële gereedheid hul pogings om voorberei en veerkragtig teen vloedrisiko’s te wees. Daarom behoort verdere studies die doeltreffendheid van landbouvoorligtingsdienste te evalueer in die bevordering van paraatheidsstrategieë onder kleinskaalse boere. Dit kan insluit die ondersoek na die opleidingsbehoeftes van voorligtingsbeamptes, die relevansie van die inligting wat verskaf word, en die toeganklikheid van hierdie dienste vir boere."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Flood hazards and preparedness of subsistence farmers in the Vhembe District municipality in the Limpopo province"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Pharoah, Robyn"],"dc:contributor.other":["Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Geography and Environmental Studies."],"dc:creator":["Tshishonga, Ndimuhulu"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2026-04-08T14:04:21Z"],"dc:date.available":["2026-04-08T14:04:21Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2026-03"],"dc:description":["Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.","Tshishonga, N. 2026. Flood hazards and preparedness of subsistence farmers in the Vhembe District municipality in the Limpopo province. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/9321ab9b-db6b-47df-9107-a364ae77ee08"],"dc:description.abstract":["ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Climate change risks and consequences in Africa are now widely acknowledged as critical considerations for development organizations, particularly in terms of sustainable development, poverty reduction, and food security. The severity and frequency of cyclones, floods, and droughts have risen over the previous 20 years, with a major adverse effect on the economy globally, particularly the agricultural sector. Farmers in Africa continue to face challenges in developing resilience to floods, which adversely affects agriculture. This research aims to investigate the flood awareness and preparedness of subsistence farmers in the Vhembe District municipality. The study employed a qualitative approach to explore the flood disaster awareness and preparedness of subsistence farmers in the VDM. In total 30 participants were identified through a web analysis and a snowball approach where stakeholders were asked to identify others for interviews and the qualitative data was recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically using NVivo. Findings of this study indicated majority of the participants had directly encountered flooding events. Furthermore, factors such as personal experience, education and financial resources contribute to farmers awareness and knowledge of floods. Additionally, findings indicate that farmers in all three research regions reported several flood-related issues, including increase in crop and animal illnesses, soil erosion, delayed planting, and insect infestations. Overall subsistence farmers in Tshakhuma, Thohoyandou, and Vuwani are actively responding to the challenges posed by flooding through a range of adaptation strategies, including using higher yielding crops, shortening the crop cycle, changing planting dates, mixed crop farming and indigenous knowledge. However, factors such as access to information, institutional support, and financial preparedness hinder their efforts to be prepared and resilient against flood risk. Therefore, further studies should assess the effectiveness of agricultural extension services in promoting preparedness strategies among subsistence farmers. This can include examining the training needs of extension officers, the relevance of the information provided, and the accessibility of these services to farmers.","AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: se risiko’s en gevolge in Afrika word tans wyd erken as kritieke oorwegings vir ontwikkelingsorganisasies, veral met betrekking tot volhoubare ontwikkeling, armoedeverligting en voedselsekuriteit. Die erns en frekwensie van siklone, vloede en droogtes het oor die afgelope 20 jaar toegeneem, met ’n groot nadelige uitwerking op die wêreldekonomie, veral die landbousektor. Boere in Afrika staar steeds uitdagings in die gesig om veerkragtigheid teenoor vloede te ontwikkel, wat landbou nadelig beïnvloed. Hierdie navorsing het ten doel om die vloedbewustheid en -gereedheid van kleinskaalse boere in die Vhembe Distriksmunisipaliteit te ondersoek. Die studie het ’n kwalitatiewe benadering gebruik om die rampbewustheid en -gereedheid van kleinskaalse boere in die VDM te verken. Deelnemers is geïdentifiseer deur middel van ’n web-ontleding en ’n sneeubal-benadering waar belanghebbendes gevra is om ander vir onderhoude aan te wys, en die kwalitatiewe data is opgeneem, getranskribeer en tematies ontleed met behulp van NVivo.Bevindinge van hierdie studie het aangedui dat die meerderheid van die deelnemers direk vloedgebeure ervaar het. Verder is faktore soos persoonlike ervaring, onderwys en finansiële hulpbronne bydraende faktore tot boere se bewustheid en kennis van vloede. Daarbenewens dui bevindinge aan dat boere in al drie navorsingsgebiede verskeie vloedverwante probleme gerapporteer het, insluitend ’n toename in gewas- en diere-siektes, gronderosie, vertraagde aanplantings, en insekplae. Oor die algemeen reageer kleinskaalse boere in Tshakhuma, Thohoyandou en Vuwani aktief op die uitdagings wat deur vloede veroorsaak word, deur middel van ’n reeks aanpassingsstrategieë, insluitend die gebruik van hoër opbrengsgewasse, verkorting van die gewassiklus, verandering van plantdatums, gemengde gewasboerdery en inheemse kennis. Tog belemmer faktore soos toegang tot inligting, institusionele ondersteuning en finansiële gereedheid hul pogings om voorberei en veerkragtig teen vloedrisiko’s te wees. Daarom behoort verdere studies die doeltreffendheid van landbouvoorligtingsdienste te evalueer in die bevordering van paraatheidsstrategieë onder kleinskaalse boere. Dit kan insluit die ondersoek na die opleidingsbehoeftes van voorligtingsbeamptes, die relevansie van die inligting wat verskaf word, en die toeganklikheid van hierdie dienste vir boere."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135722"],"dc:language.iso":["en_ZA"],"dc:publisher":["Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University"],"dc:title":["Flood hazards and preparedness of subsistence farmers in the Vhembe District municipality in the Limpopo province"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:40:12Z"}