Assessing the social vulnerability of small-scale farmer's to drought in uMsinga, KwaZulu-Natal

Abstract The effect of climatic events such as droughts, will have severe and disproportionate impacts on poor rural communities and small-scale farmers who base their livelihoods on rain fed agriculture. These groups are considered socially vulnerable to climate change, due to various socio-economic conditions that increase their susceptibility to droughts, specifically socio-economic droughts which are associated with a failure of water resources to meet water demands leading to adverse impacts on humans and the economy of a given region. This has led to a growing emphasis on research assessing the social factors that sustain a community's vulnerability to natural hazards. The aim of this article was to assess and identify social vulnerability amongst small-scale farmers and rural communities in the uMsinga community in the KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa using an adapted social vulnerability index (SoVI). Nine social indicators were identified using qualitative and quantitative research methods. Indicators were identified from questionnaire surveys and literature that has proven the role that certain social factors play in sustaining vulnerability. The results from the study revealed an SoVI estimated for uMsinga was very high with a Likert scale index of 5 for gender, education level, preparedness strategies, social dependence, access to early warning systems and external support attributing to very high social vulnerability. Social networks and marital status scored a SoVI value of 1 and 2 respectively, which was of low vulnerability contributing positively to resilience to drought. The study also revealed that government involvement in drought management and risk reduction was minimal, as a result the study recommends the development of policies and a drought management plan at local level that includes key stakeholders to build resilience and enhance the adaptive capacity of small-scale farmers.