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livestock production include reduction in productivity of pastoral herds, reduction
in water availability, reduced quantity and quality of forage and subsequent reduction in carrying capacity of rangelands (Megersa et al. 2014; Thornton and Herrero
2014), and incidences of livestock deaths in extreme cases (Gaughan and CawsellSmith 2015; Megersa et al. 2014). However, a key barrier to developing our understanding of climate-sensitive diseases is the paucity of information such as
epidemiological and ecological observations on animal disease in developing countries (Grace et al. 2015).
2 Significance of Livestock and Climate Change Interface
This study is informed by and undertaken under the premise that the contribution of
livestock such as cattle to food security and livelihoods in Malawi can be enhanced
if adaptation and mitigation to climate change are well appropriated. Porter et al.
(2014) indicated that the studies on observed impacts of climate change on livestock
are fewer compared to those on crop production and fisheries. Thornton and Herrero
(2014) argued that there is a need to better understand how mixed crop-livestock
systems are impacted upon by climate change. In Malawi, there is limited information on the influence of socio-economic factors on farmers’ perception of the
impacts of climate change on smallholder beef production (Chingala et al. 2017).
We argue in this chapter that to develop appropriate interventions and/or related
policies, there is a need to have a clear and holistic understanding on how smallholder farmers perceive impacts of climate change and weather variability on cattle
production. This understanding is particularly important because the effects of climate change mainly impact on the poor who are characterised by low adaptive
capacity (Tol et al. 2004).
This study was therefore undertaken to assess the farmers’ perception on the effects
of weather variability on cattle production in Traditional Authority Ngabu, Chikwawa
District, Southern Malawi. Specifically, this study aimed to identify and document the
perceived impacts of weather variability on cattle production practices and productivity and to seek solutions and adaptation measures to address identified weather variability-related challenges that negatively impact smallholder cattle production.
3 Methodology
3.1 Location
The study was conducted in Traditional Authority Ngabu in Chikwawa District
under the Shire Valley Agricultural Development (SVADD). Ngabu lies on latitude
16°26′71” S and longitude 34°52′9.53″ E. It is in the Shire River valley and is considered to be one of the hottest and driest districts in Malawi, except for the areas
Climate Change and Weather Variability Effects on Cattle Production: Perception…
livestock production include reduction in productivity of pastoral herds, reduction
in water availability, reduced quantity and quality of forage and subsequent reduction in carrying capacity of rangelands (Megersa et al. 2014; Thornton and Herrero
2014), and incidences of livestock deaths in extreme cases (Gaughan and CawsellSmith 2015; Megersa et al. 2014). However, a key barrier to developing our understanding of climate-sensitive diseases is the paucity of information such as
epidemiological and ecological observations on animal disease in developing countries (Grace et al. 2015).
2 Significance of Livestock and Climate Change Interface
This study is informed by and undertaken under the premise that the contribution of
livestock such as cattle to food security and livelihoods in Malawi can be enhanced
if adaptation and mitigation to climate change are well appropriated. Porter et al.
(2014) indicated that the studies on observed impacts of climate change on livestock
are fewer compared to those on crop production and fisheries. Thornton and Herrero
(2014) argued that there is a need to better understand how mixed crop-livestock
systems are impacted upon by climate change. In Malawi, there is limited information on the influence of socio-economic factors on farmers’ perception of the
impacts of climate change on smallholder beef production (Chingala et al. 2017).
We argue in this chapter that to develop appropriate interventions and/or related
policies, there is a need to have a clear and holistic understanding on how smallholder farmers perceive impacts of climate change and weather variability on cattle
production. This understanding is particularly important because the effects of climate change mainly impact on the poor who are characterised by low adaptive
capacity (Tol et al. 2004).
This study was therefore undertaken to assess the farmers’ perception on the effects
of weather variability on cattle production in Traditional Authority Ngabu, Chikwawa
District, Southern Malawi. Specifically, this study aimed to identify and document the
perceived impacts of weather variability on cattle production practices and productivity and to seek solutions and adaptation measures to address identified weather variability-related challenges that negatively impact smallholder cattle production.
3 Methodology
3.1 Location
The study was conducted in Traditional Authority Ngabu in Chikwawa District
under the Shire Valley Agricultural Development (SVADD). Ngabu lies on latitude
16°26′71” S and longitude 34°52′9.53″ E. It is in the Shire River valley and is considered to be one of the hottest and driest districts in Malawi, except for the areas
Climate Change and Weather Variability Effects on Cattle Production: Perception…