83
the difficulties were not just about ECV but also about lack of knowledge and skills
in entrepreneurship and acquiring capital for investment. These problems are
attested to by both male and female youths and farmers. They indicated that they
were keen to develop projects and enterprises to generate incomes; however, they
did not have funds. The men and women pointed out that starting a craft business as
an income-generating activity needs one to have access to grass that is used for mat
and basket weaving. Both men and women talked about producing fruits and vegetables for commercial markets. They had many ideas about what to do but lacked
the means. This is an indication that both men and women have the potential to
benefit from natural resources, provided they had the capital. Both men and women
require more than just having access to land and natural resources. It was also clear
that they lack the technology and economic resources to reduce ECV. Climate
change could therefore increase their poverty levels, reinforcing existing vulnerabilities between men and women.
3.4 Decisions on Choice of Coping Strategies Employed by
Households
Despite the fact that most farming activities did not change, most of the coping
strategies employed to address the effects of ECV such as extreme drought, severe
floods, pests, and diseases are based on household deciding on what strategy to
Percentage
Coping strategy
Fig. 12 Coping strategies for men and women in extreme drought conditions
Gendered Adaptation and Coping Mechanisms to Climate Variability in Eastern…
the difficulties were not just about ECV but also about lack of knowledge and skills
in entrepreneurship and acquiring capital for investment. These problems are
attested to by both male and female youths and farmers. They indicated that they
were keen to develop projects and enterprises to generate incomes; however, they
did not have funds. The men and women pointed out that starting a craft business as
an income-generating activity needs one to have access to grass that is used for mat
and basket weaving. Both men and women talked about producing fruits and vegetables for commercial markets. They had many ideas about what to do but lacked
the means. This is an indication that both men and women have the potential to
benefit from natural resources, provided they had the capital. Both men and women
require more than just having access to land and natural resources. It was also clear
that they lack the technology and economic resources to reduce ECV. Climate
change could therefore increase their poverty levels, reinforcing existing vulnerabilities between men and women.
3.4 Decisions on Choice of Coping Strategies Employed by
Households
Despite the fact that most farming activities did not change, most of the coping
strategies employed to address the effects of ECV such as extreme drought, severe
floods, pests, and diseases are based on household deciding on what strategy to
Percentage
Coping strategy
Fig. 12 Coping strategies for men and women in extreme drought conditions
Gendered Adaptation and Coping Mechanisms to Climate Variability in Eastern…