Gagoitseope Mmopelwa

Livestock predation, household adaptation and compensation policy : a case study of Shorobe village in northern Botswana

ABSTRACT Human-wildlife conflict is a worldwide phenomenon. Through a household survey supplemented by informal interviews, this study attempts to understand the dynamics of livestock predation by carnivores at village level in Botswana. The study reveals that farmers perceive hyenas and lions to cause more livestock losses than other predators. In order to reduce predation, attempts should be made to put livestock in enclosures at night and also to herd them during the day. These practices comply with the conditions of the new government compensation policy for livestock losses caused by carnivores. The study recommends a review of the compensation rates and suggests that they should be closer to the market value. Such changes, accompanied by strict animal husbandry practices, may bring about the increased willingness of households to co-exist with predators.

Climate Variability and Rural Livelihoods: How Households Perceive and Adapt to Climatic Shocks in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

AbstractClimate variability and change have adverse effects on agricultural production and other livelihood strategies of the rural households. The paper hypothesizes that rural households naturally devise means of overcoming the challenges currently posed by climate variability. The research article addresses the question of how rural households apply local knowledge of weather forecasting in adapting to climate variability in the Okavango Delta. It specifically probes, among others, the extent to which climate variability has affected agricultural production over the last 10 years in the area. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select a total of 592 households from eight rural communities. Key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and a stakeholder workshop were used to obtain demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and climatic information. Households used both natural animate and inanimate indicators to predict the weather. To enhance household adaptation to climatic events, indige...

Responding to climate change through joint partnership

Purpose – Climate change continues to pose a serious challenge to mankind. Given their socio-economic and vulnerable situations, resource-poor farmers will be hard hit and likely to be the most affected group in Africa – a continent that will bear the full brunt of inclement weather conditions. The purpose of this paper is to address the questions of how local farmers read and predict the weather, and how best they can collaborate with weather scientists in adapting to climate change and variability in the Okavango Delta of Botswana. Design/methodology/approach – A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed in sampling a total of 592 households heads (both men and women) in eight rural communities in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Findings – Analysis indicates that about 80 per cent of the farmers had a good knowledge of weather forecasting. In a knowledge validation workshop organised and implemented in early August 2012, farmers and scientists identified a nine-point agenda and strategies for addressing...

Household Water Insecurity in Different Settlement Categories of Ngamiland, Botswana

The attainment of water security is a major challenge confronting Botswana, a semi-arid country. This chapter analyzes household water security challenges in different settlement categories (i.e. primary centers, tertiary centers and ungazetted villages) of Ngamiland, Botswana. Informed by the concepts of security, water security and human security, the study used a survey of 554 households and qualitative data, collected through key informant interviews, participant observation, focus group discussions and informal interviews. The results of the study established that households across all settlement categories of Ngamiland encounter water insecurity in terms of availability and quality. Gazetted settlements households go for prolonged periods without water supply services. Households in ungazetted settlements use water from unprotected sources. The chapter concludes that the majority of households in different settlement categories are water insecure and this has negative effects on human security. Botswana has to put in place a water policy which emphasises the attainment water security and human security. Strategies and programmes aimed at enhancing household water security in both gazetted and ungazetted settlements have to be underpinned by scientific research.