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Assessing the utilization and effectiveness of climate information services for disaster risk reduction: case study of smallholder agriculture sector in Eswatini
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613969694326784 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Hlanze, Dumsani Kenneth |
| author2 | Zweig, Patricia |
| author_browse | Hlanze, Dumsani Kenneth Zweig, Patricia |
| author_facet | Zweig, Patricia Hlanze, Dumsani Kenneth |
| author_sort | Hlanze, Dumsani Kenneth |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134631 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:35.400Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134631 Assessing the utilization and effectiveness of climate information services for disaster risk reduction: case study of smallholder agriculture sector in Eswatini Hlanze, Dumsani Kenneth Zweig, Patricia Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Geography and Environmental Studies. Meteorological services -- Eswatini Climatic changes -- Eswatini Disaster relief -- Eswatini Farms, Small -- Eswatini Agriculture and state -- Eswatini UCTD Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Hlanze, D. K. 2025. Assessing the utilization and effectiveness of climate information services for disaster risk reduction: case study of smallholder agriculture sector in Eswatini. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/9822c10c-2da8-4b66-ab19-e4175320f0a2 ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is essential for protecting smallholder farmers who face increasing climate-related challenges due to climate variability. Climate Information Services (CIS) provide timely and actionable information that can enhance farmers’ resilience and support informed decision-making. This study investigates the availability, accessibility, and effectiveness of CIS among smallholder farmers in the Mhlume, Lomahasha, and Lugongolweni Constituencies of the Lubombo region in Eswatini, to identify strategies to strengthen their capacity for disaster preparedness. The study employed a qualitative research approach, conducting nine (9) focus group discussions (FGDs) with 8–12 participants each, and six (6) key informant interviews (KIIs) with representatives from relevant institutions involved in CIS provision. Data were coded using Microsoft Word, with significant phrases noted via the review function and organized into themes for analysis. Findings revealed critical barriers to effective CIS utilization, including limited farmer engagement in co-production, inadequate dissemination channels, high data costs, linguistic and technical challenges, and a lack of locally tailored information. Based on these findings, the study proposes a collaborative approach to CIS that emphasizes co-production, integration of indigenous and scientific knowledge, inclusive dissemination, and problem-focused advisories. Such an approach has the potential to make CIS more relevant, accessible, and actionable, thereby enhancing disaster risk reduction among smallholder farmers in the Lubombo region. Recommendations are provided to address the identified challenges and improve the overall effectiveness of CIS in supporting resilience and sustainable agricultural livelihoods. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ramprisikovermindering (RRR) is noodsaaklik vir die beskerming van kleinboere wat toenemende klimaatverwante uitdagings in die gesig staar as gevolg van klimaatsveranderlikheid. Klimaatinligtingsdienste (KIS) bied tydige en toepaslike inligting wat boere se veerkragtigheid kan verbeter en ingeligte besluitneming kan ondersteun. Hierdie studie ondersoek die beskikbaarheid, toeganklikheid en doeltreffendheid van KIS onder kleinboere in die Mhlume-, Lomahasha- en Lugongolweni-kiesafdelings van die Lubombo-streek in Eswatini, met die doel om strategieë te identifiseer wat hul kapasiteit vir ramprisikovermindering versterk. Die studie het ’n kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering gevolg, met nege (9) fokusgroepbesprekings (FGD's) van 8–12 deelnemers elk, en ses (6) sleutelinformantonderhoude (KII's) met verteenwoordigers van relevante instellings wat by KIS-besluitneming betrokke is. Data is in Microsoft Word gekodeer, met belangrike frases aangeteken met die hersieningsfunksie en georganiseer vir tematiese analise. Bevindinge het kritieke hindernisse vir effektiewe gebruik van KIS aan die lig gebring, insluitend beperkte boerebetrokkenheid by samewerking, onvoldoende verspreidingskanale, hoë datakoste, taal- en tegniese uitdagings, en ’n gebrek aan plaaslik aangepaste inligting. Op grond van hierdie bevindinge word ’n samewerkende benadering tot KIS voorgestel, wat die kospanning van wetenskaplike en inheemse kennis, inklusiewe verspreiding en probleemgerigte advies insluit. Hierdie benadering kan KIS meer relevant, toeganklik en uitvoerbaar maak, en sodoende ramprisikovermindering onder kleinboere in die Lubombo-streek verbeter. Aanbevelings word gegee om die geïdentifiseerde uitdagings aan te spreek en die algehele doeltreffendheid van KIS te versterk, wat volhoubare landboulewe en veerkragtigheid teen klimaatsveranderlikheid ondersteun. Masters 2025-12-19T09:47:00Z 2025-12-19T09:47:00Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134631 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 128 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Meteorological services -- Eswatini Climatic changes -- Eswatini Disaster relief -- Eswatini Farms, Small -- Eswatini Agriculture and state -- Eswatini UCTD Hlanze, Dumsani Kenneth Assessing the utilization and effectiveness of climate information services for disaster risk reduction: case study of smallholder agriculture sector in Eswatini |
| title | Assessing the utilization and effectiveness of climate information services for disaster risk reduction: case study of smallholder agriculture sector in Eswatini |
| title_full | Assessing the utilization and effectiveness of climate information services for disaster risk reduction: case study of smallholder agriculture sector in Eswatini |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the utilization and effectiveness of climate information services for disaster risk reduction: case study of smallholder agriculture sector in Eswatini |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the utilization and effectiveness of climate information services for disaster risk reduction: case study of smallholder agriculture sector in Eswatini |
| title_short | Assessing the utilization and effectiveness of climate information services for disaster risk reduction: case study of smallholder agriculture sector in Eswatini |
| title_sort | assessing the utilization and effectiveness of climate information services for disaster risk reduction case study of smallholder agriculture sector in eswatini |
| topic | Meteorological services -- Eswatini Climatic changes -- Eswatini Disaster relief -- Eswatini Farms, Small -- Eswatini Agriculture and state -- Eswatini UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134631 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hlanzedumsanikenneth assessingtheutilizationandeffectivenessofclimateinformationservicesfordisasterriskreductioncasestudyofsmallholderagriculturesectorineswatini |