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The response of farmers to the drought hazard in the Karoo environment

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Abstract

The response of farmers to the drought hazard in the Karoo environment. This paper identifies the range of farmers' responses to the drought hazard and seeks to determine whether they are successful in reducing the detrimental effects of drought. Farmers' responses to a survey are analysed within the framework of six response types namely: affecting the cause, modifying the hazard, modifying the loss potential, spreading the losses, planning for losses and bearing the losses. The success of farmers' responses is evaluated individually and cumulatively in terms of their being able to minimize a reduction in farmers' income as a result of drought. Various characteristics of the farmers and their farming enterprise are also examined in relation to the success of measures to mitigate the adverse effects of drought. A major finding is that no specific actions are able to adequately protect them from the detrimental effects of a major drought.

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  1. Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X 17, 7535, Bellville, Republic of South Africa

    Myburgh D. W. (Dr.)

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Myburgh, D.W. The response of farmers to the drought hazard in the Karoo environment. GeoJournal 33, 401–410 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00806423

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