Climate change has become a global concern affecting the livelihoods of different populations. Smallholder women farmers who depend on agricultural production and have limited natural resources are observed to suffer the most from climate-related adverse effects. This study examined the impact of climate change on the livelihoods of smallholder women farmers in Mhondoro Ngezi, Zimbabwe. The study used Q methodology to systematically capture and analyze the subjective experiences and perspectives of women engaged in agriculture regarding the impacts of climate change on their livelihoods. A Q-sort grid was used to sort 53 statements from 100 respondents, and interviews were also used to collect data. Demographic data was analyzed descriptively in SPSS, utilizing frequency tables and graphs. The sorted Q-sort data was analyzed using the Q methodology KADE software with Microsoft Excel serving as an auxiliary tool. Critical gender gaps between men and women who participated in the research revealed that female-headed households are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change on their livelihoods due to limited access to extension services and land rights than men. The results also showed that women engage in multiple on-farm adaptation strategies, such as poultry and livestock keeping, in response to climate variability. Conversely, women cited limited financial resources, poultry and livestock diseases and pests, and low market demand as constraints to their ability to respond to climate variability, which further affects their livelihoods. This study demonstrates the usefulness of Q methodology in amplifying the voices of rural women in climate adaptation discussions related to their livelihoods. National climate and agricultural policy should integrate the distinct perspectives of rural women to achieve equitable and targeted outcomes.
Matindike et al. (Tue,) studied this question.