Smallholder farmers in South Africa are increasingly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, posing significant threats to their livelihoods and food security. This systematic literature review investigates the several impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers across the country. The literature review used a systematic approach to search for relevant research across three academic databases such as Google scholar, Consensus, and Zendy. Based on the inclusion criteria for the literature review, 261 articles were initially screened, and 35 articles were included in the systematic review. This process helped to identify the most relevant and high-quality studies on the topic. The data extracted from the 35 articles were analyzed and synthesized to identify the impact of climate change on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. This helped to identify commonalities and differences across the literature, and to draw conclusions about the impact of climate change on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. The study identified and examined the specific challenges faced by smallholder farmers, including the loss of livestock, reduced crop yields and heightened economic hardship. Additionally, the review explores the coping strategies employed by farmers to mitigate these challenges and adapt to the evolving climatic conditions. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions and support mechanisms aimed at enhancing the resilience of smallholder farmers and ensuring the long-term sustainability of agricultural practices amidst the challenges posed by climate change. Furthermore, the study provides valuable recommendations for policymakers, agriculturalists, and other stakeholders to address the identified issues and support smallholder farmers in adapting to climate change.

This systematic review identified the prevalence, effectiveness, and potential benefits of agroecology strategies in promoting sustainable agriculture practices implemented by smallholder crop farmers in South Africa. The review carried out a comprehensive literature search across various academic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of science. The relevant studies were screened and selected based on predetermined inclusion criteria where a total of 262 articles were extracted and reduced to 30 articles for this systematic review. Data were extracted and synthesised to classify patterns and trends in the adoption of agroecology elements. The results obtained from the review of this study highlights the identification of specific strategies such as indigenous crop varieties, conservation agriculture, intercropping, agroforestry, drought-tolerant crop varieties, and water management strategies. These outcomes demonstrated insights into the prevalence of different strategies applied by smallholder crop farmers in South Africa. Furthermore, the review determined the reported benefits, such as increased crop resilience, improved soil fertility, and enhanced water use efficiency. These benefits were assessed on the available evidence from the selected studies. This review contributes to a better understanding of agroecology practices in South African. The results can inform policymakers, researchers, and farmers in developing appropriate strategies to enhance sustainable agricultural practices.

The research investigated how women employ various adaptation and coping mechanisms to alleviate food insecurity resulting from the impacts of climate change. The documentation of the debate on the role of women in adaptation and coping with climate change is relatively limited. Climate change’s effect on food security in semi-arid areas could potentially increase the population of individuals residing in severe poverty. Over the past three decades, Africa’s sub-tropics have experienced irregular rainfall and prolonged droughts, which have negatively affected agriculture and food production. This research utilized a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches within a mixed-method design, guided by the pragmatic paradigm. Based on the results of the study, water harvesting/dam construction and income generating projects (IGPs) were identified as the most effective coping strategies for women. This study recommends implementing awareness campaigns to educate women farmers about the negative effects of climate change and the need for integrated and comprehensive capacity-building frameworks. By understanding the challenges women face in adapting to and coping with climate change, it is hoped that more effective and sustainable solutions can be developed.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of climate change on smallholder farmers in South Africa, particularly focusing on the relationship between agriculture and weather patterns. Understanding this connection is crucial for helping farmers adapt to changing climate conditions and improve their resilience and sustainability. This research analyses 33 years of climate data (1990–2023) from the Belfast weather station to identify long-term climate trends, seasonal shifts, and the frequency of extreme weather events. Statistical analysis, including the Mann–Kendall test, revealed significant changes in temperature, rainfall, and the intensity of extreme weather events, indicating that climate change is already affecting the region. Specifically, the research highlighted significant damage to agricultural infrastructure, such as greenhouses, due to climate-related wind events. This study emphasises the importance of using digital technologies to monitor weather patterns in real-time, aiding in decision-making, and enhancing agricultural efficiency. Additionally, it calls for further research into the social impacts of climate variability, including its effects on community cohesion, migration, and access to social services among smallholder farmers. These findings provide a foundation for developing effective interventions to support the resilience of smallholder farming communities in the face of climate change. Future studies need to consider how climate variability affects farmers’ abilities to access markets, both in terms of transport and product quality.

The objective of the study was to assess the current sustainability of small-scale sheep farming systems in the Hantam Karoo, Northern Cape Province (South Africa). The influence of economic, social, and environmental variables (indicators) in promoting the development of sustainable sheep farming was taken into account. Thirty-two small-scale sheep farmers were interviewed using questionnaires which consisted of structured and unstructured questions. The results showed that the sheep farming system was mostly not economically viable due to low sheep numbers, but partially sustainable in the social context. Small flocks result in low income and profitability which is not sustainable. Market access was not a limitation because farmers had good trade relations. Farming benefitted farmers’ families and the community and farmers had access to basic resources. Secure tenure was a major challenge to small-scale farmers. With regard to environmental variables, grazing conditions were poor. In 2017, stocking density was within the norm, which means that frequent droughts and continuous grazing methods rather than sheep stocking rates were probably responsible for poor grazing conditions. Extension advisors could teach the practice of rotational grazing and it might be a good idea to promote gender equality in order to alleviate poverty and increase food security.

Livestock production in South Africa faces numerous challenges due to climate change, resource limitations, and economic constraints. Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies are essential to ensure sustainability. This systematic literature review explores the adaptation and mitigation strategies employed in livestock production systems in South Africa. The literature review used a systematic approach to identify relevant studies using Google scholar, Scopus and Web of science. To ensure the relevance and quality of the selected studies, specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Studies were included if they addressed adaptation and or mitigation strategies in livestock production, were specific to the South African context, and were published between 2000 and 2023. Conversely, studies were excluded if they focused on regions outside South Africa, did not specifically examine livestock adaptation or mitigation, or lacked methodological rigor. This approach allowed the author to identify and synthesise a wide range of literature on the topic. Based on the inclusion criteria for the literature review, an initial screening of 330 articles was conducted, resulting in 55 articles meeting the criteria and included in the systematic review. This rigorous process helped to identify the high-quality and relevant studies on the topic. The data extracted from the 55 articles were then analysed and synthesised to identify adaptation and mitigation strategies of livestock production systems in South Africa. This helped to identify similarities and differences within the literature and supported drawing conclusions about adaptation and mitigation strategies in South African livestock production systems. Key practices include destocking during dry months, selective breeding, water resource management, construction of shade to reduce heat, financial planning, feed supplementation, and innovative approaches like wildlife ranching. These strategies, when adopted at farm level enhance resilience, productivity, and environmental conservation. Demographic, environmental, socioeconomic, and knowledge-related factors influence strategy adoption. Research progress shows increasing interest and diverse methodological approaches, indicating a growing awareness of livestock production resilience. Collaborative efforts are crucial for advancing sustainable practices and maintaining the sector’s long-term sustainability.