Coping strategies and resilience of agricultural areas against environmental variability

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We conducted an integrated study for analyzing farmers' coping strategy and resilience of food security against climatic shocks in selected areas in Southern Zambia. Our empirical results suggest that weather index based cropinsurance expanded cropping area with earlier sowing period. Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) revealed that the diet pattern of Zambian farm household members lack energy and animal protein intake. As for agricultural technology, alternative crops such as sweet potato increased food consumption levels when maize failed. Resilience mapping showed that small scale farmers are the least resilient. It is important to consider food security in comprehensive manner rather than focusing only on improving agricultural production. In order to build long-term resilience of rural households in Zambia, strengthening adaptive capacity by enhancing social safety net and improving infrastructure such as roads and communication, education, health/nutritional status are required.