Permaculture: Challenges and Benefits in Improving Rural Livelihoods in South Africa and Zimbabwe
Feeding a growing global population using conventional agricultural practices is leading to adverse environmental impacts. There is a call for alternative forms of agriculture that address social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability. Permaculture is a holistic design framework that...
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doaj-e895871a475a42878c2f0528e3892a792020-11-24T21:44:34ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502019-04-01118221910.3390/su11082219su11082219Permaculture: Challenges and Benefits in Improving Rural Livelihoods in South Africa and ZimbabweZahra Didarali0James Gambiza1Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6139, South AfricaDepartment of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6139, South AfricaFeeding a growing global population using conventional agricultural practices is leading to adverse environmental impacts. There is a call for alternative forms of agriculture that address social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability. Permaculture is a holistic design framework that incorporates sustainable agricultural practices, potentially improving livelihoods. This study looked at the challenges and benefits of permaculture in improving rural livelihoods in Zimbabwe and South Africa. We used semi-structured interviews to collect data. Permaculture contributed over 40% to total income for participants in both countries. However, permaculture was not the dominant source of income and periodically straddled multiple livelihood strategies. The main benefits of permaculture were identified as improved human health, increased resilience to environmental changes, and reduction of input costs. The key challenges included high labour input, infestation of pests and diseases, and lack of knowledge on permaculture practices. Although permaculture presents significant challenges, its integration with other forms of sustainable agricultural practices can contribute to improved rural livelihoods.https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/8/2219agricultureagroecologylivelihoodspermaculture |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Zahra Didarali James Gambiza |
spellingShingle |
Zahra Didarali James Gambiza Permaculture: Challenges and Benefits in Improving Rural Livelihoods in South Africa and Zimbabwe Sustainability agriculture agroecology livelihoods permaculture |
author_facet |
Zahra Didarali James Gambiza |
author_sort |
Zahra Didarali |
title |
Permaculture: Challenges and Benefits in Improving Rural Livelihoods in South Africa and Zimbabwe |
title_short |
Permaculture: Challenges and Benefits in Improving Rural Livelihoods in South Africa and Zimbabwe |
title_full |
Permaculture: Challenges and Benefits in Improving Rural Livelihoods in South Africa and Zimbabwe |
title_fullStr |
Permaculture: Challenges and Benefits in Improving Rural Livelihoods in South Africa and Zimbabwe |
title_full_unstemmed |
Permaculture: Challenges and Benefits in Improving Rural Livelihoods in South Africa and Zimbabwe |
title_sort |
permaculture: challenges and benefits in improving rural livelihoods in south africa and zimbabwe |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Sustainability |
issn |
2071-1050 |
publishDate |
2019-04-01 |
description |
Feeding a growing global population using conventional agricultural practices is leading to adverse environmental impacts. There is a call for alternative forms of agriculture that address social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability. Permaculture is a holistic design framework that incorporates sustainable agricultural practices, potentially improving livelihoods. This study looked at the challenges and benefits of permaculture in improving rural livelihoods in Zimbabwe and South Africa. We used semi-structured interviews to collect data. Permaculture contributed over 40% to total income for participants in both countries. However, permaculture was not the dominant source of income and periodically straddled multiple livelihood strategies. The main benefits of permaculture were identified as improved human health, increased resilience to environmental changes, and reduction of input costs. The key challenges included high labour input, infestation of pests and diseases, and lack of knowledge on permaculture practices. Although permaculture presents significant challenges, its integration with other forms of sustainable agricultural practices can contribute to improved rural livelihoods. |
topic |
agriculture agroecology livelihoods permaculture |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/8/2219 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT zahradidarali permaculturechallengesandbenefitsinimprovingrurallivelihoodsinsouthafricaandzimbabwe AT jamesgambiza permaculturechallengesandbenefitsinimprovingrurallivelihoodsinsouthafricaandzimbabwe |
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1725909422915452928 |