Exploring the Nature and Effects of Climate Change Induced Threats on the Health and Livelihood of Small Scale Farmers in Nega Nega Community of Mazabuka District, Zambia.

Evidence shows that Zambia has over the past years experienced a number of climate-related hazards of which some of these have increased in frequency and impacted negatively the health and livelihoods of communities. This research therefore, explored the nature and effects of climate change induced threats on the health and livelihood of small-scale farmers in Nega Nega community of Mazabuka District, Zambia. The research was undertaken by using a Qualitative interpretive phenomenological design. 30 Purposively selected small scale crop farmers who had lived for more than 5 years in the study area were subjected to an interview. Data was analysed using thematic approach.The main findings of this research were that prolonged periods of drought, excessive flooding, and unpredictable rainfall patterns were the nature of climate induced threats. The research found that decreased yields in crop production,high maize price and poor living conditions were the major resultant of induced climate change threats on the health and livelihood of small scale farmers.This research recommends among others that the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment in Collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture through district agriculture extension officers should enhance the campaign of tree planting in farming blocks as this may help to restore the lost forests.