Understanding subsistence livestock farmers’ strategies for resilience: the case of brits farmers in North West Province

Most communities living in the rural and semi-rural regions of South Africa depend on subsistence farming, particularly livestock keeping to improve their household food security and livelihood. However, rural communities face challenges such as social, economic, ecological, climatic and environmental conditions, which pose a threat to sustainable agri-food systems and various poverty alleviation programmes. This study critically reviews the literature to understand subsistence livestock farmers’ strategies for resilience in the Brits area of the North West province. The primary objective was to focus on understanding the shocks and stresses of subsistence livestock farmers and the response to such challenges. Secondly, to unpack what constitutes resilience in the face of shocks and stresses. This study was conducted in Brits, North West province and used participatory action research (PAR) methodology while disbursing SLA as a theoretical framework to engage with subsistence livestock farmers who were viewed as co-researchers, to guide the poverty alleviation technique in rural communities. The analyses were conducted by using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as a qualitative method. This study identified strategies used in subsistence livestock farming to assist rural communities to improve farmers’ resilience toward exposed hazards. This study recommends that the government should strengthen the policies and programmes that must support subsistence livestock farmers as it presents an effective strategy for reducing hunger in households and communities.