Enhancing Livelihoods through Sustainable Food Security Strategies

International audience Climate change has increasingly undermined agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods, particularly in communities that depend on rain-fed subsistence farming. As climate change has shifted seasonal patterns, small-scale farmers have had to move away from traditional farming methods and adopt approaches that optimise crop yields, increase productivity during shorter growing seasons and use relatively limited resources efficiently. This review explores sustainable food-security strategies that can enhance resilience and improve livelihoods in climate-change-affected rural settings, with particular reference to experiences from Zimbabwe and other sub-Saharan African contexts. A review of literature published since 2011 was conducted using reputable databases and search engines, including Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and Semantic Scholar. The review synthesised evidence on practical, low-cost and climate-resilient livelihood interventions suitable for small-scale farmers. The findings indicate that poultry production, mushroom cultivation, beekeeping, horticulture and greenhouse agriculture represent viable strategies for strengthening household food security while generating supplementary income. These interventions require relatively modest resource investments, can be implemented on limited land and provide nutritional benefits through improved access to protein-rich and micronutrient-dense foods. Moreover, they promote livelihood diversification, reduce vulnerability to climate-related shocks and create entrepreneurial opportunities for women and youth. Greenhouse technologies and improved horticultural practices further enhance year-round production and resource-use efficiency under increasingly unpredictable climatic conditions. The review concludes that integrating diversified and adaptive agricultural practices within the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization's twin-track approach can improve resilience, dietary diversity and economic stability among vulnerable rural populations. Strengthening access to training, extension services, financial support and market linkages is essential to maximise the effectiveness and sustainability of these interventions. Policymakers should prioritise context-specific capacity-building initiatives to facilitate wider adoption of climate-smart food-security strategies.