Agricultural resilience under increasing water security threats: insights for smallholder farming in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Smallholder farmers in South Africa are facing increased pressure to manage water use due to growing scarcity and environmental water demand. This prompts the need to build resilient irrigation systems particularly for smallholder farmers. Building resilience is more pertinent in Limpopo province where crop and animal production is hampered by water scarcity. Currently, there is an array of generic adaptation strategies for attaining resilient irrigation schemes in South Africa and beyond. However, the effectiveness and feasibility of these resilience measures at farm level particularly, among smallholders in marginalised areas are not well researched in Limpopo Province. The current paper draw lessons from adaptation mechanisms in Southern Africa, indicate areas that require further studies and recommend ways for enhancing smallholder resilience against water scarcity. The article contributes to efforts to enhance water security and fulfil the targets set in sustainable development goal 2 of zero hunger, South Africa Vision 2030 and the government's food security mandate particularly through suggesting ways for enhancing smallholder famer resilience and water security.

Environmental Services: A New Approach Toward Addressing Sustainable Development Goals in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…Most (60%) of surveyed smallholder farmers in central Limpopo report challenges in accessing water, mainly through groundwater boreholes (Chikozho et al, 2020). There may also be inadequate rainwater storage facilities (e.g., Figure 8D), competition for water between users, loss of water by infiltration, damage to canals and furrows, and general increased aridity (Kativhu et al, 2020).…”

“…Smallholder farming is therefore a life support strategy for more than just the provision of food resources, being linked explicitly to SDGs 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 13, 15 (see https://sdgs.un.org/goals) (e.g., Dawson et al, 2019;Newell et al, 2019). The success of smallholder farmer activity in Limpopo has also been critically linked to the presence and nature of government support mechanisms, including social grants, training, and agricultural extension (Kativhu et al, 2020). Some smallholder farmers may also be part of cooperatives and this can help in marketing of products, sharing of seeds and expertise, and can increase resilience (Bharwani et al, 2005;Aliber and Hart, 2009;Mahlangu et al, 2020).…”

Alternative ecotourism perspectives within the protected conservation sites and farming communities amid environmental degradation and climate change-bound rural exercises

“…To this end, related studies within the same vicinity of Vhembe district in Limpopo province, such as Marubini (2018), remind us of the essence of exploring the effect of climate change on the farming business in the Nwanedi Irrigation Scheme in Musina Local Municipality. It is akin to Kativhu et al (2020) and Lebepe (2022) on agricultural stability under rising water security dangers for smallholder farming and water security at the Nwanedi irrigation scheme within the precinct in the province. Besides, Shikwambana et al (2021) scrutinize the effects of rainfall and temperature shifts on smallholder agriculture within the setting.…”