An assessment of support provided to smallholder farmers: A case study of the Vhembe District, South Africa

Abstract

This paper assesses some support strategies provided to randomly selected smallholder irrigation farmers in Vhembe District, South Africa. Although irrigation farmers were selected as units of study, the focus is on all smallholder farmers. In particular the study investigates the extent to which smallholder farmers benefited from the new government policy of redressing injustices in South Africa by providing support to the previously disadvantaged in the country's rural areas. The study established the dominance of men and the elderly, less educated members, poor access to credit, nonmembership to cooperatives, and substantial access to irregular extension services, and dependence on other farmers for market information. Inferential statistical analyses detected a negative impact of educational achievement and investment in production costs (inputs) to accessing credit. Amongst others the study recommended planned exit strategies for elderly farmers, support to new entrants (graduates), exposure to beneficial effects of cooperation and dependence on traditional market information sources, rather than ill-informed colleagues in the smallholder farming sector.

Farmers Knowledge on Indigenous Soil Types: A Review

“…18 Farmers describe their soil primarily based on topsoil color, texture, and other criteria such as erodability, drainage, and crop yield. Color and texture are the major soil properties used by farmers at Rambuda Irrigation Scheme to differentiate and describe the soil 6 . Bapedi, like other South African cultural groups such as Vavhenda, distinguishes four types of soil: clay, loam, sandy, and rocky.…”

“…Bapedi, like other South African cultural groups such as Vavhenda, distinguishes four types of soil: clay, loam, sandy, and rocky. 6 People's innate understanding of soil allows them to make whatever associations between soil kinds they deem useful. 19 Therefore, indigenous soil knowledge has served as the basis for local soil-crop systems, going much beyond simple soil nomenclature.…”

“…5 Similarly, the indigenous soil nomenclature and classification system observed among Vhavenda of Limpopo Province in South Africa is based on surface soil physical properties related to the use of the soils. 6 Farmer knowledge of soils and their management is critical in developing greater sustainability in agricultural systems. 7 Users' interest in particular soil features led to the development of a taxonomy of local vernacular classification systems.…”