Water management training and extension services as key drivers to homestead food garden production: A case study of households in Gauteng province, South Africa

Abstract

Globally, food and agriculture lie at the heart of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially for the goals of ending poverty, hunger and malnutrition, sustaining natural resources, and responding to climate change. Hence, water management is critical for food production. A survey was conducted by the Agricultural Research Council and Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to establish the key drivers to homestead food garden production. The objectives were (i) to identify and describe the drought status of households and (ii) to identify and describe the socioeconomic characteristics of households. A total of 1150 households were assessed using quantitative and qualitative designs and the Standardized Precipitation Index. A purposive sampling technique was used, and data were coded, captured and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The results indicated that water management training should be coupled with a good extension service as most households complained about the lack of availability of agricultural advisors. The study concluded that for a productive homestead food garden, sound training and extension services on water supply and storage, efficiency of irrigation and land drainage are necessary.