Exploring the Barriers to the Adoption of Climate-Smart Irrigation Technologies for Sustainable Crop Productivity by Smallholder Farmers: Evidence from South Africa

Batizi Serote, Salmina Mokgehle (), Grany Senyolo, Christian du Plooy, Samkelisiwe Hlophe-Ginindza, Sylvester Mpandeli, Luxon Nhamo and Hintsa Araya ()
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Batizi Serote: Agricultural Research Council, Vegetable Industrial and Medicinal Plants (VIMP), Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Salmina Mokgehle: School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela 1200, South Africa
Grany Senyolo: Department of Crop Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Christian du Plooy: Agricultural Research Council, Vegetable Industrial and Medicinal Plants (VIMP), Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Samkelisiwe Hlophe-Ginindza: Water Research Commission (WRC), Water Utilisation in Agriculture, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South Africa
Sylvester Mpandeli: Water Research Commission (WRC), Water Utilisation in Agriculture, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South Africa
Luxon Nhamo: Water Research Commission (WRC), Water Utilisation in Agriculture, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South Africa
Hintsa Araya: Agricultural Research Council, Vegetable Industrial and Medicinal Plants (VIMP), Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: Climate change continues to impact the livelihoods of smallholder farmers due to low adaptive capacity. In South Africa, the challenge is exacerbated by water scarcity and shortened crop-growing seasons. Climate-smart irrigation innovative technologies (CSIT) enhance smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change. However, there is still a limited level of effective adoption and usage of these technologies in smallholder communities. This study investigated the barriers affecting the adoption of CSIT in rural areas of the Vhembe and Capricorn districts in Limpopo Province, South Africa. We explored the farmers’ socioeconomic factors extracted from farmers’ perceptions of CSIT-specific attributes. A multi-stage randomized sampling technique was used to select 100 smallholder farmers (SHF). Data analyzed by descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequency distribution are presented in graphs and tables. According to the findings, insufficient communication channels, a lack of financial availability, unstable land tenure systems, and insufficient training are the main obstacles to implementing CSIT. There is a need for policy and decision-makers to improve the communication channels for disseminating agro-meteorological information to the intended beneficiaries.

Keywords: agriculture; socio-economic constraints; food security; resilience and adaptation; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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