Exploring the Barriers to the Adoption of Climate-Smart Irrigation Technologies for Sustainable Crop Productivity by Smallholder Farmers: Evidence from South Africa
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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/2/246 |
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| author | Batizi Serote Salmina Mokgehle Grany Senyolo Christian du Plooy Samkelisiwe Hlophe-Ginindza Sylvester Mpandeli Luxon Nhamo Hintsa Araya |
| author_facet | Batizi Serote Salmina Mokgehle Grany Senyolo Christian du Plooy Samkelisiwe Hlophe-Ginindza Sylvester Mpandeli Luxon Nhamo Hintsa Araya |
| author_sort | Batizi Serote |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:18:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-610e2470117a4a3baa27bba990e8508d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:18:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-610e2470117a4a3baa27bba990e8508d2023-11-16T18:28:20ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722023-01-0113224610.3390/agriculture13020246Exploring the Barriers to the Adoption of Climate-Smart Irrigation Technologies for Sustainable Crop Productivity by Smallholder Farmers: Evidence from South AfricaBatizi Serote0Salmina Mokgehle1Grany Senyolo2Christian du Plooy3Samkelisiwe Hlophe-Ginindza4Sylvester Mpandeli5Luxon Nhamo6Hintsa Araya7Agricultural Research Council, Vegetable Industrial and Medicinal Plants (VIMP), Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaSchool of Agricultural Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela 1200, South AfricaDepartment of Crop Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaAgricultural Research Council, Vegetable Industrial and Medicinal Plants (VIMP), Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaWater Research Commission (WRC), Water Utilisation in Agriculture, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South AfricaWater Research Commission (WRC), Water Utilisation in Agriculture, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South AfricaWater Research Commission (WRC), Water Utilisation in Agriculture, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South AfricaAgricultural Research Council, Vegetable Industrial and Medicinal Plants (VIMP), Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaClimate 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/2/246agriculturesocio-economic constraintsfood securityresilience and adaptationsustainable development |
| spellingShingle | Batizi Serote Salmina Mokgehle Grany Senyolo Christian du Plooy Samkelisiwe Hlophe-Ginindza Sylvester Mpandeli Luxon Nhamo Hintsa Araya Exploring the Barriers to the Adoption of Climate-Smart Irrigation Technologies for Sustainable Crop Productivity by Smallholder Farmers: Evidence from South Africa Agriculture agriculture socio-economic constraints food security resilience and adaptation sustainable development |
| title | Exploring the Barriers to the Adoption of Climate-Smart Irrigation Technologies for Sustainable Crop Productivity by Smallholder Farmers: Evidence from South Africa |
| title_full | Exploring the Barriers to the Adoption of Climate-Smart Irrigation Technologies for Sustainable Crop Productivity by Smallholder Farmers: Evidence from South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the Barriers to the Adoption of Climate-Smart Irrigation Technologies for Sustainable Crop Productivity by Smallholder Farmers: Evidence from South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the Barriers to the Adoption of Climate-Smart Irrigation Technologies for Sustainable Crop Productivity by Smallholder Farmers: Evidence from South Africa |
| title_short | Exploring the Barriers to the Adoption of Climate-Smart Irrigation Technologies for Sustainable Crop Productivity by Smallholder Farmers: Evidence from South Africa |
| title_sort | exploring the barriers to the adoption of climate smart irrigation technologies for sustainable crop productivity by smallholder farmers evidence from south africa |
| topic | agriculture socio-economic constraints food security resilience and adaptation sustainable development |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/2/246 |
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