The exploration of livelihoods and food security in Limpopo province: insights from small-scale irrigation schemes users = Ukuphenya kokuziphilisa kanye nokulondolozeka kokudla esifundazweni saseLimpopo: imibono yabasebenzisi bezinhlangano zokuchelela bamaqoqo amancane.

Abstract

Three-quarters of the global population living in poverty, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, depend on small-scale agriculture for their income and food security. This thesis addresses the pivotal role of smallholder farmers in the fight against global poverty and hunger, specifically aiming to explore and gain insight into the role of small-scale irrigation schemes on livelihoods and household food security in Limpopo Province. Despite using traditional and unimproved farming techniques, these farmers occupy a significant portion of global farmland, producing the majority of the world's food. However, they often find themselves trapped in a cycle of poverty, rendering them less productive compared to large-scale counterparts. Access to water and land is fundamental to food security, defined as regular access to sufficient high-quality food for healthy living. Water scarcity can trigger famine and undernourishment, particularly in regions relying on local agriculture. Many of Africa's small-scale farmers are women who lack access to production resources. Despite African governments' commitment to allocate at least 10 percent of annual budgets to agriculture research and development, few have met this target. Collaboration with women farmers and their organizations is crucial to amplify their concerns globally as they often form the majority of farmers. This study adopts the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and people-centred development approaches to examine the livelihoods and food security of women smallholder farmers in three selected irrigation schemes in Limpopo Province. Specific objectives include: (i) to identify and describe the livelihood assets of small-scale irrigation scheme women farmers; (ii) to determine the current household food security status of small-scale irrigation scheme women farmers; and (iii) to analyse the current policies’ impact on livelihoods and food security on smallholder irrigation scheme women farmers. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving questionnaires, observations, and focus group discussions. Three irrigation schemes were chosen purposefully based on their relevance to the research criteria, long crop production histroy, and willingness to participate. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), while content analysis was applied to qualitative data. Logistic regression was employed to analyse determinants of household food security status. The study revealed that livelihoods were constructed from assets, influenced by knowledge of agriculture, water management and marketing strategies. Escalating water costs, competition for water resources, and inadequate water management emerged as significant challenges. Using the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS), the food security assessment indicated that approximately one-third of the sampled farming households experienced food insecurity. The logistic regression model identified gender, age, education, income, and adult males as positive influences on household food security. The study underscores the crucial role of women farmers in these irrigation schemes and highlights the need for proactive political leadership. South Africa's water legislation aligns with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) principles, emphasizing policy coherence and stakeholder engagement, but implementation issues persist, especially in transitioning responsibilities from national to catchment levels. Deteriorating monitoring systems and declining data quality control pose risks to local food security. Crosssectoral consultation is imperative to establish coordinated efforts and ensure long-term, multisectoral water resource management, safeguarding local livelihoods and food security.

Iqoqa. Lolu cwaningo luphenya iqhaza elibalulekile lezinhlangano zokuchelela zamaqoqo amancane ekuthuthukiseni ukuziphilisa kanye nokulondolozeka kokudla esiFundazweni saseLimpopo, eNingizimu Afrikha. Ngokugxila kwabesifazane abangabalimi abamele ingxenye enkulu yezolimo ezindaweni zasemakhaya, ucwaningo lusebenzisa indlela engxube, ehlanganisa ukuhlaziya imininingo yezinombolo kanye nemibono yekhwalithethivu ukuhlola umthelela wezinhlelo zokuchelela ekulondolozekeni kokudla kanye nokugcineka kokuziphilisa. Ucwaningo lusebenzisa uhlaka lokuziphilisa okugcinekayo ukuhlola umnotho wokuziphilisa okhona kwabesifazane abangabalimi futhi luhlaziya umthelela wezinqubomgomo ezikhona ekukwazini kwabo ukufinyelela ezinsizeni ezifana nomhlaba kanye namanzi. Imiphumela eqavile iveza izingqinamba ezivezwa ukubiza kwamanzi okukhuphuka ngokwedlulele, ukuqhudelana ngezinsiza, kanye nokungabi bikho kahle kokwenganyelwa kwamanzi, konke okunomthelela omkhulu emkhiqizweni kanye nokulondolozeka kokudla kubalimi bezindawo ezincane. Okunye futhi, ucwaningo luveza ukuthi, ngengxenye eyodwa yokuthathu yesaveyi yabalimi inakho ukungalondolozeki kokudla, ngezimo ezifana nobulili, ubudala, imfundo, kanye kanye nesakhiwo sasemakhaya kubamba iqhaza elibalulekile ukuhlonza izinga lokulondolozeka kokudla. Ucwaningo lugqamisa ukubaluleka kwezinqubomgombo ezizwelana nobulili kanye nobuholi bezepolitiki obuphendula izikhalo zabantu ukubhekana nezidingo zabalimi abangamaqoqo amancane, kakhulukazi abesifazane, ezinhlelweni zokuchelela. Ucwaningo luphinde futhi lwagcizelela isidingo sokwenganyelwa kwezinsisa zamanzi okusetshenziswanayo kuzo, nezinomkhakha ohlanganise izinhlaka eziningi ukuqinisekisa ukulondolozeka kwesikhathi eside kanye nokugcineka kokudla esifundeni. Imibono etholakale kulolu cwaningo inikeza imibono engxono esabalele yokuthuthukiswa kwezindawo zasemakhaya, ukulwisana nobubha, kanye nokulinganiswa ngokobulili kwezolimo, ngokunikeza izincomo ezibalulekile kubenzi bezinqubomgomo kanye nababambiqhaza eNingizimu Afrikha nangaphandle.