CONTRIBUTION OF WOODLAND PRODUCTS TO RURAL LIVELIHOODS IN THE NORTHEAST OF LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

2009 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
RUDZANI A. MAKHADO ◽  
GRAHAM P. VON MALTITZ ◽  
MARTIN J. POTGIETER ◽  
DIRK C.J. WESSELS
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Woodland Products

scholarly journals Contribution of Natural Forest Products to Rural Livelihoods at Mavunde and Sambandou Villages, Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4252
Author(s):  
Mwazvita T. B. Dalu ◽  
Ashley W. Gunter ◽  
Mulweli Makatu ◽  
Gregory M. Dowo ◽  
Farai Dondofema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

With ~70% of the sub-Saharan population living in rural areas, more than 90% of rural African households depend on natural forest products. Although several studies in other parts of South Africa have looked into the use of natural forest products in poverty alleviation, little is known on the roles and relative contribution of natural forest products as daily and safety nets specifically within the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, South Africa. This study assessed the different roles played by natural forest products in households and the patterns of their relative contribution to households both as sources of income and direct consumption within differing household compositions as well as socio-economic factors. These included employment and income diversification role and the monetised value of natural resources in the rural livelihoods of households in Sambandou and Mavunde, Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study inter alia compared a wide use of natural resources by two villages and determined on which forest products they most relied for their economic welfare. Their relative contributions to livelihoods were assessed by identifying factors that affected their contributions. Findings of the study showed that Sambandou had a high number of people with formal jobs and females, and fewer old-age pensioners. Differences in employment and education between villages were observed. In all villages, the most frequently used or harvested resource was fuelwood, wild edible fruits, herbs, grass/shrub hand sweepers, insects for food, thatch grass/reeds and poles for fencing and housing. Overall, Mavunde village households were found to be more dependent on natural resource harvesting both for income and subsistence substitution. Findings suggest that this may have been a consequence of socio-economic factors such as income and employment, as well as general underdevelopment in the village. This study’s findings could contribute to further studies into how these results compare to other parts of the country and region, as well as their respective developmental implications.

Tourism development dilemmas in Musina Municipality: evidence from the Big Tree Nature Reserve and neighboring entities, Vhembe district, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Azwindini Isaac Ramaano
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Tourism Development ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rural Districts ◽  
The North ◽  
Vhembe District

PurposeThis study assesses tourism development dilemmas about the Big Tree Nature Reserve (BNTR) with its neighboring tourism entities in Musina Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa.Design/methodology/approachData were obtained by interviews, questionnaires, focus group discussions and physical observation. Tacitly pertinent literature review propped and augmented the adopted approach.FindingsThe examination exposed many hurdles correlated with tourism efforts around the BNTR and its adjoining tourism entities. The gains of tourism were not drawn into by the local communities within and around the study area. The determinants adding to the poor state of tourism professions got portrayed by the conclusions of the study. Therefore, there was an inherent necessity for a turnaround efficient tourism management to promote tourism initiatives to bolster local communities in the region.Originality/valueMusina Municipality constitutes a remote region in the north of Limpopo province, South Africa. Poor rural livelihoods are analogous to many rural districts within the continent. Despite all these, it substantially incorporates an essentially tourism-based area within the Vhembe district of Limpopo province.

The contested future of irrigation in African rural livelihoods – analysis from a water scarce catchment in South Africa

Water Policy ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Hope ◽  
J. W. Gowing ◽  
G. P. W. Jewitt
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Allocation ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Smallholder Irrigation

Agricultural improvement is seen as essential for economic growth, poverty reduction and food security in Africa. However, with new and priority demands for water agricultural allocations have come under closer scrutiny, particularly under water scarcity. In post-apartheid South Africa equitable water allocation has become an emblematic policy goal consistent with the imperative to create a fairer society. Catchment managers are now responsible for water allocation decisions across multiple and competing social, economic, environmental and political priorities. This analysis explores these challenges based on a study in the Luvuvhu catchment, Limpopo Province, which comprised (i) socio-economic evaluation of people's livelihoods across 10 communities, (ii) hydrological modelling studies, and (iii) a detailed performance evaluation for one typical smallholder irrigation scheme. Findings from this study indicate that water allocation for smallholder irrigation provides expected income and food benefits for those with secure irrigation access. However, while increasing water allocation for smallholder irrigation may be argued to redress current inequitable distribution within the national irrigated agricultural sector, there is no convincing evidence to support allocating more water to smallholder irrigation schemes when viewed within the wider development challenges in the Luvuvhu catchment. It is argued that catchment managers should rather consider the hydrological and social benefits associated with improvements in dryland farming for increasing food security under water scarcity.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing the Adoption of Climate-Smart Irrigation Technologies for Sustainable Crop Productivity by Smallholder Farmers in Arid Areas of South Africa

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1222
Author(s):  
Batizi Serote ◽  
Salmina Mokgehle ◽  
Christian Du Plooy ◽  
Sylvester Mpandeli ◽  
Luxon Nhamo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Probit Regression ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Irrigation Technologies

The adoption of climate-smart irrigation technologies amongst smallholder farmers generally remains low beside their role in combating food and nutrition security in a society and in climate change adaptation strategies. This study identified the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ decision to adopt Climate Smart Irrigation Technologies (CSIT) in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Data were collected through the completion of a face-to-face structured questionnaire by 100 smallholder farmers selected through convenience and purposive sampling. A probit regression and OLS model were used to identify factors that influence the smallholder farmer’s decision to adopt CSIT and the level of adoption. The results indicated that only 46% of the smallholder farmers adopted climate-smart irrigation technologies and suggested that adoption is influenced positively by factors such as gender, age, district, farm size, staple food production and knowledge on CSIT. There is an urgent need for related stakeholders to transform the smallholder farmer subsector through improved extension services, training, adopting resilient crop varieties, promoting underutilized and nutrient-dense crops adapted to harsh local conditions, and other interventions. This should be done by promoting awareness to smallholder farmers regarding these interventions and new technologies that have the potential to improve rural livelihoods and enhance resilience and adaptation.

Lived Experiences of Young People who Live with Mental Healthcare Users in Limpopo, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mamakota Maggie Molepo ◽  
Faniswa Honest Mfidi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Young People ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Burden Sharing

Mental illness is more than just the diagnosis to an individual – it also has an impact on the social functioning of the family at large. When a parent or relative has a mental illness, all other family members are affected, even the children. The purpose of the study was to provide insight into the lived experiences of young people who live with mental healthcare users and the way in which their daily coping can be maximised. A qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological research was undertaken to explore and describe the lived experiences of young people who live with mental healthcare users in the Limpopo province, South Africa. Audiotaped, unstructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 young people who grew up and lived with a family member who is a mental healthcare user in their homes, until data saturation was reached. A content analysis was used to derive themes from the collected qualitative data. Four major themes emerged as features reflective of the young people’s daily living with mental healthcare user, namely psychological effects, added responsibilities, effects on school performances, and support systems. This study recommends that support networks for young people be established through multidisciplinary team involvement and collaboration and the provision of burden-sharing or a relief system during times of need. With the availability of healthy coping mechanisms and support systems, the daily living situations and coping of young people could be maximised, thereby improving their quality of life while living with their family members with mental illness.

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