Water management options for food security in South Africa: scenarios, simulations and policy implications

Agroforestry plays a significant role in increasing agricultural productivity. In South Africa, there is a pressing need for promoting smallholder agriculture to promote sustainable rural livelihoods, to ensure food security, to lower inflation in food prices, and address rampant rural unemployment in the country. The agricultural economy is characterised by a monopoly structure where almost every single staple in South Africa is already produced by large manufacturers that can produce it at better quality and lower cost than the average smallholder enterprise or cooperative. Such a monopoly structure fundamentally undermines the development of local markets, where local small-scale producers sell to their local community. The novelty of this study is addressing the research gap that conventional rural livelihood analyses often neglect, i.e., the role of environmental products in general, and forest and agroforestry products. Using a log linear regression model with cross-sectional data collected from a sample of 300 households, this study explores the likely impact of agroforestry practices in promoting the livelihood of rural communities in the study areas. Results obtained from multiple linear regression analysis showed that average household income increased as a function of utilization of agroforestry practices. Agroforestry contributes to sustainable rural livelihoods in South African provinces where the predominant means of livelihoods is rural subsistence farming and agriculture. Since valuation of agroforestry products and services are technically difficult, farmers often underestimate the contribution of agroforestry to the household’s livelihood income. These findings have policy implications in promoting food security in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and beyond.

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An Overview of Land Degradation and Sustainable Land Management in the Near East and North Africa

Sustainable Agriculture Research ◽

10.5539/sar.v11n1p11 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 11

Author(s):

F. M. Ziadat ◽

P. Zdruli ◽

S. Christiansen ◽

L. Caon ◽

M. Abdel Monem ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Food Security ◽

North Africa ◽

Land Degradation ◽

Land Use Planning ◽

Near East ◽

Private Investment ◽

Dust Storms ◽

Management Options ◽

Land And Water Management

Land degradation and desertification (LDD) and climate change are having increased effects in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) impacting the livelihoods of about 410 million people. Agriculture is a vital sector, contributing on average 14% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (excluding oil producing countries) and providing jobs and incomes for 38% of the region’s economically active population. Nevertheless, most NENA countries import at least 50% of the calories they consume. Furthermore, it is estimated that the total area that is desertified or is vulnerable to desertification cover 9.84 million km2 or about 86.7% of the total NENA region. Soil erosion by water, wind, and sand and dust storms (SDS) cause losses of about USD 13 billion of GDP each year. To confront these hardships, the region must endorse proper land use planning, prioritization of target areas for restoration and adoption of sustainable land and water management (SLWM) to reverse the situation. This paper analyses the inter-linkages between LDD, resource base management and food security under different scenarios and offers mitigation and remediation options. These include knowledge management and sharing; establishment of a regional platform to facilitate dialogue; public and private investment opportunities; provision of tools to scale-out sustainable land and water management options; and creation of a conducive enabling environment supported by policies and strategies. The paper provides policy and decision-makers with priority actions and options to enhance productivity, and combat land degradation to improve food security in the region.

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Global Economic and Food Security Impacts of Demand-Driven Water Scarcity—Alternative Water Management Options for a Thirsty World

Water ◽

10.3390/w10101442 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 1442 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Victor Nechifor ◽

Matthew Winning

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Food Security ◽

Water Scarcity ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Relative Size ◽

Economic Activities ◽

Resource Base ◽

Management Options ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Water Uses

Global freshwater demand will likely continue its expansion under current expectations of economic and population growth. Withdrawals in regions which are already water-scarce will impose further pressure on the renewable water resource base threatening the long-term availability of freshwater across the many economic activities dependent on this resource for various functions. This paper assesses the economy-wide implications of demand-driven water scarcity under a ‘middle-of-the-road’ socio-economic development pathway by considering the trade-offs between the macroeconomic and food security impacts. The study employs a global CGE model comprising an advanced level of detail regarding water uses across economic activities and which allows for a sector-specific endogenous adaptation to water scarcity. A sustainable withdrawal threshold is imposed in regions with extended river-basin overexploitation (India, South Asia, the Middle East, and Northern Africa) whilst different water management options are considered through four alternative allocation methods across users. The scale of macroeconomic effects is dependent on the relative size of sectors with low-water productivity, the amount of water uses in these sectors, and the flexibility of important water users to substitute away from water inputs in conditions of scarcity. The largest negative GDP deviations are obtained in scenarios with limited mobility to re-allocate water across users. A significant alleviation is obtained when demand patterns are shifted based on differences in water productivity, however, with a significant imposition on food security prospects.

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Exploring the South African Government Communication on Land Expropriation without Compensation

Journal of Human Ecology ◽

10.31901/24566608.2020/72.1-3.3275 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 72 (1-3) ◽

Author(s):

Lungisani Moyo

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Food Security ◽

South African ◽

Small Scale ◽

South African Government ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

The South ◽

Land Expropriation ◽

African Government ◽

Government Communication

ABSTRACT This paper used qualitative methodology to explore the South African government communication and land expropriation without compensation and its effects on food security using Alice town located in the Eastern Cape Province South Africa as its case study. This was done to allow the participants to give their perceptions on the role of government communication on land expropriation without compensation and its effects on South African food security. In this paper, a total population of 30 comprising of 26 small scale farmers in rural Alice and 4 employees from the Department of Agriculture (Alice), Eastern Cape, South Africa were interviewed to get their perception and views on government communications and land expropriation without compensation and its effects on South African food security. The findings of this paper revealed that the agricultural sector plays a vital role in the South African economy hence there is a great need to speed up transformation in the sector.

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COVID-19: From health crises to food security anxiety and policy implications

AMBIO ◽

10.1007/s13280-020-01481-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 50 (4) ◽

pp. 794-811 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Linley Chiwona-Karltun ◽

Franklin Amuakwa-Mensah ◽

Caroline Wamala-Larsson ◽

Salome Amuakwa-Mensah ◽

Assem Abu Hatab ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Economic ◽

Food Security ◽

Economic Impact ◽

Probit Model ◽

Recovery Process ◽

Well Being ◽

Policy Implications ◽

African Countries ◽

Use Of Data ◽

Local Spread

AbstractLike the rest of the world, African countries are reeling from the health, economic and social effects of COVID-19. The continent’s governments have responded by imposing rigorous lockdowns to limit the spread of the virus. The various lockdown measures are undermining food security, because stay at home orders have among others, threatened food production for a continent that relies heavily on agriculture as the bedrock of the economy. This article draws on quantitative data collected by the GeoPoll, and, from these data, assesses the effect of concern about the local spread and economic impact of COVID-19 on food worries. Qualitative data comprising 12 countries south of the Sahara reveal that lockdowns have created anxiety over food security as a health, economic and human rights/well-being issue. By applying a probit model, we find that concern about the local spread of COVID-19 and economic impact of the virus increases the probability of food worries. Governments have responded with various efforts to support the neediest. By evaluating the various policies rolled out we advocate for a feminist economics approach that necessitates greater use of data analytics to predict the likely impacts of intended regulatory relief responses during the recovery process and post-COVID-19.

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Food insecurity, diet quality and body composition: data from the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) pilot survey in urban Soweto, South Africa

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s136898002100046x ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Sarah H Kehoe ◽

Stephanie V Wrottesley ◽

Lisa Ware ◽

Alessandra Prioreschi ◽

Catherine Draper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Body Composition ◽

Food Security ◽

Body Size ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Urban Poor ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Healthy Life ◽

Life Trajectories

Abstract Objective: To determine whether food security, diet diversity and diet quality are associated with anthropometric measurements and body composition among women of reproductive age. The association between food security and anaemia prevalence was also tested. Design: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) study. Food security and dietary data were collected by an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Hb levels were measured using a HemoCue, and anaemia was classified as an altitude-adjusted haemoglobin level < 12·5 g/dl. Body size and composition were assessed using anthropometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Setting: The urban township of Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. Participants: Non-pregnant women aged 18–25 years (n 1534). Results: Almost half of the women were overweight or obese (44 %), and 9 % were underweight. Almost a third of women were anaemic (30 %). The prevalence rates of anaemia and food insecurity were similar across BMI categories. Food insecure women had the least diverse diets, and food security was negatively associated with diet quality (food security category v. diet quality score: B = –0·35, 95 % CI –0·70, –0·01, P = 0·049). Significant univariate associations were observed between food security and total lean mass. However, there were no associations between food security and body size or composition variables in multivariate models. Conclusions: Our data indicate that food security is an important determinant of diet quality in this urban-poor, highly transitioned setting. Interventions to improve maternal and child nutrition should recognise both food security and the food environment as critical elements within their developmental phases.

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A SWOT Analysis Approach for a Sustainable Transition to Renewable Energy in South Africa

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13073933 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 3933

Author(s):

Solomon E. Uhunamure ◽

Karabo Shale

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Africa ◽

Renewable Energy ◽

Regional Integration ◽

Power Plants ◽

Swot Analysis ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Analysis Approach ◽

Renewable Energy Resources

South Africa is been faced with erratic power supply, resulting in persistent load shedding due to ageing in most of its coal-fired power plants. Associated with generating electricity from fossil fuel are environmental consequences such as greenhouse emissions and climate change. On the other hand, the country is endowed with abundant renewable energy resources that can potentially ameliorate its energy needs. This article explores the viability of renewable energy using the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis approach on the key renewable potential in the country. The result indicates that geographic position, political and economic stability and policy implementation are some of the strengths. However, Government bureaucratic processes, level of awareness and high investment cost are some of the weaknesses. Several opportunities favour switching to renewable energy, and these include regional integration, global awareness on climate change and the continuous electricity demand. Some threats hindering the renewable energy sector in the country include land ownership, corruption and erratic climatic conditions. Some policy implications are suggested based on the findings of the study.

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