scholarly journals Learning from the grassroots: The case for the consideration of community-based agrarian and food security reforms in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 18711-18731
Author(s):  
Yiseyon Sunday Hosu ◽  
◽  
S Ndhleve ◽  
HM Kabiti ◽  
SFG Yusuf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Information System ◽  
Gis Mapping ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Small Holding ◽  
Small Holders ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Farming Households ◽  
Small Holder ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

Studies of projected agro-climatic variability on the productivity of small-holding farming livelihoods have been evaluated by indirect methods using simulation models on country or regional basis but few have been done at the community level. This study explores direct observation of the impact of soil and climate factors on crop and livestock livelihood systems in the three major agro-ecological zones of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It also analyzed their influence on small farmers’ choices of agrarian livelihood activities and the lessons learned for the suitability of agro-ecologically integrated agriculture as part of agrarian and food security reforms needed among small farming households in rural communities of South Africa. The impact of soil and rainfall on the crop and livestock livelihood choices of small-holders in the three major agro-ecological zones were explored. A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 223 small-holding farming households during the harvesting period of rain-fed farming season. Data on household livelihood activities were processed in monetary terms and subjected to gross margin and cost/benefit analysis. Geographic information system (GIS) mapping and statistical analysis were used to determine the association of small-holder maize revenue with agro-climatic variation. The results indicated that crop-based activities performed better in the Grassland zone, while livestock activities performed better in the Savanna zone. Small farms in the Karoo can only productively engage in livestock production. The results also showed that farming activities that combined more vegetable crops yielded greater profits than other field crops. Furthermore, the results indicate that the mixed cropping method remains one of the strategies for breaking-even and risk-bearing effort used by the small-holder farmers considering its cost-sharing benefits. Geographical information system (GIS) mapping further indicates that small-holders’ farming activity was not only affected by soil-climatic factors but by their management skills as well. We recommend agro-ecologically adapted policies and incentives for agriculture-based livelihood activities and intensified mixing of cropping systems among the small-holder farming households in the study area.

scholarly journals Modelling maize grain yield and nitrate leaching from sludge-amended soils across agro-ecological zones: A case study from South Africa

Water SA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4 October) ◽  
Author(s):  
ZM Ogbazghi ◽  
EH Tesfamariam ◽  
JG Annandale
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizer ◽  
Amended Soils ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Sludge Application ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

When applying municipal sludge according to crop N requirements, the primary aim should be optimizing sludge application rates in order to maximize crop yield and minimize environmental impacts through nitrate leaching. Nitrate leaching and subsequent groundwater contamination is potentially one of the most important factors limiting the long-term viability of sludge application to agricultural soils. This study assessed maize grain yield and potential nitrate leaching from sludge-amended soils, using the SWB-Sci model, based on crop nitrogen requirements and inorganic fertilizer. The following hypotheses were tested using the SWB­-Sci model and 20 years of measured weather data for 4 of the 6 South African agro-ecological zones. Under dryland maize cropping, grain yield and nitrate leaching from sludge-amended soils compared to inorganic fertilizer: (1) will remain the same across agro-ecological zones and sites, (2) will not vary across seasons at a specific site, and (3) will not vary across soil textures. Model simulations showed that annual maize grain yield and nitrate leaching varied significantly (P > 0.05) across the four agro-ecological zones, both for sludge-amended and inorganic fertilizer amended soils. The annual maize grain yield and nitrate leaching from sludge-amended soils were 12.6 t∙ha-1 and 32.7 kgNO3-N∙ha−1 compared to 10.2 t∙ha-1 and 43.2 kgNO3-N∙ha−1 for inorganic fertilizer in the super-humid zone. Similarly, maize grain yield and nitrate leaching varied significantly across seasons and soil textures for both sludge and inorganic fertilizer amended soils. However, nitrate losses were lower from sludge-amended soils (2.3–8.2%) compared to inorganic fertilizer (11.1–26.7%) across all zones in South Africa. Therefore, sludge applied according to crop N requirements has a lower environmental impact from nitrate leaching than commercial inorganic fertilizer. Further validation of these findings is recommended, using field studies, and monitoring potential P accumulation for soils that received sludge according to crop N requirements.

scholarly journals Role of Agricultural Diversification in Improving Resilience to Climate Change: An Empirical Analysis with Gaussian Paradigm

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9539
Author(s):  
Adiqa Kausar Kiani ◽  
Asif Sardar ◽  
Wasim Ullah Khan ◽  
Yigang He ◽  
Abdulbaki Bilgic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Social Indicators ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Agricultural Diversification ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

Agricultural diversification efforts towards sustainable agriculture generates environmental and economic benefits. Climate change and agricultural production are characterized by a complex cause-effect relationship. In the present study, the primary dataset is collected through an interview-based survey from 410 farmers in 3 districts located in different agro-ecological zones of Punjab, Pakistan. Detailed analysis is conducted by employing the Gaussian treatment effects approach. Results of the study show that the farmers who adopted agricultural diversification to mitigate the impact of climate change were less and insignificantly benefited e.g., on an average of RS 95,260 (US $635) per annum whereas non-adopted farmers lost their farm income on an average of RS 115,750 (US $772) per annum if they had practiced the agricultural diversification. Moreover, determinants of agricultural diversification such as demographic and institutional indicators were significant and larger effects to adopt as compared to social indicators. This study suggests that policies should be designed in the regional context particularly related to the improvement in demographic characteristics and institutional factors such as providing subsidies, training, and awareness to the farmers, particularly to those who practice agricultural diversification. These measures will help to raise the farmers’ adaptive capacity for the adoption of agricultural diversification, and it will enable them to generate tangible benefits by increasing income through adopting sustainable agricultural livelihood.

scholarly journals Determinants of adaptation to climate variability among farming households in Tyhume Valley communities, Eastern Cape province, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olona Mtintsilana ◽  
Babatope Ebenezer Akinyemi ◽  
Leocadia Zhou
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Climate Variability ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
The Body ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Farming Households

Purpose This paper aims to determine factors affecting adaptation to climate variability on crop production among farming households in Tyhume Valley. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted an empirical analysis of the impact of adaptation on crop yield of farming households and estimated the factors affecting adaptation to climate variability on farming households. The analysis used primary data from 205 farming households practicing crop production in Tyhume Valley communities. Findings Based on binary logit results, factors affecting rural farming households’ adaptation to climate variability are gender, age, heatwave, employment status, strong high wind occasional experience and cell phone. The adaptation measures adopted by the farming households in the study area include irrigation (94.8%), crop rotation (66%), changing crop variety (7.4%) and other methods of adaptation were found to be (1.3%). The other methods of adaptation used included the use of ash to kill (intuku) mole and using dirty water from washing dishes and clothes when irrigating to kill parasites on crops. Originality/value This research paper will be an addition to the body of knowledge on adaptation strategies to climate variability in South Africa, especially at the rural farming household level. This study may assist the rural communities in decision-making when dealing with the challenges of climate variability on their crop production, thereby increasing their crop production. The information gathered in this study might assist policymakers in revising the existing policies. This study will also help rural farming households to practice appropriate adaptation strategies.

scholarly journals Production constraints of smallholder pig farms in agro-ecological zones of Mpumalanga, South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscilla Munzhelele ◽  
James Oguttu ◽  
Olubunmi G. Fasanmi ◽  
Folorunso O. Fasina
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Production Constraints ◽  
Pig Farms ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

scholarly journals Case Study on the Impact of Pandemic COVID-19 in Aquaculture with its Recommendations

2020 ◽  
pp. 36-38 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Production System ◽  
Cell Phone ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Important Time ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Aquaculture Production ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

In Bangladesh, the lockdown has been started officially from 26th March 2020 which is actually the most important time for harvesting and summer stocking in the pond. The whole aquaculture production system is now hampering due to pandemic COVID-19 and the value chain in this sector is quite vulnerable. I conducted a wireless survey through cell phone collected information from different stakeholders of different agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh to assess the impact of the pandemic situations in the aquaculture sector. Survey results revealed that pandemic COVID-19 has been affected in different areas of the aquaculture sector including reduction of consumption, export order cancellation, reduction in price, delay in summer stocking, lack of technical support, and transport crisis.

scholarly journals Impact of Climate Change on Crops’ Productivity across Selected Agro-ecological Zones in Pakistan

2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anwar Hussain ◽  
Rabia Bangash
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Climatic Zones ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Impact Of Climate Change ◽  
Average Temperature ◽  
Indus Delta ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

This study estimates the impact of major climate variables (temperature and rainfall) on crops’ productivity across four agro-ecological zones of Pakistan. The crops selected were rice, wheat, maize, cotton and sugarcane. The study used panel data from 1991 to 2010 and applied panel least square techniques. The results revealed that the effect of climatic variables on crops yield varied across agro climatic zone due to differences in their climate conditions. Temperature and rainfall were the important determinants affecting crops productivity across agro climatic zones of Pakistan. Wheat productivity has been impacted more in Northern Irrigated Plain-a by average temperature and in Northern Dry Mountains by rainfall than the other zones. Rice productivity has been impacted more in Dry Mountains by average temperature and in the Indus Delta by rainfall than other zones. Sugarcane productivity has been impacted more by average temperature and rainfall in Indus Delta than zone IV. Maize productivity has been impacted more by average temperature and rainfall in Northern Dry Mountains than other zones. Finally the study recommends proper mitigative and adaptative strategies to enhance the positive and lessen the adverse impact of climate change on crops productivity across agro climatic zones of Pakistan. JEL Classifications: Q15, Q54, Q57 Keywords: Climate Change, Agro-ecological Zones, Rainfall, Temperature, Productivity

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