The Role of Capital Assets and Institutions in the Success and Failure of Smallholder Irrigation Schemes in South Africa

Production among smallholder irrigation farmers in South Africa is low, and is negatively influenced by a wide range of factors. This paper documents the findings of a study of two smallholder irrigation schemes inSouth Africa, by applying the sustainable livelihoods framework to identify factors af...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of human ecology (Delhi) 2014-11, Vol.48 (2), p.235-247
Main Authors: Muchara, B., Letty, B., Obi, A., Masika, P., Ortmann, G., Wale, E., Mudhara, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
21st century
Agricultural production
Capital
Capital Assets
Financial assets
Government policy
Irrigation
Mooi River
Small farms
Smallholder Irrigation Schemes
Social capital
South Africa
Sustainable Livelihoods Framework
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Summary:Production among smallholder irrigation farmers in South Africa is low, and is negatively influenced by a wide range of factors. This paper documents the findings of a study of two smallholder irrigation schemes inSouth Africa, by applying the sustainable livelihoods framework to identify factors affecting their performance.The two schemes, namely the Foundation Community Project and the Mooi River Irrigation Scheme wereexamined in terms of the five basic forms of capital assets (natural, financial, physical, human and social) tounderstand their impact on performance. The results show that poor coordination of government funded activitiesnegatively affects smallholder performance, through poor provision of public infrastructure like roads and physicalasserts like tractors. Smallholder farmers lack irrigation specific skills like scheduling and irrigation maintenance,hence poor productivity and poor irrigation infrastructure condition. Financial capital was also identified as aconstraint among smallholder irrigators. Although farmers capitalise on the existing social capital that enableborrowing of small amounts of unsecured funds from relatives and neighbours to fund irrigation activities, informalsources of income did not provide adequate financial resources to boost production and marketing activities. Toensure successful management of smallholder irrigation schemes, specific training to enhance knowledge andinformation building among smallholder farmers as complementary assets to improve the functioning of othercapital assets is recommended.
ISSN:0970-9274
DOI:10.1080/09709274.2014.11906793