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Browsing Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering by Author "Abegunde, Victor Oluwadamilare"

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    Factors affecting level of use and applicability of climate-smart agriculture practices and implications for food security of small-scale farming households in Kwazulu-Natal province of South Africa.
    (Univeristy of Zululand, 2019) Abegunde, Victor Oluwadamilare
    Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) has been identified to have the potential of creating a sustainable agricultural system and enhance food security under changing climatic conditions. However, experience has shown that some recommended solutions have not proven to be suitable in many contexts, particularly in developing countries after they might have committed their scarce resources in embracing such recommendations. Furthermore, the level of adoption among farmers has shown that CSA adoption is not automatic despite its potential. Hence, this study assessed the factors affecting the level of use and applicability of CSA in the small-scale farming system, with its implications on the food security of small-scale farming households in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province of South Africa. This study adopted a cross-sectional research design, a quantitative research approach and multi-stage sampling techniques. Data were generated from 327 small-scale farmers through structured interviews using close-ended questionnaires. A comparative analysis was conducted on two local municipalities (Mthonjaneni and uMhlathuze Local Municipalities) purposively selected based on their agricultural potentials. The analysis made use of Adaptation Strategy Use Index (ASUI), Acceptance Level Index (ALI), Composite Score Index (CSI), Generalized Ordered Logit Regression (gologit), Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) Regression, Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS), Household Food Consumption Score (HFCS) and the Binary Logistic Regression Model. Results show that most (81%, 74% and 65%) of the sampled farmers, with an ASUI of 313, 289 and 249, respectively, reported the use of organic manure, rotational cropping and planting of drought and heat tolerant crops, respectively, as the popular CSA practices adopted for crop production. Concerning livestock farmers, most (83% and 70%) of the sampled farmers with an ASUI of 116 and 104, respectively, reported the use of improved grazing and efficient manure management, respectively, as the commonly adopted CSA practices. For mixed farming, most (87% and 83%) with an ASUI of 292 and 282, respectively, reported the use of organic manure and integrated crop-livestock management and rotational cropping, respectively, as the popular CSA practices. The majority (57%) of the sampled farmers fell in the medium category of users of CSA practices, while the lowest proportion (18%) fell in the high user category in Mthonjaneni. Farming experience (p = 0.010), distance of farm to homestead (p = 0.104), contact with agricultural extension agents (p = 0.052), exposure to media (p = 0.061), agricultural iii production activity (p = 0.004), membership of an agricultural-related group (p = 0.059) and the perception of the effect of climate change (p = 0.003) were found to be statistically and positively significant with CSA adoption level of the sampled farming households. However, off-farm income was found to be statistically and negatively significant (p = 0.061) with CSA adoption level. Educational status (p = 0.080) was found to have a statistically significant and positive effect on CSA adoption level in uMhlathuze. Results for Mthonjaneni reveal that farm income (p = 0.015), marital status (p = 0.054 for the low user category, p = 0.059 for the medium user category), agricultural production activity (p = 0.001 for the low category and p = 0.049 for the medium category) and the perception of the effect of climate change (p = 0.036 for the low user category and p = 0.001for the medium user category) were statistically and positively significant with CSA adoption level. Furthermore, agroforestry (ALI = 559), cultivation of cover crops (ALI = 574) and diet improvement for animals (ALI = 554), were highly accepted by the farmers concerning social compatibility, while the use of organic manure (ALI = 545), rotational cropping (ALI = 529), mulching (ALI = 525) and cultivation of cover crops (ALI = 533), were highly accepted by the farmers concerning technical compatibility. In terms of economic compatibility, the farmers showed high preference for organic manure (ALI = 542), rotational cropping (ALI = 515) and mulching (ALI = 541), while the use of organic manure (ALI = 524) was highly embraced based on environmental compatibility. CSA adoption had a positive significant effect on Mthonjaneni, uMhlathuze and the combined analysis (KCDM) at 1 per cent (p = 0.000), 5 per cent (p = 0.025) and 1 per cent (p = 0.000), respectively. The OLS regression model used predicts that the adoption of an additional CSA practice would increase the total value product of the farmers by about ZAR 309, ZAR 212 and ZAR 199 in Mthonjaneni, uMhlathuze and KCDM, respectively. Results further show that about 38 per cent were in the high dietary diversity category (HDDS ≥ 7), about 38 per cent in the medium dietary diversity (HDDS = 4 - 6), while only 24 per cent were in the low dietary diversity category (HDDS ≤ 3). The majority (80%) of the sampled farmers had an acceptable food consumption (HFCS > 35). Overall, taking the HDDS as a proxy for food security, the majority (62%) of the sampled farming households could be regarded as food secure. The binary logistic regression model predictions show that the adoption of CSA (p = 0.001) will increase the chances of food security of the sampled households. Household size (p = 0.044) and dependency ratio (p = 0.074) were found to be statistically significant but negatively correlated with the food security of the sampled farming iv households. Farm income (p = 0.039), income from off-farm sources (p = 0.018), the farming experience of the farmer (p = 0.063) and the participation of household members in farming activities (p = 0.041) were found to be statistically significant and to positively correlate with the food security status of the sampled households. Gender has no significant effect on the food security status of the sampled households in the combined analysis (KCDM) but has a statistically significant and positive influence on food security in Mthonjaneni. This study argues that it is imperative to understand the pattern of adoption among small-scale farmers for the successful mainstreaming of CSA related projects and the empowerment of farmers for sustainable agriculture under climate change. The study recommends that relevant stakeholders should endeavor to provide small-scale farmers with CSA-related extension messages and expose them to relevant information on climate change. Farmers have differing preferences for CSA technologies based on the demonstrable potential benefits and cost of the technologies. Therefore, policies aimed at mainstreaming CSA technologies should pay adequate attention to applicability in locations under consideration and emphasize the critical role of information on CSA technologies or practices. This study recommends that efforts are needed to encourage small-scale farmers to embrace CSA practices to enhance productivity and food security. Keywords: Adaptation strategy, adoption, applicability, climate change, climate-smart, food security, mitigation, productivity.
University of Zululand