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.
Loading...
Date
2019
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Univeristy of Zululand
Abstract
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.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science and Agriculture in fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Agriculture at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2019.
Keywords
Adaptation strategy, Mitigation, Climate-smart, Food security