Factors affecting irrigation management decision-making : the case of Taung Irrigation Scheme in North West Province of South Africa

Abstract

Improvement in agricultural production and productivity depends on the availability of irrigation water. Research has shown that in order to meet the soaring food demands, farmers must either double their current irrigation water usage or produce more with the current available irrigation water (Bonthuys, 2018). South Africa is a water scarce country and the country’s available water resources are currently under extreme pressure. Sixty percent of the total fresh water is currently allocated for irrigation agriculture. South Africa has approximately 300 smallholder irrigation schemes, but many have collapsed, and others are operating below their potential (Mnkeni et al, 2010). In North West Province the Taung Irrigation Scheme was established in 1939 and forms part of the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme. The scheme like many others was instituted as a mean to sustain food security and improve the living standards of the people of Taung. The purpose of the study was to identify factors that may influence farmers’ decisions making on the Taung Irrigation scheme, particularly irrigation management decisions. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative research methods for collecting data. Data was collected from 100 farmers comprised of the five main cooperatives (Tshidiso, Ipeleng, Pudimoe, Bosele and Rethuseng) and executive members of four agricultural cooperatives in the scheme using a structured questionnaire. The research findings identified absence of the management system on the scheme, lack of leadership and management skills, lack of participation by certain stakeholders and theft as root causes of irrigation management challenges experienced on the scheme at all levels. The study also identified that farmers rely on own knowledge gathered over the years through experiences and observations plus scientific irrigation scheduling measurements. Farmers highlighted the important role that mentors in on farm decision-making to ensure productivity and sustainability. Farmers in Taung base their decisions for irrigation management on various factors namely soil and plant observations (52%), weekly irrigation scheduling recommendations provided by SAB (21%), measuring of daily temperatures (4%) and water availability (23%). Farmers also adopted methods to confirm the accuracy of the irrigation management decisions like the use of Chameleon sensors, hand feel method using a spade, soil auger or steel rod. Several stakeholders namely SAB/ABInBev, FARMSOL, cooperative executive members, fellow farmers, Provincial Department of Agriculture North West extension staff and commercial farmers played an important role in farmer decision-making on Taung irrigation scheme. SAB/ABInBev (29%) and cooperative executive members (39%) were the most consulted by farmers for decision-making. Farmers indicated they only consulted individuals whom they perceive as trustworthy or important opinion leaders with regard to the industry. Farmers provided various reasons for belonging and participating in cooperative activities. Ninety-nine percent farmers perceived farmer cooperatives as an ideal platform for learning and access to information through social networking with other farmers and subject matter specialists. Farmer cooperatives have been established to provide opportunities and grant farmers access to various resources, which would have been difficult for individuals to attain like the government development aid funding. Farmer cooperatives in Taung played an important role in the pluralistic advisory service model followed on Taung where strong public-private partnerships exist. Experiential learning is the most preferred style of learning (90%) in the scheme. Farmers preferred this style of learning because they learned through physical doing (doing something with their hands), while ten percent preferred learning styles such as visualisation (3%), auditory (6%) and reading (1%). Trainers used various learning approaches to train farmers on irrigation crop management practices, depending the specific purpose of the training workshop. It was encouraging to find that most of the training (84%) offered by trainers also included experiential learning methods. Findings from the study recommends that executive members of cooperatives require more regular training on governance and general management of cooperatives. Many of the problems experienced in the other three cooperatives (except Tshidiso) were because of poor leadership and conflict within the cooperatives. Executive members of cooperatives also need to be evaluated regularly on their performance to determine if they are still competent to do their work. Relationship between stakeholders should be nurtured, due to its potential to result in the accomplishment of the scheme’s development goals through effective participation and coordination of the stakeholders. The involvement of young and female farmers in irrigation farming activities should be encouraged, as currently the majority of farmers are relative old males (74%). Involvement of young people in agriculture will alleviate the relatively high rate of drug use by the youth in the area. It will also improve the relationships and level of trust between children and parents and help to build the social capital in these communities. Agriculture can also liberate and empower female farmers through affording women the basic requirements for standard living such as food and non-food items and educational requirements and improve their self-efficacy in discussions and decision-making. Joint ventures between stakeholders as illustrated between farmers, SAB/ABInBev and Department of Agriculture North West have proven to have been beneficial for small scale farmers producing barley and maize for the commercial market. This public-private partnership illustrated that farmers benefitted from technical support, off-take contracts, access to markets, extension support and financial support.