Land degradation's influence on livelihoods of small-scale farmers and land care workers in Ladybrand, South Africa

Abstract

Land degradation influences the natural resource-based livelihoods of agricultural communities whose livelihoods are dependent on the productivity of the land. South Africa has been and still is considerably affected by land degradation which adversely influences livelihoods and well-being. The article reports on the findings of a study aimed at determining how land degradation in the Ladybrand area, Free State Province, South Africa, influences the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and land care workers, and what land management strategies can mitigate land degradation for sustainable livelihood outcomes. The explorative study adopted a qualitative research approach and an instrumental case study research design. A purposive sampling method was used to select 13 small-scale farmers (general and commonage) and 14 land care workers for the study. Data were collected through focus group interviews and were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings indicated the causes of land degradation in Ladybrand that jeopardise land management practices for sustainable livelihoods, namely, the high volume of invasive plants, land pollution, overgrazing, unsecure land tenure systems and poor access to markets. Strategies recommended to mitigate land degradation and improve land management practices for sustainable livelihoods include rotational grazing, tenure security for small-scale farmers, increasing access to markets and institutional support to small-scale farmers and land care workers. This study documents the insights of small-scale farmers and land care workers on land degradation and their commitment to practise sustainable land management.