Resilience and sustainability of the water sector during the Covid-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented socio-economic changes, ushering in a “new (ab)normal” way of living and human interaction. The water sector was not spared from the effects of the pandemic, a period in which the sector had to adapt rapidly and continue providing innovative water and sanitation solutions. This study unpacks and interrogates approaches, products, and services adopted by the water sector in response to the unprecedented lockdowns, heralding novel terrains, and fundamental paradigm shifts, both at the community and the workplace. The study highlights the wider societal perspective regarding the water and sanitation challenges that grappled society before, during, after, and beyond the pandemic

Micromineral Content of Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla) Leaves Grown on Zeolite-Amended Sandy Soil

Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla), a popular leafy vegetable grown mainly for its ease of production and nutritional content, is normally used as a good source of microminerals iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). Improving plant uptake of Fe and Zn could assist in reducing micromineral deficiencies in humans, which are a global problem. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Council, Stellenbosch to assess the response in micromineral and soil trace elements uptake in Swiss chard grown under zeolite and sandy soil. The experiment consisted of four treatments, with six replicates arranged in a randomized complete block design. Zeolite was applied at 0%; 10%; 20% and 30% in combination with sandy soil. Swiss chard was harvested for micromineral analysis 143 days after transplanting. Soil samples were also collected at the end of each growing season. Swiss chard leaves were analysed for Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu content with soil samples also analysed for the same elements. The study found that zeolite did not improve Swiss chard uptake of Fe, Zn and Mn. Soil Fe also had an inverse relationship to zeolite application while the residual effect of zeolite showed the same trend, but only in the second season. This study indicated that zeolite cannot be used to improve micromineral uptake by Swiss chard but can be used to rectify heavy metal-infested soils

Independent and combined effects of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene, and improved complementary feeding, on child stunting and anaemia in rural Zimbabwe: a cluster-randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Child stunting reduces survival and impairs neurodevelopment. We tested the independent and combined effects of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and improved infant and young child feeding (IYCF) on stunting and anaemia in in Zimbabwe. METHODS: We did a cluster-randomised, community-based, 2 × 2 factorial trial in two rural districts in Zimbabwe. Clusters were defined as the catchment area of between one and four village health workers employed by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care. Women were eligible for inclusion if they permanently lived in clusters and were confirmed pregnant. Clusters were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) to standard of care (52 clusters), IYCF (20 g of a small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement per day from age 6 to 18 months plus complementary feeding counselling; 53 clusters), WASH (construction of a ventilated improved pit latrine, provision of two handwashing stations, liquid soap, chlorine, and play space plus hygiene counselling; 53 clusters), or IYCF plus WASH (53 clusters). A constrained randomisation technique was used to achieve balance across the groups for 14 variables related to geography, demography, water access, and community-level sanitation coverage. Masking of participants and fieldworkers was not possible. The primary outcomes were infant length-for-age Z score and haemoglobin concentrations at 18 months of age among children born to mothers who were HIV negative during pregnancy. These outcomes were analysed in the intention-to-treat population. We estimated the effects of the interventions by comparing the two IYCF groups with the two non-IYCF groups and the two WASH groups with the two non-WASH groups, except for outcomes that had an important statistical interaction between the interventions. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01824940. FINDINGS: Between Nov 22, 2012, and March 27, 2015, 5280 pregnant women were enrolled from 211 clusters. 3686 children born to HIV-negative mothers were assessed at age 18 months (884 in the standard of care group from 52 clusters, 893 in the IYCF group from 53 clusters, 918 in the WASH group from 53 clusters, and 991 in the IYCF plus WASH group from 51 clusters). In the IYCF intervention groups, the mean length-for-age Z score was 0·16 (95% CI 0·08-0·23) higher and the mean haemoglobin concentration was 2·03 g/L (1·28-2·79) higher than those in the non-IYCF intervention groups. The IYCF intervention reduced the number of stunted children from 620 (35%) of 1792 to 514 (27%) of 1879, and the number of children with anaemia from 245 (13·9%) of 1759 to 193 (10·5%) of 1845. The WASH intervention had no effect on either primary outcome. Neither intervention reduced the prevalence of diarrhoea at 12 or 18 months. No trial-related serious adverse events, and only three trial-related adverse events, were reported. INTERPRETATION: Household-level elementary WASH interventions implemented in rural areas in low-income countries are unlikely to reduce stunting or anaemia and might not reduce diarrhoea. Implementation of these WASH interventions in combination with IYCF interventions is unlikely to reduce stunting or anaemia more than implementation of IYCF alone. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UK Department for International Development, Wellcome Trust, Swiss Development Cooperation, UNICEF, and US National Institutes of Health.The SHINE trial is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1021542 and OPP113707); UK Department for International Development; Wellcome Trust, UK (093768/Z/10/Z, 108065/Z/15/Z and 203905/Z/16/Z); Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation; US National Institutes of Health (2R01HD060338-06); and UNICEF (PCA-2017-0002)

Report on the combined workshop of water institutions in the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency

This report covers Deliverable 1 of the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency (BGCMA) project entitled ‘Improving institutional support to emerging farmers for improved livelihoods in the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Area’. The project emanates from the Water Research Commission (WRC) Project 2310 entitled ‘Approaches for Emerging Farmer Participation in Water Resource Management: The Case of the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency (BGCMA), Western Cape. Both projects are run by the Water and Agriculture Niche Area at the Centre for Water and Sanitation Research, Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The WRC project aims to develop an ideal approach for involving emerging farmers in water resources management. Since October 2015 water institutions in the BGCMA became active participants in the WRC project. This led to the development of the BGCMA proposal is response to the recently signed BGCMA/CPUT funding Memorandum of Understanding. The water institutions identified a number of critical challenges that hamper effective support to emerging farmers, with lack of information being identified as one of the major problems. The water institutions, with the involvement of farmers, therefore decided to develop ways that could make information more accessible to farmers. Therefore the compilation of a farmer support information package was proposed, followed by information roadshows. A combined water dialogue was held with emerging farmers and water institutions during the annual BGCMA/Cape Peninsula University of Technology Water Seminar in March 2016 where participants brainstormed the approaches to compiling the package. This report covers proceedings of a recent follow-up combined institutions/emerging farmer water dialogue held at the BGCMA on the 19th August 2016. The workshop was held at the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency Offices in Worcester, on the 19th August 26, 2016. The main objectives of the workshop were to present what had been collected so far in compiling the information and also discuss ideas for the road shows. The following institutions attended the dialogue, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), Department of Water and Sanitation, Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency (BGCMA), Western Cape Department of Agriculture (DoA), Hex Valley Water User Association (HVWUA), Rural Development & Land Reform (DRLDR), African Farmers' Association of South Africa (AFASA) and Theewaterskloof Municipality (see also Figure 2, participant list also attached)

Smallholder farmer coping and adaptation strategies for agricultural water use during drought periods in the Overberg and West Coast Districts, Western Cape, South Africa

Drought is one of the most significant disasters affecting farm productivity in South Africa, with the Western Cape Province among the most affected areas. Smallholder farmers usually suffer the most due to limited resources. The study identified agricultural water use coping and adaptation strategies adopted by both crop and livestock smallholder farmers in the West Coast and Overberg districts during the recent 2015–2018 drought. Interviews were conducted with 100 smallholder farmers and 11 focus group discussions were held in the two districts. Quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, while qualitative data were analysed using Atlas.ti. Furthermore, the Hyogo Framework of Action was used to analyse the support that smallholder farmers had received and to understand how smallholder farmers could be effectively supported to promote the adoption of proactive strategies to deal with drought in the short and long term. It was found that the 2015–2018 drought occurred when smallholder farmers from both districts were least expecting it and were unprepared. In the West Coast District, the main coping strategies included using borehole water and selling livestock. In the Overberg District, smallholder farmers coped by purchasing fodder and transporting water from sources such as the river and dam to the farms. Several smallholder farmers in both districts did not implement any adaptation strategies. They were largely unaware of proactive agricultural water use strategies that could bolster their resilience to drought. Recommendations for the future include the adoption of drip irrigation, mulching, growing vegetables with shorter growing periods and changing planting dates. For livestock farmers, adaptation strategies include drilling boreholes and grazing management. There is also a need for early warning systems to improve the drought preparedness of smallholder farmers

Review of drought coping and adaptation strategies in dryland cropping systems, irrigation, livestock and mixed systems

This report is Deliverable 2 of the Water Research Commission Project 2602 entitled “Coping and adaptation strategies for agricultural water use during drought periods”. The report starts by defining vulnerability to drought. This is followed by a brief history of drought in South Africa, then an outline of the role of early warning systems. The report then gives examples of coping and adaptation strategies adopted by selected countries. A number of strategies in water use in agriculture that have been implemented by South Africa are then described in the report. Drought resistant and new crop varieties and improved agronomic practices were identified in rainfed systems. Many strategies were implemented in irrigation, including scheduling, drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting and infrastructure maintenance. Strategies in livestock included creating fodder banks and pasture management. South Africa drilled many boreholes to provide water for both agriculture and domestic use during the recent drought, showing the importance of the groundwater resource in agriculture

Infrastructure performance and irrigation water governance in Genadendal, Western Cape, South Africa

Ethics Clearance Number: 2020FEREC-STD-005. Student Number: 216041686  Thesis:  Infrastructure performance and irrigation water governance in Genadendal, Western Cape, South Africa  Ethics clearance for field data collection was awarded for collecting data from smallholder farmers and officers in water-related departments. In addition to the thesis, a related journal article has been published:  https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912174 </p

Cropping Systems and Agronomic Management Practices in Smallholder Farms in South Africa: Constraints, Challenges and Opportunities

ArticleMany studies have been conducted to assess challenges faced by smallholder crop producers in South Africa but few have focused on agronomic constraints. This study is a review of agronomic constraints faced by smallholder farmers under irrigation and dryland farming in South Africa. Constraints include choice of cultivars, planting dates and densities, tillage operations, water and fertilizer management and cropping patterns. Water availability is a major constraint under dryland farming and studies showed that the impacts can be very severe. Interaction of a variety of constraints under irrigation resulted in below average yields. Strategies for increasing productivity in dryland agriculture include capturing more water and allowing it to infiltrate to the root zone and the use of available water more efficiently. Yields under irrigation can improve when micronutrients are blended with macronutrients in relatively affordable blends. Use of green manure as an alternative fertilizer can also improve yields. Soil and water management technologies that improve soil fertility and productivity were as important as those that prevent soil erosion and water loss. It was recommended that practices such as supplementary irrigation and rainwater harvesting technologies take priority in efforts to address dryland water problems. As for farmers with access to irrigation water, practices that deal with improvement in planting dates and populations and water and fertilizer management can have positive impacts on crop yields. Research focused on smallholder agriculture should also start focusing more on water productivity and improving agronomic practices