Improving of irrigation management: a learning based approach

Farmers draw upon a wide range of sources for learning, and change to irrigation management are influenced by the quality of information networks between stakeholders (researcher, extensionist and farmers as part of the agricultural knowledge triangle), and their means of accessing outside information are important adoption factors. As in the case of most occupational groupings, farmers belong to various information networks and have a wide range of abilities and knowledge. However not all farmers learn in the same manner. These factors suggest that to encourage better understanding and implementation of irrigation scheduling practices it is important to focus on how irrigation farmers might learn about these practices. This paper presents the findings of a study that was conducted to identify social, cultural, economic and technological factors, which influence the adoption of irrigation scheduling practices on the farm. The study showed that irrigation farmers use different learning sources and that informal interaction and social networks play an important role in farmer learning. Keywords: irrigation, management, extensionist, adoption South African Journal of Agricultural Extension Vol. 34(2) 2005: 151-16

Professional extension support: A prerequisite for sustainable irrigation development

This paper presents an overview of the concepts profession, professional and professionalism and reflects on the general perceptions for professional extension support in irrigation management perceived by small- scale and commercial irrigation farmers. It also portrays the findings on the assessment of the technical competence and knowledge of irrigation extensionists. Possible barriers why irrigation extensionists often lack to do their work in a professional manner are discussed. A discussion of several recommendations that might help to restore the self-esteem of individuals and improve the service delivery of the irrigation extension profession concludes the paper. Keywords: Profession, professional, professionalism, sustainable irrigation and extension.South African Journal of Agricultural Extension Vol. 36 (1) 2007: pp. 170-18

Understanding the dynamics of multi-stakeholder innovation systems and the opportunities for joint learning by small scale farmers

Through a European Union funded project called JOLISAA (Joint Learning in Innovation Systems in African Agriculture), the nature of smallholder  oriented innovation systems have been explored in terms of partnerships, triggers that have given rise to them and the nature of the innovations themselves. The main objective was to analyse a broad diversity of multi-stakeholder agricultural innovation processes involving smallholders. The analysis of 11 cases documented comprises innovation bundles composed of technical, organisational and institutional innovations. The eleven cases documented showed that six exhibited non-technical innovation processes frequently related to market access as well as to inputs and services. Triggers that drive smallholders and other stakeholders to initiate  innovation processes include environment stress, introduction of new  technologies, identification of market change as well as policy or regulatory changes. The cases that have been documented show a variation of  stakeholders responsible for initiating the process. In some cases it was smallholders approaching other stakeholders for assistance with addressing a challenge, while in other cases it was researchers or extensionists who undertook to develop an innovation to address a challenge that they had encountered through their interaction with smallholders. All documented cases have involved the contribution of ideas, knowledge and skills by at least three different types of stakeholders and the role of local knowledge has been acknowledge through the study. Out of the eleven cases three cases have been selected for a collaborative case assessment which strives to assess further key issues such as actual roles and contributions of various role-players, the dynamics of the innovation process and outcome. Several opportunities arise for joint learning with small scale farmers

Effects of dysfunctional stakeholder collaboration on performance of land reform initiatives: lessons from community based rural land development project in Malawi.

Most countries have implemented land reform programmes to assist address the challenges of poverty and inequality especially in rural areas. Land reform becomes relevant in countries whose rural livelihoods remain predominantly agro-dependent making land a primary productive resource. In many of these countries land reform was given greater political priority than agriculture, perhaps more symbolic than real. However, only a few land reform projects have managed to meet both in the short and long term delivery targets after transferring the land to beneficiaries. A study was conducted to evaluate the impact of Malawi’s Community Based Rural Land Development Project (CRLDP) two years after its phase out in 2011. An assessment of the efficacy of post settlement support was included in the study to help explain any causes for attainment or nonattainment of the stated objectives. The paper argues that adequate post-settlement support and effective collaboration of all role players are necessary preconditions for sustained performance and functioning of land reform beneficiary groups. The results showed that Beneficiary Groups faced greater difficulties to access agricultural inputs, credit, markets, extension services and infrastructure to support their agricultural production and access to social services. This was attributable to poor collaboration of stakeholders which affected integrated and holistic provision of post settlement support. As a consequence, household food and income security deteriorated after phase out of the project in 2011. The study recommends adoption of an interactive institutional framework for coordinated provision of post settlement support for land reform projects like the CBRLDP. This entails embedding project management arrangements that should encourage and support effective interaction and involvement of public sector, private sector and the NGO sector to close service and information gaps needed by land reform beneficiaries

The Role of Extension support to irrigation farmers in Lesotho

Lesotho has plenty of water resources which could be used to improve the livelihoods of Basotho as a nation in many aspects. However, this seems not to be the case as Lesotho suffers from food security mostly during severe droughts, to an extent of seeking support from international communities. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the very important role extension support should play in the practising of sustainable irrigation farming by smallholders. A structural questionnaire was administered amongst 153 irrigation farmers and 31 extension officers randomly in the four southern districts of Lesotho, namely Maseru, Mafeteng, Mohale’s Hoek and Quthing. Extension credibility is highly questionable as 70% of irrigation farmers do not regard extension as important for irrigation management decisions. Although extension workers are generally well qualified, no in-service training is offered to help with the skilling of extensionists regarding irrigation management. Consequently the extension workers consider them not competent to provide support for irrigation farming. These results suggest the need for greater political and institutional input in irrigation farming; in particular there is a need to revisit institutional policy instruments and institution for extension, technical assistance, training and credit services that will facilitate performance of irrigation farming in Lesotho.S.Afr. Tydskr. Landbouvoorl./S. Afr. J. Agric. Ext., Vol. 39, Nr 2, 2011: 104 – 11

Effective linkages and participatory governance in the management of veld fires

Integrated public governance is one of the challenges of Government. The importance of governmental departments, NGOs and stakeholders working together in a coordinated and well-managed manner in times of natural and man-initiated disasters, cannot be emphasised enough. To determine the nature and extent of this, the management of the most severe veld fires during 2008 in the Waterberg District of the Limpopo Province was researched with reference to the nature and extent of the integrated public governance achieved. The agricultural extension officers’ ability toestablish interest groups in the respective communities and to build linkages between themselves and other organisations and government institutions has proved invaluable in the quest of the Limpopo Province Department of Agriculture (LDA) to bring about more effective public service delivery in the Province. In the article, notice has been taken of the most prominent legislation in the field of agricultural public service rendering, and the way in which public management perse and governmental relations as ‘vehicles’ determined the level of effectiveness,efficiency and economy of the management of three major veld fires in the Alma, Rust de Winter and Dwaalboom areas. The response time by departmental officials of the various spheres of government and the ultimate time when governmental assistance was received, were compared.The vital roles of the Agricultural Extension Officer and the supporting offices of LDA in the management of agricultural related crises, are also highlighted. Lastly some logical conclusions are drawn and  recommendations made to improve the agricultural service rendering in the Province

Participatory curriculum development for training of extensionists in irrigation management

The irrigation extension worker has a leading supportive role to play to ensure sustainable agricultural production. However, to be able to fulfil the various expectations of small-scale irrigation farmers with regard to technical and extension competency, adequate training of extension workers is a requirement. This paper represents the findings of participatory curriculum development process that was followed which included the assessment of training needs of irrigation extensionists and the identification of shortcomings in the occupational profile of irrigation extensionists. These results will be used to develop a conceptual training curricula framework in irrigation management. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension Vol. 35 (2) 2006: pp. 242-25

The role of a pluralistic extension system in enhancing agriculture productivity in Mozambique

This paper presents an overview of the characteristics and roles of key role-players involved in agricultural development in Mozambique. As in many other countries worldwide, extension service provision is characterised by the multiple service providers responding to the needs and demands of farmers. This is unlike in the recent past when agricultural services were mainly delivered by the public sector.The 25 years of public extension have been characterised by different degrees of progress. Supporting extension policy was developed and amended as required during this period, which impacted positively on farmer coverage (number of districts operating) as well as the number of farmers served per extensionist. The expansion of public extension services created new challenges for the delivering of extension services. Within the pluralistic extension system of Mozambique, NGO’s and private commodity extension organisations play an important role in supporting smallholder farmers.To be able to learn from the different experiences in offering extension by the various service providers is only possible through effective communication and sharing of experiences between public, NGO’s and private extension service providers. Despite some local based initiatives seeking to enhance collaboration between public and NGOs extension, no official extension platform (multi stakeholder) at national level exists which can take care of the coordination and management of the pluralistic extension system

Policy opportunities to enhance the role of smallholder livestock systems in Limpopo Province of South Africa

Post-apartheid administrations in South Africa were faced with redressing the legacy of multifaceted poverty and social inequalities created by apartheid politics. The entrance of smallholder farmers into the mainstream economy became a government priority and policy aim. Institutional efforts in Limpopo Province provided infrastructure to establish poultry and vegetable producing enterprises. Very few livestock projects were funded. The success rate of institutional interventions was low. We argue that smallholder livestock systems offer policy opportunities to realise post-apartheid reform goals in the smallholder livestock sector. The premises are; there are more livestock in communal smallholder sector than in the commercial sector. This indicates there is a substantial level of natural, human and social capital existing within smallholder livestock systems. Secondly, commercial livestock systems are increasingly converted to game and wildlife enterprises necessitating imports of large numbers of livestock from Namibia to account for the shortfall in red-meat in South Africa. It is possible that the low off-take characterising smallholder livestock and the Cattle Complex Philosophy probably deterred past efforts to recognise the potential of smallholder livestock systems for rural and agricultural development. The Cattle Complex Philosophy claims that African smallholders have an attitudinal resistance to sell livestock. Data from a survey amongst 193 households in ten villages of Sekhukhune District of Limpopo Province illustrates that low livestock sales relates to the dysfunctional composition, sub-optimal reproductive potential and high calf mortality of smallholder herds. Conclusions and policy recommendations are offered.Keywords: Smallholder, Livestock, Limpopo Provinc

A comparative analysis of two land reform models: The Mashishimale Farm Management Model and the Nkumbuleni Strategic Partnership Model, South Africa

The Sustainable Restitution Support ¡V South Africa (SRS-SA) program aimed at the development of a post-settlement support model that could be used to support beneficiaries of land reform in South Africa, especially those who received the land through restitution. The two land restitution claims were identified namely Mashishimale in the Limpopo Province and Nkumbuleni in KwaZulu Natal Province in South Africa. The main objective of the study is to determine the essential elements of two post-settlement support models to successfully implement and manage land reform projects in a sustainable manner namely: Mashishimale Farm Management Model (FMM) and Nkumbuleni Strategic Partnership Model (SPM). The data was collected through meetings and interviews with different stakeholders or role players.The study reveals that the following actions are essential for the successful post-settlement to restitution farms:• The execution of baseline study (survey) to determine the socio-economic situation in a community (beneficiaries).• The appointment of an independent project facilitator/coordinator to ensure effective and efficient communication.• A well-defined management structure and the appointment of a knowledgeable, skilful and experienced farm manager(s) or strategic partner.• The development of a business plan for the farm with the support of professional agriculturist.• The identification of qualified professional extension advisor to provide advice and guidance to the manager(s) or strategic partner.• Appointment of a mentor to guide advice and train the manager(s) or strategic partner.• Financial support to manage the farm (Grants; Comprehensive Agricultural Support Program; financial institutions and specifically the Land Bank).Keywords: Land reform, farm management, strategic partnerships, support services (extension