WATER POLICIES AND SMALLHOLDING IRRIGATION SCHEMES IN SOUTH AFRICA: A HISTORY AND NEW INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

SUPPORTING DECISION MAKING ON REHABILITATION AND MANAGEMENT TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT SMALLHOLDING IRRIGATION SCHEMES: THE SMILE APPROACH

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

TESTING SCENARIOS ON THE VIABILITY OF SMALLHOLDING IRRIGATION SCHEMES IN SOUTH AFRICA: A PARTICIPATORY AND INFORMATION-BASED APPROACH

Government smallholder irrigation schemes were developed in former homeland areas of South Africa during the apartheid era. Although experiencing serious financial, technical, and institutional problems, most of them are now earmarked for rehabilitation and transfer to water users' associations. Transfer operators find it difficult to evaluate the potential for viability, then to organize the transfer accordingly. The paper refers to a multi-disciplinary, action-research approach that has been proposed to address such issues. It has been implemented in a case study scheme management, the possible contributions by farmers to cover these costs, the possible charging system to be set up, and finally the impact of certain measures or decisions, or certain farmers' strategies on the financial viability of the scheme. The paper mainly presents and discusses some principles of the approach, especially the need for a sustained and multi-disciplinary partnership during scenario development and discussion, including farmers and transfer operators. Such an approach shows huge potential for information and decision-making support towards transfer operators, for training, and for farmers' participation.Farm Management, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

LIVELIHOOD STRATEGIES IN RURAL TRANSKEI (EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE): HOW DOES WOOL PRODUCTION FIT IN?

Livestock Production/Industries,

NEW WATER POLICY, IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT TRANSFER AND SMALLHOLDING IRRIGATION SCHEMES IN SOUTH AFRICA: INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES

This paper briefly reviews the situation of smallholding irrigation schemes SIS- in previously disadvantaged rural areas of South Africa. It then analyses the implication of the new National Water Act of 1998 on those schemes, with regard to the IMT process. An analysis of water rights related issues is proposed. It highlights a number of contradictions, uncertainties and possible threats which may hinder further development, and sustainable IMT in SIS.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

POVERTY AND DIVERSITY OF LIVELIHOOD SYSTEMS IN POST-APARTHEID RURAL SOUTH AFRICA: INSIGHTS INTO LOCAL LEVELS IN THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE

This paper highlights the plight of black rural areas in South Africa, in which deep poverty and weak subsistence agriculture are embedded. The apartheid policy and its numerous measures are the first causes of such a situation. Besides, the existence of a relatively well-developed non-agricultural labour market also maintains productive agricultural activities at a low level. This paper attempts to contextualize those elements in the Eastern Cape province. At province level, the paper first provides the main features of poverty and livelihood systems. Then, typological approaches are used to better understand the socio-economic diversity of local livelihood systems, beyond generic statistics. The results show that diversity is a major trait of local livelihood systems. Pensions and remittances are the pillars of livelihood systems, whereas local off-farm job opportunities remain scarce. Farming activities, although widespread, form a significant source of cash income for a small proportion of households. The factors influencing such a diversity and the evolution of types are discussed. It is confirmed that rural areas in Transkei follow some major trends that have been identified at a global level: diversification of rural livelihood at household level, de-agrarianisation and de-peasantisation at community level.Food Security and Poverty, Land Economics/Use,

MATCHING POLICIES ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA: RECENT HISTORY, PRINCIPLES, AND CURRENT CHALLENGES

The paper discusses the link between local governance and rural development in democratic South Africa. It underlines several issues and challenges facing the government's willingness to position local municipalities as the key providers and promoters of development in rural areas. The paper first presents two parallel policy streams that took place since 1994. On the one hand, local government has been gradually established and strengthened, as the third constitutional sphere of governance, in line with an overall decentralization process. On the other hand, rural development has taken a growing place into political discourses from 1994 onwards, and has been promoted or implemented through various policies, legislations and programmes, which has often been conceived and managed centrally, at the national and/or provincial levels. The paper then describes the current situation in terms of linkages between local government and rural development initiatives. It is argued that, in spite of a closer link and integration between overall policies and approaches to rural development (ISRDP) and local government planning tools (IDPs), a series of issues and challenges are still hindering efficient delivery and services towards rural areas and their development. Among other issues, the paper identifies and discusses (1) contradicting approaches that are still combined de facto (liberalism vs. welfarism), (2) the lack of actual participation and the weakness of CSOs in rural South Africa, (3) revenue issues at the rural municipal level, (4) the discussable role of district municipalities, (5) a hidden supply-driven agenda by line departments, along with poor co-ordination among them, and (6) long-living myths about the potential of certain areas, or the possible role of agriculture. The paper concludes with some recommendations, especially stressing the possible role of academics to help and support decision-makers and development operators.Community/Rural/Urban Development, Political Economy,

A SIMULATION-BASED APPROACH TO ASSESS THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF SMALLHOLDING IRRIGATION SCHEMES IN SOUTH AFRICA: CONCEPTUALISATION AND FIRST IMPLEMENTATION

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

INTER-SECTORAL COMPETITION FOR WATER ALLOCATION IN RURAL SOUTH AFRICA: ANALYSING A CASE STUDY THROUGH A STANDARD ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS APPROACH

South Africa has adopted an ambitious new water legislation that promotes equity, sustainability, representativity and economic performance through water management decentralization, new local and regional management institutions, water users' licensing, and the possible emergence of water rights' markets. This paper addresses the diversity of water users and uses that currently exists in rural areas, and especially focuses on the competition for water that may result from such a diversity in a context of water scarcity, and from the diversity of objectives formulated by the public authorities. The paper first briefly describes the current institutional arrangements regarding access to water. It also presents the situation in rural areas where farming communities and the mining sector are interacting on water- and labour-related matters. The paper then presents a case study whereby these two sectors have embarked into a negotiation process on water rights transfer, under the auspices of several public role players. It proposes an analysis of the case study through a standard environmental economics model. The model considers the marginal net private benefit (MNPB) generated by mining activities and the associated marginal returns to water (MRW). The transfer of water from farmers to mines results in a loss in crop production potential by the farmers and the subsequent loss of income and potential for development. Such a loss can be considered the opportunity cost of water for smallholders. If not compensated, it represents a proxy of the externality associated with water transfer. The model first highlights the difference in terms of water productivity in the two sectors, and its consequences if a system of transferable licenses is adopted. Then, some policy options (taxes, standards, subsidies) are tested and discussed.Environmental Economics and Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

ANALYSING THE LOW ADOPTION OF WATER CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGIES BY SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Natural resource degradation and water scarcity are a global concern, which typically threatens the sustainability of smallholder farmers' livelihoods in semi-arid developing areas. As part of research efforts, a number of water-conservation technologies (WCT) have been developed, yet with low adoption rates in smallholder farming environments. This paper discusses the concepts of adoption and innovation, comparing the perspectives of research operators to the ones of smallholder farmers. Discrepancies are highlighted and ultimately explain low uptake of technologies by farmer. Then it addresses socio-economic factors affecting such adoption. It is argued that WCT show specific traits: (1) diversity and applicability to different time and spatial scales; (2) hence, the dependency upon a context. These traits influence dissemination and adoption of WCT, and should not be ignored, from the early stage of technology development. It is shown that adoption does not only depend on individual farmers willingness, but also upon the role of property rights on resources, and collective action at community level. Other specific issues and factors like the demand for WCT, the role of public sector and research, and related biases are also discusses. It finally draws some recommendations towards rural livelihoods that are more sustainable. Farmers' participation in technology development, taking account of local indigenous knowledge and sound institutional arrangements are among other the pathways that are suggested towards a better integration of technology development and innovation processes.adoption, innovation, water conservation, technologies, collective action, property rights, sustainability, livelihoods, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,