Food security under unreliable rainfall: the case study of a rural community in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Sejabaledi A Rankoana

doi:10.2166/wcc.2019.109

Abstract

Abstract The present study assessed the use of a geothermal hot spring water flow as an adaptation practice to improve subsistence crop production. The aim of this study is to contribute towards natural resource use and management as an adaptation measure to the problem of rainfall scarcity in subsistence production. Focus group discussions with 45 subsistence farmers were conducted in a community garden in which subsistence crops are grown and maintained through a hot spring irrigation system. The study results show that the farmers are aware that rainfall in Sagole community is becoming scarce. The scarcity of rainfall is impacting negatively on subsistence crop production which is characterised by poor productivity. However, the farmers developed an irrigation system downstream of the geothermal hot spring in which the water is furrowed to the garden to irrigate vegetables and fruits throughout the year.

Highlights

Many rural communities are referred to as natural resourcebased societies because they survive through self-provisioning food production mechanisms (Madzivhandila )
Indigenous irrigation systems, drought forecasting and preparedness, mixed cropping and food processing mechanisms are among key adaptation practices (Lebel ) acknowledged by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC ) that they could be helpful towards building adaptive capacity and resilience in the face of climate change
A qualitative study was conducted in Sagole rural community in the Vhembe District Municipality of Limpopo Province, South Africa

Summary

Introduction

Many rural communities are referred to as natural resourcebased societies because they survive through self-provisioning food production mechanisms (Madzivhandila ). Their knowledge of the social and physical environment intercedes in the use and management of natural resources to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change (Banerjee ). The indigenous irrigation systems are the mitigation practices against drought where subsistence crops suffer from moisture stress (Chizovachii ; Maponya & Mpandeli ) This observation corroborates Shrestha & Tiwari ( ) that utilization of indigenous irrigation systems is a common climate change adaptive response in western Nepal, mostly initiated and developed by independent groups of local farmers

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion