Impact Analysis of Taung Irrigation Scheme on Household Welfare among Farmers in North-west Province, South Africa

Abstract

The study examines the impact of Taung irrigation scheme on the household welfare among farmers in the North West Province. Irrigation farming is one of the most important rural development investment strategies that can have both direct and indirect impact on poverty and food security. The sampling frame of the study consists of 137 farmers and a sample of sixty farmers was selected for the study. The relationship between the household welfare and the independent variables were estimated using an ordinary least square regression estimation procedure. The dependent variable used to capture household welfare is per capita expenditure. Per capita expenditure is used as a proxy for per capita income and employed as a measure of welfare. The results of the multiple regression analysis shows that the independent variables relate significantly to knowledge levels of the extension officers with an (=2.25, p<.05) an R (.67). The significant determinants of household welfare amongst farmers were age (t=1.78), gender (t=1.76), educational level (t=2.48), household head type (t=1.87), access to natural capital (t=-1.95) and socio-economic status (t=2.47).