The research and development strategy for water utilisation in agriculture–responding to diverse needs of farmers in South Africa

Abstract

AbstractMajor differences exist between the environment in which research is carried out and farming is practised. The challenge for research is to develop an agenda and design projects that address real‐life problems. On a national and regional level, key issues for research include increased productivity of water for crop and livestock production and eradication of hunger and poverty. More specifically, utilisation and development of water resources must therefore be analysed in relation to the needs and requirements of people. People using water in agriculture comprise a diverse group of subsistence, emergent and commercial farmers within interrelated subsectors of agriculture such as irrigated and dryland farming, woodlands and forestry, grasslands and livestock watering, and aquaculture. The strategic implementation plan for research and development (R&D) must determine objectives, adopt a course of action and allocate resources. Taking research into practice must be purposefully managed according to the innovation cycle. Using estimation of crop water requirements and irrigation water scheduling as examples, it is shown that high‐quality research has to be followed by comprehensive knowledge dissemination to achieve successful application. More emphasis should be placed on development through technology exchange, training and extension in order to narrow the gap between research and practice. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.