3 research outputs found
An evaluation of climate change effect on community gardens crop production aimed at enhancing household food security in Dlangezwa, Umdoni Municipality.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.In South Africa, food security at the household level still remains a major challenge (Stats SA,
2020), despite the various initiative programmes provided by the government to help alleviate
poverty among lower-income households. The” One home, one garden’ initiative and the
‘community gardens’ introduced in 2010 have been considered as vehicles to buffer food
insecurity at household level. However, lately the province has been experiencing the episodes of
climate variations. For example, in 2015 the province experienced drought and flooding spells.
This attack brings forth some concern, as the climate change episodes could be deterring the
progression of community/household gardens, thus threatening the household food security. The
aftermath and or continuing attacks of the effect of the climate variation on crop production in
household/gardens, could be aggravating low crop production.
The study aimed to investigate the effect of climate change on community garden crop production
and the farmers' household food security. A survey was conducted among 120 participants of the
community gardens to determine their knowledge, perception, and attitude towards climate
change. A series 10 focus group discussions were held to further probe on experiences,
observations and the behaviors that the farmers have engaged on as the coping strategies to
counteract or mitigate the effects of climate change. Key informant interviews with municipality
and the Department of Agriculture officials provided insight into the interventions and measures
taken by the local Municipality to mitigate the effects of climate change. Moreover, the key
informant interviews, served as the study trustworthiness enhancer, as the data collected from the
participants was further verified through these interviews.
Only 38.3% of the population understood the meaning of Climate Change, which was the minority
of the population. Climate change was understood to be the changes in temperature and rainfall
patterns in the area. The perceived outcomes of climate change was the reduction of crops and the
water supply in the area. The gardens were affected by the onset of pest , diseases and a reduction
of water for irrigation. To overcome these challenges the community gardens relied on the the
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) for support. The most planted crop
by the gardens was spinach, and the least planted crops were beetroot and brinjal. Crops like
spinach have a short growing period and produces large yields, and therefore it was most planted.
The minority of 41.7% received enough food from the community gardens, while the majority
58.3% did not receive enough food. It was determined that the majority, 40% of the surveyed
population, were moderately food insecure and only 15.8% of the population were food secure.
The external help received was mainly from the Department of Agriculture and Rural
Development (DARD) and not the local Municipality. They receive chemicals, seeds, training,
and inputs from the DARD. The issues faced by climate change were the increase of pests and
disease, change in planting seasons of crops and the change in temperatures and rainfall patterns.
It was concluded that the community gardens have not been successful in alleviating food
insecurity among the households. It was recommended that a study be conducted on the
improvement of productivity and resistance to climate change in community gardens. They have
identified the primary alterations associated with climate change as changes in rainfall patterns
and temperatures. Despite their awareness, people are apprehensive and fearful of Climate Change.
To overcome this obstacle, the DARD must promote active climate change awareness in the
community. This will assist community people in learning about climate change and how to reduce
the effects of climate change
Assessing the Impact of Community Gardens in Mitigating Household Food Insecurity and Addressing Climate Change Challenges: A Case Study of Ward 18, Umdoni Municipality, South Africa
No full textSouth Africa, while nationally acknowledged as food secure, grapples with persistent household food insecurity, particularly in rural areas. Addressing this issue, the implementation of community gardens has gained traction. This mixed methods study focuses on the impact of community gardens on food security at the household level, exemplified by the community gardens in ward 18 of Umdoni Municipality. These gardens not only provide sustenance but also generate supplementary income through surplus crop sales. However, climate change threatens food systems and vulnerable livelihoods, necessitating assessment. A survey of 120 community garden participants was conducted, employing questionnaires and focused group discussions to gauge perspectives on crop production and food security. The survey revealed that 58.3% of participants did not receive sufficient food from community gardens, while 41.7% reported adequate supply. Only 15.8% achieved food security, with the majority (40%) experiencing moderate food insecurity. Challenges cited encompassed shifting rainfall patterns, temperature fluctuations, heightened disease, and pest pressures, and altered planting seasons. Intriguingly, despite their establishment, community gardens appeared ineffective in substantially improving household food security. These findings underscore the need for enhancing productivity and climate resilience within community gardens. Future research could illuminate strategies to bolster garden productivity and mitigate climate change impacts
Factors Affecting the Choice and Level of Adaptation Strategies Among Smallholder Farmers in KwaZulu Natal Province
No full textSmallholder vegetable farmers grow diverse crops for family use and surplus sales. These farming activities contribute to enhancing local food security and the economy, but the farmers face challenges like limited resources and climate vulnerability. These smallholder farmers are more susceptible to climate variability and therefore need effective adaptation strategies to mitigate the challenges. This study sought to determine the factors that influence the choice and level of adaptation strategies among smallholder vegetable farmers in KwaZulu Natal Province. Primary data utilized in this study were obtained from 200 participants that were selected through random sampling. The descriptive results indicated that the majority of the farmers experienced climate variability and employed carbon and water-smart agricultural practices. The study employed the Multivariate Probit Model and Count Data Model/GLM Correlation Test to analyze the adaptation strategies and the level of their implementation by the selected vegetable farmers. The first hurdle of the probit model results showed that education level and land size positively and significantly influence smallholder farmers’ adaptation strategies, while marital status, household size, income source, soil type, membership of the association, and supply chain involvement had a significant and negative effect on adoption of adaptation strategies. The results from the second hurdle showed that household size, the total size of land used for vegetable production, sandy, silt, and loam soil had a significant and negative effect on the level of adaptation strategy used, whilst the total size of land owned had a positive and significant impact on the level of adaptation strategy used by the smallholder vegetable farmers. The study concludes that education level and total land size are associated with improved farmers’ climate variability adaptative capacity. The vegetable farmers’ ability to adapt to climate variability challenges was negatively influenced by factors like marital status, household size, and soil type negatively impacted these strategies. The study recommends that the government considerably supports the Climate Smart Agriculture initiatives, such as alternatives like hot houses, training, credit access, and sustainable practices to enhance farmers’ resilience and national food security. These may include but are not limited to alternatives like hot houses, as well as addressing barriers through training, credit access, and sustainable practices to enhance farmers’ resilience and national food security
