Doctoral Degrees (Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Development and Extension)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Development and Extension) by Author "Botha, Cobus"

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    Development of a toolkit for sustainable revitalization of smallholder irrigation schemes: Free State Province
    (University of the Free State, 2023) Grobler, Hendrik Frederik; van Niekerk, Johan; Botha, Cobus
    The “complex of activities” involved in smallholder irrigation schemes has led to the collapse of three such schemes in the Free State Province. This has happened over the past two decades, although best management practise guidelines for the sustainable revitalization of smallholder irrigation schemes were available to farmers, researchers, and policymakers. The problem is that farmers are not in control of the revitalization process, meaning they are not in control of their own destiny. The objective of this study was to find out why best management practice is not followed and then to provide a toolkit to allow smallholders to take charge of their destiny. Thereby ensuring an equal base between developers and the “to be developed”. Applied research tools found that smallholder irrigation farmers in the Free State Province possess a crop farming culture. The study was conducted in three smallholder irrigation schemes (Sediba, Woodbride, and Feloana) in the Thaba Nchu area of the Free State province. The research methodology was a mixed-methods design. The primary research methodology applied is evaluation research. Three different types of evaluation research are described as implementation (process) evaluation, experimental and quasi-experimental and qualitative (naturalistic) research methods. Qualitative methods include empowerment evaluation methods. This study opted for the latter. Qualitative evaluation research methods were used to describe and evaluate the performance of programmes in their natural setting and focus on the process rather than the outcome. This study assessed the current process of revitalising smallholder irrigation schemes. Empowerment Evaluation (EE) uses evaluation concepts and techniques to foster improvement and self-determination. Stuart Theobold wrote that decolonising science is not that far reached. He believes shifting to decolonising science is a paradigm. This aligns with this study's paradigm; indigenous knowledge needs to be valued. This study listened to the African farmer himself. Both the qualitative and empowerment evaluation approaches are used. The best attributes of these two approaches were explored to compile a system whereby best practice in the revitalization of smallholder irrigation is enhanced. Government and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) are believed to overshadow the smallholder farmer as an individual, but more so as an organised commodity group. Four data collection instruments were used; these included open-ended questionnaires with industry leaders (tribal authorities, academics, government officials, policymakers, sponsors, and NGOs) and farmers, observations (walk crop fields and satellite images) and reviewing of the knowledge base (programmes, policies and guidelines). Statistical results of this study indicate a strong correlation between knowledge and productivity as perceived by participants. This perceived view of farmers was strengthened by previous experiences through fifteen years of research on In-field Rainwater Harvesting (IRWH) amongst the same communities. The literature review also indicated that a standardised best management practice is currently unavailable. This research study demonstrated that related professions could standardise best management practice guidelines through voluntary consensus processes. Together with a strong mandate provided by the government to establish smallholder farmers, the proposed toolkit will create a better chance for smallholder irrigation schemes to be sustainable. A standardised best management practice toolkit will assist researchers, practitioners, policy makers, farmers, and communities in increasing productivity on smallholder irrigation schemes in the Free State Province. The following recommendations are proposed through this research study: • The knowledge base of smallholder irrigation farmers needs to be strengthened. This can be achieved through a combination of provision of a complete toolkit and training on the value and use of such a toolkit. It will result in a marked improvement in productivity on the smallholder irrigation schemes. • Smallholder irrigation farmers in the Free State Province must organise themselves into a commodity group. This initiative must be spontaneous but can be supported by government. It will result in farmers owning the process of revitalization. • RESIS should be considered a once-off event. It will align all available resources towards a focused intervention within an agreed time frame. It will increase urgency amongst all role players in the revitalization process. • Revitalization of smallholder irrigation schemes needs to be removed from infrastructure-based professionals to developmental-orientated professions and agencies. Identified gaps in the body of knowledge (BOK) directed much attention towards soft issues. In most cases infrastructure was delivered within industry norms, meaning that infrastructure -based professionals will augment the developmental effort lead by professionals in the developmental-orientated professions. • The industry needs to develop a complete Best Management Practice Guideline in the form of a Toolkit. The industry includes government, NGOs, sponsors, researchers, practitioners, farmers, and a proposed commodity group representing RESIS farmers in the Free State Province and even farmers in all nine provinces in South Africa. The approach used by the international project management profession is proposed as a framework for a complete toolkit for revitalization. • Compiling such a Best Management Practice guideline, or toolkit, requires a purposefully planned and “voluntary consensus” process. Existing organisations such as ICID, SAII, WRC, ARC or a relevant government department can facilitate and administer such an industry-based process. • An existing BOK is proposed as an example for compiling a framework for best management practices or toolkits. • The knowledge base and crop production methods of IRWH and RESIS be shared and integrated. • Further research be conducted to investigate the impact of leadership quality on the decision-making powers of smallholder irrigation schemes.