Your search found 16 records
1 Mabhaudhi, T.; Nhamo, Luxon; Mpandeli, S.; Nhemachena, Charles; Senzanje, A.; Sobratee, N.; Chivenge, P. P.; Slotow, R.; Naidoo, D.; Liphadzi, S.; Modi, A. T. 2019. The water–energy–food nexus as a tool to transform rural livelihoods and well-being in southern Africa. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(16):1-20. (Special issue: Human Adaptation to Climate Change) [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16162970]
Water resources ; Energy generation ; Food security ; Rural communities ; Living standards ; Public health ; Climate change adaptation ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Indicators ; Innovation ; Frameworks ; SADC countries ; Rural areas / Southern Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049315)
(2.21 MB) (2.21 MB)
About 60% of southern Africa’s population lives in rural areas with limited access to basic services and amenities such as clean and safe water, affordable and clean energy, and balanced and nutritious diets. Resource scarcity has direct and indirect impacts on nutrition, human health, and well-being of mostly poor rural communities. Climate change impacts in the region are manifesting through low crop yields, upsurge of vector borne diseases (malaria and dengue fever), and water and food-borne diseases (cholera and diarrhoea). This study applied a water–energy–food (WEF) nexus analytical livelihoods model with complex systems understanding to assess rural livelihoods, health, and well-being in southern Africa, recommending tailor-made adaptation strategies for the region aimed at building resilient rural communities. The WEF nexus is a decision support tool that improves rural livelihoods through integrated resource distribution, planning, and management, and ensures inclusive socio-economic transformation and development, and addresses related sustainable development goals, particularly goals 2, 3, 6 and 7. The integrated WEF nexus index for the region was calculated at 0.145, which is marginally sustainable, and indicating the region’s exposure to vulnerabilities, and reveals a major reason why the region fails to meet its developmental targets. The integrated relationship among WEF resources in southern Africa shows an imbalance and uneven resource allocation, utilisation and distribution, which normally results from a ‘siloed’ approach in resource management. The WEF nexus provides better adaptation options, as it guides decision making processes by identifying priority areas needing intervention, enhancing synergies, and minimising trade-offs necessary for resilient rural communities. Our results identified (i) the trade-offs and unintended negative consequences for poor rural households’ livelihoods of current silo approaches, (ii) mechanisms for sustainably enhancing household water, energy and food security, whilst (iii) providing direction for achieving SDGs 2, 3, 6 and 7.
2 North, M. A.; Hastie, W. W.; Craig, M. H.; Slotow, R.. 2022. Tracing primary sources of funding for, and patterns of authorship in, climate change research in Africa. Environmental Science and Policy, 127:196-208. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.10.023]
Climate change ; Research ; Funding ; Development agencies ; Collaboration ; Capacity development ; CGIAR / Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050773)
(6.07 MB)
African experts remain underrepresented in global climate change work and assessments, potentially from patterns of international funding, collaborations, or funder mandates. We evaluated authorship and funding of African climate science by searching Web of Science Core Collection for studies published between database inception and 31 October 2018, identifying 12561 journal articles reporting climate research in Africa. We exported the funding information, and ranked funders by the number of publications they funded. For the ten agencies funding the most publications with at least one African author, we identified all publications (n = 214) from the top five grants, by number of publications. We examined the number and position of African authors on these, and the mandates of these ten agencies. Of the publications on Africa climate research, 58% (7232) included no African authors. Among the top ten funders of African-authored publications, the South African NRF funded predominantly South African authors, while the United Kingdom’s NERC, German BMBF, and USAID, funded research involving authors from 7 to 15 African countries. Only the IDRC and CGIAR have clear mandates to develop capacity within regions being studied. Overall, African climate experts are absent from much of the foreign-funded climate change research about Africa. Funders should promote collaboration with Africans when funding work on the continent, to improve African research capacity and expertise, and bolster African climate science. Most importantly, research done without local expertise may exclude important local knowledge, not be locally relevant or applicable, or miss African based solutions of potential global importance.
3 Magidi, J.; van Koppen, Barbara; Nhamo, L.; Mpandeli, S.; Slotow, R.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2021. Informing equitable water and food policies through accurate spatial information on irrigated areas in smallholder farming systems. Water, 13(24):3627. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/w13243627]
Smallholders ; Farming systems ; Irrigated farming ; Water policies ; Food policies ; Food security ; Water security ; Spatial distribution ; Rainfed farming ; Irrigated land ; Cultivated land ; Catchment areas ; Crop production ; Farmers ; Sustainable development ; Datasets ; Normalized difference vegetation index / South Africa / Usuthu Sub-Catchment / Crocodile Sub-Catchment / Sabie Sub-Catchment / Komati Sub-Catchment
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050853)
(5.03 MB) (5.03 MB)
Accurate information on irrigated areas’ spatial distribution and extent are crucial in enhancing agricultural water productivity, water resources management, and formulating strategic policies that enhance water and food security and ecologically sustainable development. However, data are typically limited for smallholder irrigated areas, which is key to achieving social equity and equal distribution of financial resources. This study addressed this gap by delineating disaggregated smallholder and commercial irrigated areas through the random forest algorithm, a non-parametric machine learning classifier. Location within or outside former apartheid “homelands” was taken as a proxy for smallholder, and commercial irrigation. Being in a medium rainfall area, the huge irrigation potential of the Inkomati-Usuthu Water Management Area (UWMA) is already well developed for commercial crop production outside former homelands. However, information about the spatial distribution and extent of irrigated areas within former homelands, which is largely informal, was missing. Therefore, we first classified cultivated lands in 2019 and 2020 as a baseline, from where the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to distinguish irrigated from rainfed, focusing on the dry winter period when crops are predominately irrigated. The mapping accuracy of 84.9% improved the efficacy in defining the actual spatial extent of current irrigated areas at both smallholder and commercial spatial scales. The proportion of irrigated areas was high for both commercial (92.5%) and smallholder (96.2%) irrigation. Moreover, smallholder irrigation increased by over 19% between 2019 and 2020, compared to slightly over 7% in the commercial sector. Such information is critical for policy formulation regarding equitable and inclusive water allocation, irrigation expansion, land reform, and food and water security in smallholder farming systems.
4 Kushitor, S. B.; Drimie, S.; Davids, R.; Delport, C.; Hawkes, C.; Mabhaudhi, T.; Ngidi, M.; Slotow, R.; Pereira, L. M. 2022. The complex challenge of governing food systems: the case of South African food policy. Food Security, 14p. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-022-01258-z]
Food systems ; Food policies ; Governance ; Food security ; Nutrition security ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Monitoring and evaluation ; Coordination ; Stakeholders ; Government departments ; Environmental factors ; Social protection ; Health ; Land reform ; Education ; Economic development ; Rural development ; Agricultural production / South Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050973)
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12571-022-01258-z.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050973.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050973.pdf
(1.50 MB) (1.50 MB)
International experience reveals that food policy development often occurs in silos and offers few tangible mechanisms to address the interlinked, systemic issues underpinning food and nutrition insecurity. This paper investigated what South African government policies cover in terms of different aspects of the food system, who is responsible for them, and how coordinated they are. Policy objectives were categorized into seven policy domains relevant to food systems: agriculture, environment, social protection, health, land, education, economic development, and rural development. Of the ninety-one policies reviewed from 1947–2017, six were identified as being "overarching" with goals across all the domains. About half of the policies focused on agriculture and the environment, reflecting an emphasis on agricultural production. Policies were formulated and implemented in silos. As a result, learning from implementation, and adjusting to improve impact has been limited. Particularly important is that coordination during implementation, across these complex domains, has been partial. In order to achieve its stated food and nutrition outcomes, including Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, South Africa needs to translate its policies into tangible, practical plans and processes guided by effective coordination and alignment. Key recommendations are practically to align policies to a higher-level "food goal", establish better coordination mechanisms, consolidate an effective monitoring and evaluation approach to address data gaps and encourage learning for adaptive implementation. Actively engaging the existing commitments to the SDGs would draw stated international commitments together to meet the constitutional commitment to food rights into an overarching food and nutrition security law.
5 Groner, V. P.; Nicholas, O.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Slotow, R.; Akcakaya, H. R.; Mace, G. M.; Pearson, R. G. 2022. Climate change, land cover change, and overharvesting threaten a widely used medicinal plant in South Africa. Ecological Applications, 32(4):e2545. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2545]
Climate change ; Land cover change ; Medicinal plants ; Resource depletion ; Ecosystem services ; Species ; Habitat loss ; Conservation ; Biodiversity ; Models / South Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051023)
https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/eap.2545
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051023.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051023.pdf
(0.83 MB) (846 KB)
Medicinal plants contribute substantially to the well-being of people in large parts of the world, providing traditional medicine and supporting livelihoods from trading plant parts, which is especially significant for women in low-income communities. However, the availability of wild medicinal plants is increasingly threatened; for example, the Natal Lily (Clivia miniata), which is one of the most widely traded plants in informal medicine markets in South Africa, lost over 40% of individuals over the last 90 years. Understanding the species’ response to individual and multiple pressures is essential for prioritizing and planning conservation actions. To gain this understanding, we simulated the future range and abundance of C. miniata by coupling Species Distribution Models with a metapopulation model (RAMAS-GIS). We contrasted scenarios of climate change (RCP2.6 vs. RCP8.5), land cover change (intensification vs. expansion), and harvesting (only juveniles vs. all life stages). All our scenarios pointed to continuing declines in suitable habitat and abundance by the 2050s. When acting independently, climate change, land cover change, and harvesting each reduced the projected abundance substantially, with land cover change causing the most pronounced declines. Harvesting individuals from all life stages affected the projected metapopulation size more negatively than extracting only juveniles. When the three pressures acted together, declines of suitable habitat and abundance accelerated but uncertainties were too large to identify whether pressures acted synergistically, additively, or antagonistically. Our results suggest that conservation should prioritize the protection of suitable habitat and ensure sustainable harvesting to support a viable metapopulation under realistic levels of climate change. Inadequate management of C. miniata populations in the wild will likely have negative consequences for the well-being of people relying on this ecosystem service, and we expect there may be comparable consequences relating to other medicinal plants in different parts of the world.
6 Sobratee, N.; Davids, R.; Chinzila, C. B.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Scheelbeek, P.; Modi, A. T.; Dangour, A. D.; Slotow, R.. 2022. Visioning a food system for an equitable transition towards sustainable diets—a South African perspective. Sustainability, 14(6):3280. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063280]
Healthy diets ; Agrifood systems ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Communities ; Marginalization ; Policies ; Stakeholders ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Socioeconomic aspects ; Strategies / South Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051024)
(5.99 MB) (5.99 MB)
The global goal to end hunger requires the interpretation of problems and change across multiple domains to create the scope for collaboration, learning, and impactful research. We facilitated a workshop aimed at understanding how stakeholders problematize sustainable diet transition (SDT) among a previously marginalized social group. Using the systems thinking approach, three sub-systems, namely access to dietary diversity, sustainable beneficiation of natural capital, and ‘food choice for well-being’, highlighted the main forces governing the current context, and future interventions of the project. Moreover, when viewed as co-evolving processes within the multi-level perspective, our identified microlevel leverage points—multi-faceted literacy, youth empowerment, deliberative policymaking, and promotion of sustainable diet aspirations—can be linked and developed through existing national macro-level strategies. Thus, co-designing to problematize transformational SDT, centered on an interdisciplinary outlook and informational governance, could streamline research implementation outcomes to re-structure socio-technical sectors and reconnect people to nature-based solutions. Such legitimate aspirations could be relevant in countries bearing complex socio-political legacies and bridge the local–global goals coherently. This work provides a collaborative framework required to develop impact-driven activities needed to inform evidence-based policies on sustainable diets.
7 Geza, W.; Ngidi, M. S. C.; Slotow, R.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2022. The dynamics of youth employment and empowerment in agriculture and rural development in South Africa: a scoping review. Sustainability, 14(9):5041. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095041]
Youth employment ; Participation ; Empowerment ; Agriculture ; Rural development ; Unemployment ; Inclusion ; Strategies / South Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051085)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/9/5041/pdf?version=1650619803
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051085.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051085.pdf
(2.12 MB) (2.12 MB)
Over the years, South Africa has made significant investments aimed at transforming the agricultural sector to deliver on rural economic development and job creation. These investments have had varying levels of success; still, what is worrying is the high youth unemployment rate which is amongst the highest globally. We conducted a scoping review using the PRISMA-P guidelines to identify the challenges youth face in accessing sustainable employment in the agriculture sector. Peer-reviewed studies were retrieved from online databases (Web of Science, Cab Direct, and Science Direct) for 1994–2021. The findings showed that youth are still facing significant challenges in the demand and supply side of the labour market and lack of inclusivity in policy formulation and implementation, limiting their involvement in agriculture and rural development initiatives. Policies and strategies responding to these challenges exist, and the spectrum of support services provided are primarily focused on entrepreneurship. Yet, the implementation of programs and initiatives has not been successful. This could be attributed to the obstacles persisting in the sociopolitical environment in SA, causing additional barriers to program implementation. Therefore, to enhance youth involvement in agriculture and rural development, there is a need to connect more rural youth to support services, local employment programmes, and youth inclusion in policy formulation processes. Additionally, the focus of policy and programs should be broadened to cater to different youth knowledge and skill profiles.
8 Tomita, A.; Ncama, B. P.; Moodley, Y.; Davids, R.; Burns, J. K.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Modi, A. T.; Slotow, R.. 2022. Community disaster exposure and first onset of depression: a panel analysis of nationally representative South African data, 2008–2017. PLOS Climate, 1(4):e0000024. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000024]
Communities ; Exposure ; Disaster risk reduction ; Mental health ; Depression ; Socioeconomic aspects ; Models / Africa South of Sahara / South Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051086)
https://journals.plos.org/climate/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pclm.0000024&type=printable
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051086.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051086.pdf
(0.89 MB) (914 KB)
Sub-Saharan Africa faces unprecedented disasters, with climate change expected to exacerbate the frequency and severity of unpredictable and stressful catastrophic events. Unlike developed nations, reconstruction in developing nations is hindered by resource constraints, with certain communities potentially experiencing multiple and enduring effects of disasters. Despite the potential danger of such cumulative community disaster exposure on mental health (e.g. depression), large-scale population-level evidence for the region is limited. We investigated the association between exposure to cumulative disaster and the first onset of depression in a nationally representative survey in South Africa. We used panel data from the South African National Income Dynamics Study (SA-NIDS) from 2008–2017, consisting of 17,255 adult study participants who were depression free at baseline. Risk of first depression onset between individuals exposed and unexposed to community disaster was measured, accounting for multiple disaster exposure over time by fitting generalized estimating equation (GEE) regression models. Data on the geographic location of disasters were obtained from the South African government gazette, and mapped with the government delineated SA-NIDS households’ locations. Of the sampled individuals, 2,986 were exposed to disaster during the study duration (17.3%). Increased cumulative community disaster was significantly associated with the likelihood of depression onset (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 1.20, p<0.01, 95% CI: 1.09–1.33), even after controlling for socio-demographic factors. In sub-group analyses, greater likelihood of depression onset was found among females [but not in men] (aRR = 1.23, p<0.01, 95% CI: 1.09–1.38), Black African [but not in other population group] (aRR = 1.21, p<0.01, 95% CI: 1.09–1.36), lower education attainment group [but not in tertiary and above educational attainment group] (aRR = 1.20, p<0.01, 95% CI: 1.08–1.33), and lower income attainment group [but not in the top income quartile group] (aRR = 1.24, p<0.01, 95% CI: 1.11–1.38), due to cumulative community disaster. Although cumulative community disaster exposure was significantly associated with the first onset of depression, its negative impact may be more pronounced among individuals considered chronically socially vulnerable (i.e. the groups above) in South Africa. Given that many individuals in South Africa rely on social, food parcel relief, and health services from government/public sector, timely access to community-based supportive intervention is needed for disaster survivors, prioritizing socially vulnerable groups to help mitigate problems associated with mental health challenges.
9 Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Hlahla, S.; Chimonyo, V. G. P.; Henriksson, R.; Chibarabada, T. P.; Murugani, V. G.; Groner, V. P.; Tadele, Z.; Sobratee, N.; Slotow, R.; Modi, A. T.; Baudron, F.; Chivenge, P. 2022. Diversity and diversification: ecosystem services derived from underutilized crops and their co-benefits for sustainable agricultural landscapes and resilient food systems in Africa. Frontiers in Agronomy, 4:859223. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2022.859223]
Biodiversity ; Ecosystem services ; Underutilized species ; Crops ; Diversification ; Sustainable agriculture ; Food security ; Nutrition security ; Poverty alleviation ; Sustainable livelihoods ; Agricultural landscape ; Food systems ; Resilience ; Gender equality ; Role of women ; Income ; Socioeconomic development ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Climate change ; Ecological factors ; Habitats ; Cultural services ; Policies ; Systematic reviews / Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051093)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fagro.2022.859223/pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051093.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051093.pdf
(2.48 MB) (2.48 MB)
There are growing calls to adopt more sustainable forms of agriculture that balance the need to increase production with environmental, human health, and wellbeing concerns. Part of this conversation has included a debate on promoting and mainstreaming neglected and underutilized crop species (NUS) because they represent a more ecologically friendly type of agriculture. We conducted a systematic review to determine the ecosystem services derived from NUS and assess their potential to promote functional ecological diversity, food and nutritional security, and transition to more equitable, inclusive, sustainable and resilient agricultural landscapes and food systems in Africa. Our literature search yielded 35 articles for further analysis. The review showed that NUS provide various provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting ecosystem services and several environmental and health co-benefits, dietary diversity, income, sustainable livelihood outcomes, and economic empowerment, especially for women. Importantly, NUS address the three pillars of sustainable development- ecological, social, and economic. Thus, NUS may provide a sustainable, fit-for-purpose transformative ecosystem-based adaptation solution for Africa to transition to more sustainable, healthy, equitable, and resilient agricultural landscapes and food systems.
10 Queenan, K.; Cuevas, S.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Chimonyo, M.; Shankar, B.; Slotow, R.; Hasler, B. 2022. A food systems approach and qualitative system dynamics model to reveal policy issues within the commercial broiler chicken system in South Africa. PLoS ONE, 17(6):e0270756. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270756]
Food systems ; Poultry ; Broiler chickens ; Commercial farming ; Food policies ; Models ; Human health ; Nutrition ; Environmental sustainability ; Livestock production ; Distribution systems ; Food consumption ; Markets ; Value chains ; Affordability ; Food safety ; Food-borne diseases ; Feeds ; Stakeholders ; Imports ; Food security / South Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051296)
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0270756&type=printable
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051296.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051296.pdf
(2.14 MB) (2.14 MB)
Global broiler production and consumption levels continue to rise. South Africa’s broiler system is dominated by commercial production and formal retail trade, with competition from cheap imports. Local broiler policies have narrow, production-driven, short-term aims for industry growth and national food security. However, these have unintended consequences that undermine the system’s future sustainability. Using a food systems approach, this study developed a qualitative system dynamics model of the South African commercial broiler system and used it to engage stakeholders in policy discussions within the boundaries of health, nutrition, and environmental sustainability. A problem statement and key system elements were drawn from a previously published qualitative study and were validated by 15 stakeholders via an online questionnaire. From this, a seed model was developed, expanded into a larger model, and shared in a modular format with stakeholders in virtual meetings, on an individual or institutional basis, for feedback and validation, and for discussion of areas for policy consideration. Refinements were incorporated into the modules, policy considerations were summarised, and crosscutting issues were identified. The model demonstrated the system’s complexity, interlinkages, feedbacks, reinforcing and balancing loops, and behaviour archetypes. The modular presentation format created a suitable platform for stakeholder engagement. Current policies focus on local commercial production, formal markets, and affordability without cognisance of the broader system represented by the model. Inequality pervades throughout the system. Commercial producers, linked to large supermarkets and fast-food chains, dominate the system, presenting barriers to entry. Affordability is unintentionally traded off against non-communicable disease risks through brining of most frozen products, and ultra-processing of fast-food items. Foodborne disease control is critical, given the proportion of vulnerable individuals, and greater coherence of food safety policy is urgently needed. The environmental footprint of broilers, whilst less than that of ruminants, deserves closer scrutiny based on its dependence on intensive cereal production for feed. This study’s food systems approach provides a system-wide perspective and a foundation for policymakers to develop more integrated and transformative policies.
11 Hlatshwayo, S. I.; Ojo, T. O.; Modi, A. T.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Slotow, R.; Ngidi, M. S. C. 2022. The determinants of market participation and its effect on food security of the rural smallholder farmers in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, South Africa. Agriculture, 12(7):1072. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12071072]
Markets ; Participation ; Household food security ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Rural areas ; Access to information ; Food insecurity ; Agriculture ; Gender ; Socioeconomic environment ; Probit analysis / South Africa / Limpopo / Mpumalanga
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051304)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/7/1072/pdf?version=1658454749
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051304.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051304.pdf
(0.99 MB) (0.99 MB)
Addressing the disproportionate burden of food insecurity in South Africa requires targeted efforts to help smallholder farmers to access markets. The purpose of this study was to assess determinants of market participation and its contribution to household food security. The secondary data used in this study were collected from 1520 respondents; however, 389 smallholder farmers participated in the market. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale revealed that out of the total sample size, 85% of the households were food insecure while 15% were food secure. Gender of household head, receiving social grants and higher wealth index positively impacted market participation. Having a family member with HIV had a negative impact on market participation among smallholder farmers. The results from the extended ordered probit regression model showed that household size, having a family member with HIV and agricultural assistance had a positive and significant contribution to the household food insecurity situation of the smallholder farmers. On the other hand, the educational level of household head, ownership of livestock, age of household head, gender of household head, and having access to social grants had a negative and significant effect on the food insecurity status. Access to education and the market can improve household food security. Linking smallholder farmers, particularly women and aged farmers, to markets should form an intrinsic part of the government’s efforts to improve farming and food security and increase access to diversified food.
12 Bonetti, S.; Sutanudjaja, E. H.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Slotow, R.; Dalin, C. 2022. Climate change impacts on water sustainability of South African crop production. Environmental Research Letters, 17(8):084017. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac80cf]
Crop production ; Water resources ; Sustainability ; Climate change ; Food security ; Water footprint ; Virtual water ; Water availability ; Water requirements ; Water use ; Groundwater ; Spatial distribution ; Forecasting ; Evapotranspiration / South Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051305)
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac80cf/pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051305.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051305.pdf
(1.99 MB) (1.99 MB)
Agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions is particularly vulnerable to climate change, which, combined with projected food requirements, makes the sustainable management of water resources critical to ensure national and global food security. Using South Africa as an example, we map the spatial distribution of water use by seventeen major crops under current and future climate scenarios, and assess their sustainability in terms of water resources, using the water debt repayment time indicator. We find high water debts, indicating unsustainable production, for potatoes, pulses, grapes, cotton, rice, and wheat due to irrigation in arid areas. Climate change scenarios suggest an intensification of such pressure on water resources, especially in regions already vulnerable, with a country-scale increase in irrigation demand of between 6.5% and 32% by 2090. Future land use planning and management should carefully consider the spatial distribution and local sustainability of crop water requirements to reduce water consumption in water risk hotspots and guarantee long-term food security.
13 Chimonyo, V. G. P.; Govender, L.; Nyathi, M.; Scheelbeek, P. F. D.; Choruma, D. J.; Mustafa, M.; Massawe, F.; Slotow, R.; Modi, A. T.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2023. Can cereal-legume intercrop systems contribute to household nutrition in semi-arid environments: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10:1060246. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1060246]
Intercropping ; Cereal crops ; Legumes ; Multiple cropping ; Water use efficiency ; Water productivity ; Nutrition ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Goal 2 Zero hunger ; Goal 3 Good health and well-being ; Goal 12 Responsible production and consumption
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051672)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1060246/pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051672.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051672.pdf
(1.35 MB) (1.35 MB)
Introduction: Intercropping cereals with legumes can intensify rainfed cereal monocropping for improved household food and nutritional security. However, there is scant literature confirming the associated nutritional benefits.
Methodology: A systematic review and meta-analysis of nutritional water productivity (NWP) and nutrient contribution (NC) of selected cereal-legume intercrop systems was conducted through literature searches in Scopus, Web of Science and ScienceDirect databases. After the assessment, only nine articles written in English that were field experiments comprising grain cereal and legume intercrop systems were retained. Using the R statistical software (version 3.6.0), paired t-tests were used to determine if differences existed between the intercrop system and the corresponding cereal monocrop for yield (Y), water productivity (WP), NC, and NWP.
Results: The intercropped cereal or legume yield was 10 to 35% lower than that for the corresponding monocrop system. In most instances, intercropping cereals with legumes improved NY, NWP, and NC due to their added nutrients. Substantial improvements were observed for calcium (Ca), where NY, NWP, and NC improved by 658, 82, and 256%, respectively.
Discussion: Results showed that cereal-legume intercrop systems could improve nutrient yield in water-limited environments. Promoting cereal legume intercrops that feature nutrient-dense legume component crops could contribute toward addressing the SDGs of Zero Hunger (SDG 3), Good Health and Well-3 (SDG 2) and Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12).
Methodology: A systematic review and meta-analysis of nutritional water productivity (NWP) and nutrient contribution (NC) of selected cereal-legume intercrop systems was conducted through literature searches in Scopus, Web of Science and ScienceDirect databases. After the assessment, only nine articles written in English that were field experiments comprising grain cereal and legume intercrop systems were retained. Using the R statistical software (version 3.6.0), paired t-tests were used to determine if differences existed between the intercrop system and the corresponding cereal monocrop for yield (Y), water productivity (WP), NC, and NWP.
Results: The intercropped cereal or legume yield was 10 to 35% lower than that for the corresponding monocrop system. In most instances, intercropping cereals with legumes improved NY, NWP, and NC due to their added nutrients. Substantial improvements were observed for calcium (Ca), where NY, NWP, and NC improved by 658, 82, and 256%, respectively.
Discussion: Results showed that cereal-legume intercrop systems could improve nutrient yield in water-limited environments. Promoting cereal legume intercrops that feature nutrient-dense legume component crops could contribute toward addressing the SDGs of Zero Hunger (SDG 3), Good Health and Well-3 (SDG 2) and Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12).
14 Hlatshwayo, S. I.; Ngidi, M. S. C.; Ojo, T. O.; Modi, A. T.; Mabhaudhi, T.; Slotow, R.. 2023. The determinants of crop productivity and its effect on food and nutrition security in rural communities of South Africa. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7:1091333. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1091333]
Agricultural productivity ; Crop production ; Food security ; Nutrition security ; Rural communities ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Households ; Food insecurity ; Dietary diversity ; Irrigation systems ; Small-scale farming ; Models / South Africa / Mpumalanga / Limpopo
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051971)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1091333/pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051971.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051971.pdf
(0.40 MB) (405 KB)
Introduction: High crop productivity has the potential to improve the food and nutrition security status of not only smallholder farmers but also households in general. However, smallholder farmers operate in a dynamic environment whereby their crop production is affected by various factors that hinder it from lessening food insecurity and malnutrition in rural areas. The study investigated the determinants of crop productivity and its effect on household food and nutrition security status in South Africa.
Methods: This study employed a quantitative research method. A total of 1520 households were selected using the multi-stage stratified random sampling technique. Out of the total sample size of 1520, 386 were crop producers, 176 producers were from Mpumalanga province, and 210 producers were from the Limpopo province.
Results and discussion: Most of the smallholder farmers do not have access to the irrigation system, mechanization, and agricultural inputs. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale showed that most smallholder farmers were food insecure, with 78% of the farmers in each province found to be food insecure. The results from Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) showed that in the overall sampled population, 50% of smallholder farmers had highly diverse diets. Only 50% of the smallholder farmers had high dietary diversity in each province. Irrigation systems and involvement in crop production had a positive influence on the crop productivity of smallholder farmers. The results from the Conditional Mixed Process (CMP) model showed that ownership of livestock, harvest, and disability in the family negatively impacted smallholder farmers' food security status while household size had a positive effect on the food security of smallholder farmers. The results also showed that social grants, agricultural assistance, and harvest had a negative impact on the nutrition status of smallholder farmers. While household size had a positive impact on the nutrition status of smallholder farmers.
Conclusion and recommendations: Factors such as irrigation systems and involvement in crop production influenced crop productivity. Household size influenced the nutritional status of smallholder farmers while harvest size affected the food security status. There is a need to encourage more households to get involved in farming. Government and non-governmental organizations need to support smallholder farmers with agricultural productive resources like irrigation systems to improve their crop productivity.
Methods: This study employed a quantitative research method. A total of 1520 households were selected using the multi-stage stratified random sampling technique. Out of the total sample size of 1520, 386 were crop producers, 176 producers were from Mpumalanga province, and 210 producers were from the Limpopo province.
Results and discussion: Most of the smallholder farmers do not have access to the irrigation system, mechanization, and agricultural inputs. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale showed that most smallholder farmers were food insecure, with 78% of the farmers in each province found to be food insecure. The results from Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) showed that in the overall sampled population, 50% of smallholder farmers had highly diverse diets. Only 50% of the smallholder farmers had high dietary diversity in each province. Irrigation systems and involvement in crop production had a positive influence on the crop productivity of smallholder farmers. The results from the Conditional Mixed Process (CMP) model showed that ownership of livestock, harvest, and disability in the family negatively impacted smallholder farmers' food security status while household size had a positive effect on the food security of smallholder farmers. The results also showed that social grants, agricultural assistance, and harvest had a negative impact on the nutrition status of smallholder farmers. While household size had a positive impact on the nutrition status of smallholder farmers.
Conclusion and recommendations: Factors such as irrigation systems and involvement in crop production influenced crop productivity. Household size influenced the nutritional status of smallholder farmers while harvest size affected the food security status. There is a need to encourage more households to get involved in farming. Government and non-governmental organizations need to support smallholder farmers with agricultural productive resources like irrigation systems to improve their crop productivity.
15 Hlahla, S.; Ngidi, M.; Duma, S. E.; Sobratee-Fajurally, N.; Modi, A. T.; Slotow, R.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2023. Policy gaps and food systems optimization: a review of agriculture, environment, and health policies in South Africa. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7:867481. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.867481]
Food security ; Nutrition security ; Agricultural policies ; Environmental policies ; Health policies ; Food systems ; Collaboration ; Coordination ; Vulnerability ; Unemployment ; Poverty ; Government ; Legislation / South Africa / KwaZulu-Natal
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052160)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.867481/pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052160.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052160.pdf
(0.70 MB) (717 KB)
South Africa faces the triple burden of malnutrition, high poverty levels, unemployment, and inequality. “Wicked problems” such as these require innovative and transdisciplinary responses, multi-stakeholder coordination and collaboration, managing complex synergies and trade-os, and achieving sustainable outcomes. Through qualitative content analysis of national and provincial sector-based policies, we explored the interlinkages between the agriculture, environment, and health sectors in South Africa in the context of sustainable food and nutrition security and the extent to which these interlinkages are integrated into policy and planning. A systemic analysis of the review outcomes was performed to identify its main learning outcome, the status quo in the policy process. The nature of feedback loops was identified, and a leverage point was suggested. The review highlighted that policymakers in the agriculture, environment and health sectors are aware of, and have understood, the relationships among the three sectors. They have also made attempts to address these interlinkages through collaboration and coordination. Unfortunately, this has been met with several challenges due to fragmented sector-specific mandates and targets and a lack of resources for integrated solutions. This creates implementation gaps and unintended duplication of activities, leading to poor service delivery. Transitioning to sustainable and healthy food systems will only be possible after these gaps have been closed and implementation optimization has been achieved. Focusing on meta-level problem-framing, functional collaboration through transdisciplinary approaches, and integrated targets are critical to successful policy implementation and progressive realization of national goals related to sustainable food and nutrition security, unemployment, poverty, and inequality.
16 Geza, W.; Ngidi, M. S. C.; Mudhara, M.; Slotow, R.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2023. ‘Is there value for us in agriculture?’ A case study of youth participation in agricultural value chains in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Cogent Food and Agriculture, 9(2):2280365. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2023.2280365]
Youth employment ; Participation ; Agricultural value chains ; Inclusion ; Empowerment ; Awareness-raising ; Partnerships ; Food systems ; Rural development ; Socioeconomic aspects ; Stakeholders ; Case studies / South Africa / KwaZulu-Natal
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052406)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/23311932.2023.2280365?needAccess=true
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052406.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052406.pdf
(4.91 MB) (4.91 MB)
Developing countries in Africa face an unemployment crisis, with many unemployed youth. Agriculture has been identified as a strategic sector for employment creation targeted at youth, including those who may not have agriculture-related qualifications. However, various challenges limit the effectiveness of youth participation in the agriculture value chain. The study aimed to (i) determine youth awareness of agricultural value-chain opportunities, (ii) determine their perception of their role in the value chain, (iii) determine their perception of agricultural programs targeting youth and their opinions on who is responsible for attracting youth into agriculture and, (iv) to characterise the dynamics of youth empowerment in agriculture. Data was collected using focus group discussions and an online survey and analysed using SPSS and NVivo. Poor knowledge, low levels of awareness of agricultural value-chain activities and careers, and not meeting the minimum requirements for employment in processing and retail businesses were identified as key challenges. Most youth were interested in non-primary activities such as agro-processing, which are less labour-intensive and have a quicker return on investment than agricultural production. However, support services and programs for promoting youth participation in agriculture mainly focus on primary activities, signifying a mismatch between youth aspirations and current support. Understanding youth aspirations, perceptions and dynamics underpinning youth empowerment and participation in value chains is critical for promoting participation and formulating relevant and responsive policies. Additionally, improving access to information and building awareness of agricultural value chains is crucial in reducing barriers to entry. Policymakers should integrate agriculture and food systems knowledge into the primary education curriculum to promote youth awareness and evoke interest in agri-food system careers at an early age.
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