Evaluation of Challenge Programme Water for Food techniques / technologies on smallholder dryland farming in Greater Giyani Municipality in Limpopo Province

Abstract

Food security in most drought-stricken areas of Limpopo Province is a challenge to the Department of Agriculture and to all the people living in the province, especially to the resource poor smallholder farmers. Finding remedial solutions to agricultural production in stress prone conditions is therefore a high priority. The introduction of Challenge Programme Water for Food (CPWF) technologies/techniques to smallholder dry land farming in Greater Giyani Municipality was seen as one of the solutions. However, there are constraints raised by CPWF technology adopters such as shortage of labour, lack of ploughing equipment, lack of credit, shortage of land and marketing. CPWF technologies are suitable for smallholder dry land farming, especially rainwater harvesting technologies. Smallholder farmers need to be remobilised and trained on the potential benefits of CPWF technologies to enhance their adoption and spread to other areas.