A New Approach For The Planning And Development Of Smallholder Irrigation Schemes In The Black States Of South Africa

Black smallholder irrigation schemes should be used as target areas for agricultural development. A number of economic, social and political factors are responsible that the smallholder irrigation schemes in South Africa's Black States are unable to achieve their development potential. The experience of Vuvulane Irrigated Farms in Swaziland proves that Black smallholder schemes can be successfully developed by the application of an integrated development framework. Such a framework incorporates three planning stages, namely the determination of the agricultural potential and the economic profitability of the scheme, and the establishment of the required agricultural infrastructure. The framework aims at providing smallholders with the means and motives to achieve commercial production. As the developer provides the full range of required irrigation services the risk attached to commercial production is largely minimized for the smallholder. By adopting a commercial approach in the provision of the services the developer ensures that the equity objectives of both parties are met and the active participation of smallholders encouraged.