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An Analysis of the Acceptance of Water Management Systems among Smallholder Farmers in Numbi, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

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  • Mishal Trevor Morepje

    (School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela 1200, South Africa)

  • Isaac Azikiwe Agholor

    (School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela 1200, South Africa)

  • Moses Zakhele Sithole

    (School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela 1200, South Africa)

  • Lethu Inneth Mgwenya

    (School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela 1200, South Africa)

  • Nomzamo Sharon Msweli

    (School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela 1200, South Africa)

  • Variety Nkateko Thabane

    (School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela 1200, South Africa)

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between smallholder farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics and their choice to implement formal water management systems in the context of agricultural output in Numbi, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Numbi is a farming community situated in the Mbombela Local Municipality within the Ehlanzeni District Municipality of Mpumalanga Province. The study featured 141 smallholder farmers who were chosen using a straightforward random sampling method. A systematic and structured questionnaire was used to collect the data, and binary logistic regression was used to analyze the acceptability of formal water management systems among smallholder farmers. The results revealed statistically significant relationships with gender ( p = 0.025), age ( p = 0.186), educational level ( p = 0.087), farm size ( p = 0.151), household size ( p = 0.041), and the use of alternative irrigation ( p < 0.001). These findings underscore the importance of socioeconomic factors in influencing smallholder farmers’ openness to adopting formal water management systems. The study, therefore, recommends that policymakers, extension agents, and other stakeholders should prioritize farmer socioeconomic factors when advocating for the acceptance of formal water management systems. Hence, water-use efficiency, increased crop yields, and livelihood security will be eminent, thus improving the overall farmer quality of life in the study area.

Suggested Citation

  • Mishal Trevor Morepje & Isaac Azikiwe Agholor & Moses Zakhele Sithole & Lethu Inneth Mgwenya & Nomzamo Sharon Msweli & Variety Nkateko Thabane, 2024. "An Analysis of the Acceptance of Water Management Systems among Smallholder Farmers in Numbi, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:5:p:1952-:d:1346922
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Jean‐Paul Chavas & Céline Nauges, 2020. "Uncertainty, Learning, and Technology Adoption in Agriculture," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 42-53, March.
    4. Elahi, Ehsan & Khalid, Zainab & Zhang, Zhixin, 2022. "Understanding farmers’ intention and willingness to install renewable energy technology: A solution to reduce the environmental emissions of agriculture," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    5. Edinam Dope Setsoafia & Wanglin Ma & Alan Renwick, 2022. "Effects of sustainable agricultural practices on farm income and food security in northern Ghana," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, December.
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