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Socio-economic reasons for the low adoption of water conservation technologies by smallholder farmers in southern Africa: a review of the literature

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  • Sylvain Perret
  • Joe Stevens

Abstract

Natural resource degradation and water scarcity, which threaten the sustainability of smallholder farmers' livelihoods in semi-arid developing areas, are a global concern. Although researchers have developed water-conservation technologies (WCTs), adoption rates by smallholder farmers have been low. This article compares the perspectives of researchers and smallholder farmers, highlights the discrepancies which explain the farmers' low uptake of technologies and addresses the socio-economic factors affecting adoption. It argues that WCTs are diverse and applicable to different time and spatial scales and hence dependent upon context. These traits influence the dissemination and adoption of WCTs, and should not be ignored, from the early stage of technology development. It explains that adoption depends not only on individual farmers' willingness but also on property rights to resources and collective community action. The article discusses the demand for WCTs, the role of the public sector and research and related biases, and makes recommendations for achieving more sustainable rural livelihoods. Recent experiences in South Africa show that encouraging farmers to participate in technology development, taking account of local indigenous knowledge and making sound institutional arrangements are some ways to foster better integration of technology and innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Sylvain Perret & Joe Stevens, 2006. "Socio-economic reasons for the low adoption of water conservation technologies by smallholder farmers in southern Africa: a review of the literature," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(4), pages 461-476.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:deveza:v:23:y:2006:i:4:p:461-476
    DOI: 10.1080/03768350600927193
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lahiff, E. P., 1999. "Land tenure on the Arabie-Olifants Irrigation Scheme," IWMI Working Papers H025318, International Water Management Institute.
    2. Jagger, Pamela & Pender, John L., 2003. "Impacts of programs and organizations on the adoption of sustainable land management technologies in Uganda," EPTD discussion papers 101, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Perret, Sylvain R. & Anseeuw, Ward & Mathebula, F., 2005. "Poverty and livelihoods in rural South Africa: Investigating diversity and dynamics of livelihoods. Case studies in Limpopo," Working Papers 60885, University of Pretoria, Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development.
    4. M. Mazoyer & Laurence Roudart, 2002. "Histoire des agricultures du monde: Du Néolithique à la crise contemporaine," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/44785, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    5. Rasmussen, Lise Nordvig & Meinzen-Dick, Ruth Suseela, 1995. "Local organizations for natural resource management: lessons from theoretical and empirical literature," EPTD discussion papers 11, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    6. Pender, John L. & Kerr, John M., 1996. "Determinants of farmers' indigenous soil and water conservation investments in India's semi-arid tropics:," EPTD discussion papers 17, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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    Cited by:

    1. Sabrina Auci & Andrea Pronti, 2020. "Innovation in Irrigation Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture: An Endogenous Switching Analysis on Italian Farms’ Land Productivity," SEEDS Working Papers 1220, SEEDS, Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies, revised Dec 2020.
    2. Nhamo, Nhamo & Rodenburg, Jonne & Zenna, Negussie & Makombe, Godswill & Luzi-Kihupi, Ashura, 2014. "Narrowing the rice yield gap in East and Southern Africa: Using and adapting existing technologies," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 45-55.
    3. Awudu Abdulai & Wallace Huffman, 2014. "The Adoption and Impact of Soil and Water Conservation Technology: An Endogenous Switching Regression Application," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 90(1), pages 26-43.
    4. Rosario Perez-Espejo & Alonso Aguilar Ibarra & Jose Luis Escobedo-Sagaz, 2011. "Agriculture and Water Pollution: Farmers' Perceptions in Central Mexico," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(1), pages 263-273, March.

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