Barriers and enablers to implementing on-farm sustainable land management (SLM) practices among smallholder farmers in Mphanama, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Land degradation remains a critical challenge for smallholder farmers, particularly in semi-arid regions such as Limpopo Province, South Africa. This study examines the socio-economic, agronomic, and institutional factors influencing farmers' choices and the intensity of implementing land degra...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Scientific African |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227625002200 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Land degradation remains a critical challenge for smallholder farmers, particularly in semi-arid regions such as Limpopo Province, South Africa. This study examines the socio-economic, agronomic, and institutional factors influencing farmers' choices and the intensity of implementing land degradation mitigation practices in the Mphanama area located within Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality in Limpopo Province. Using cross-sectional data from smallholder farmers, the study explores key determinants of sustainable land management (SLM) in the rural area of Mphanama in Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality. Key findings indicate that farmers with extended residency in the village were more likely to implement conservation measures such as terracing, although financial stability and irrigation usage positively impacted the simultaneous implementation of various SLM practices. However, household size adversely impacted conservation initiatives, linked to labour constraints and off-farm employment demands. Contrary to expectations, farmers who observed more signs of land degradation were less likely to implement conservation practices, highlighting significant resource and knowledge barriers. Additionally, the study found that the role of extension services in facilitating and promoting SLM practices was suboptimal, suggesting a gap in the effectiveness of advisory support. Gaps in extension services were mainly due to generic advice, inadequate follow-up, logistical challenges, poorly funded programs and lack of input support for low-resource farmers. These findings underscore the need for targeted policies to enhance access to financial and technical resources, improve extension service effectiveness, and promote labour-saving technologies to support conservation efforts. Future research should investigate the influence of economic instruments, such as input subsidies, on farmers’ adoption behaviour changes and examine the economic feasibility of different SLM practices. Addressing these barriers would allow policymakers and relevant stakeholders to foster sustainable on-farm land management, enhance soil productivity, and build climate resilience among smallholder farmers in Mphanama, Limpopo Province and beyond. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2468-2276 |