Knowledge and adoption of water use efficiency techniques among women irrigators in the North West Province

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine knowledge and adoption of water use efficiency techniques among women irrigators in the North West Province, South Africa. The study was conducted in two districts: Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati; and Ngaka Modiri Molema. In this study, ex-post facto designed was used with a sample size of 108 farmers interviewed from the list obtained from the Department of Rural Environment and Agricultural Development (Farmer Support and Development - extension officers). The targeted group was women farmers involved in irrigation schemes. Data collected was sorted, coded and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) with frequency counts, percentages, means standard deviation and prob it regression model. The findings revealed that majority of women irrigators (44%) were above 60 years of age, 41. % of women were married, 42.5% of farmers had a household size of 4-6 members while 43% of women had 1-3 dependents. 80. 6% of farmers had secondary level of education and 87% of women involved in irrigation farming were allocated land by tribal authorities with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture. Women irrigators in the study area are involved in the cultivation of the following crops: maize (X= 4.67, SD=5.65); Lucerne (X= 2.89, SD= 5.41); and Barley (X=2.22, SD=6.26). They are mostly aware of water use efficiency techniques such as crop rotation (93.5%), application of manure and fertilizer (92. 6%) and terracing techniques (78. 7%). However, they are not aware of irrigation scheduling models such as lysimeter (4.6%), crop density improvement (6. 7%) and conveyance losses and percolation (1.2%). The adopted water use efficiency techniques used in the schemes are: crop rotation (78.8%); application of manure and fertilizer (78.8%); and cover crops (47.2%). The farmers have high knowledge on mulching (91. 7%), water harvesting (88.9%) and weed control (86.1%). The most common constraint faced by women farmers on water use efficiency is lack of information (92.6%). The probit regression model was used to determine factors influencing the adoption of water use efficiency techniques. The most adopted techniques were reduced tillage, cover crops, crop rotation, manure and fertilizer. Significant determinants for adoption of water use efficiency techniques include membership of farmers ' groups, frequency of extension visits, existence of water tariffs, payment of tariffs, age, farm size and number of plot.