Determinants of water security in smallholder farming systems in South Africa: a review

Abstract

Attaining water security is critical for enhancing agricultural production in many countries worldwide. In South Africa, water insecurity is one of the factors affecting agricultural production, especially in the smallholder farming sector. The review focused on factors that influence water security in smallholder farming systems in South Africa and also proposed possible solutions to improve the water security status for smallholder farmers. A search of published articles was conducted on Scopus and Google Scholar databases using the keywords water access, water security, water scarcity, smallholder farmers, smallholder agriculture and South Africa. The study identified various factors that contribute to water insecurity for smallholder farmers, including lack of adequate infrastructure, the poor performance of water infrastructure, lack of farmer involvement in water-related management activities and land tenure insecurity. Smallholder farmers also failed to acquire water-use licences. During periods of drought, they were unable to adopt strategies for improving water security. Recommendations include addressing issues related to infrastructure availability, water allocation and distribution, and the capability to operate, manage and maintain the infrastructure. The study also recommends that policy and decision-makers be acknowledged and address the impacts of droughts on water resource availability.