Small-scale farmers' perceptions on the causes of land degradation in the Luvuvhu catchment, Limpopo Province, South Africa
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Authors
Nthungeni, Nndwammbi
Issue Date
2020-05
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Socio-economic determinants , Land degradation , Farmers’ perceptions , Luvuvhu catchment , Limpopo Province , South Africa
Alternative Title
Abstract
Land degradation is currently a major concern in South Africa. However, awareness of
the problem and attitude towards it has changed little over the past century. Soil erosion leading
to land degradation is continually being depicted as an acute problem leading to soil fertility
loss, lowering agricultural output and land degradation. Overpopulation, climate change,
overstocking and poor agricultural practices are viewed as the major causal factors. The basic
tenets of this are the changing perceptions among small-scale farmers in the Luvuvhu catchment
regarding land degradation. Therefore, understanding farmers’ perceptions of land degradation
in the Luvuvhu catchment and its causes are important when carrying out mitigation measures
in order to promote soil and water conservation practices.
This study adopted a quantitative research design method. In order to achieve the
objectives of this research, questionnaires and observation were used as instruments for data
collection. The data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire to the farmers in the
study area. A total of 101 respondents were purposively selected and interviewed by following
the snowball sampling technique. Data used in the questionnaires consists of variables such as
demographic and socio-economic characteristics of farming, with perceptions of the causes of
land degradation and measures used to address problems identified by respondents. Data
generated from the semi-structured questionnaires were analysed quantitatively using SPSS
(Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 22.1 to generate descriptive statistics such
as frequency, percentage distribution, and mean.
The findings of the study show that farmers' perceptions vary significantly in terms of
their socio-economic determinants such as gender, age, literacy, employment status,
agricultural extension and governments support schemes. The result of the analysis revealed
that 61% of the respondents perceived rill erosion on their farms as the prevailing form of land degradation. Most of the sampled respondents also believed that the general topography of the
area (99%), high rainfall intensities (89%), over-grazing (71%), continuous tilling of the soil
(63.3%), and among others were the main causes of land degradation.
Observations revealed that farmers of the study area had varied but generally clear
perceptions of the causes of land degradation and the conservation measures used to address
soil loss and land degradation through traditional. However, a significant proportion of the
farmers received interventions in the form of incentives from the local authority aimed at
addressing the challenges of soil loss and decreases in soil fertility due to soil erosion, primarily in the form of rills. Against the backdrop of the perceived negative impact of land degradation
in the Luvuvhu catchment, farmers and support authorities are encouraged to improve soil
conservation measures through institutional programs and projects from the local governments
support agencies.