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Farmers’
knowledge in the cropping systems of Northern KwaZulu-Natal,
South Africa: Current challenges and solution for
sustainable future food production
F. B. Lewu1* and Yoseph Assefa2
1Department
of Agriculture, University of Zululand, Kwa-Dlangezwa 3886,
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
2Department
of Crop Sciences and Production, Botswana College of
Agriculture, University of Botswana, Private Bag 0027,
Gaborone, Botswana.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
flewu@pan.uzulu.ac.za.
Accepted 2 October, 2009 |
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Most African farmers involved in food production in
South Africa; practice peasant farming for consumption and
for retail sale in the informal market, local communities
and street corners in the cities. These farmers are mainly
constrained by different factors which include; lack of
basic farm inputs like machineries and fertilizers. They
also have limited knowledge of the standard methods of
production required to satisfy the genetic requirement of
improved seeds that are available in agric shops; and have
insufficient access to arable lands. Due to the fact that
they are resource poor formers, they lack enough financial
input and support from rural extension agencies, with a
resultant low yield response. Although, peasant farmers in
northern KwaZulu-Natal of South Africa seem to have common
challenges in their farming regime, their knowledge within
each cluster varies tremendously. Observed variation in
farmers’ activities has been reported to affect yield on
farmers’ fields and farmers’ knowledge plays an important
role in the overall production systems of the communities.
This paper highlights the challenges of peasant farmers in a
study conducted over a period of nine months on the
maize-based farming system of Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa using a well structured questionnaire. The
implication of the study on the future improvement of
farming activities in the region is discussed. The result of
this study outlined possible ways of improving the crop
production systems of the people of the studied area and
also opened new research initiatives to better partner with
these farmers for improved food production.
Key words:
Cropping systems, farmers’ knowledge, food production,
Northern KwaZulu Natal, production input, small scale
farmers. |
