Swazi Farmers’ Swazi Farmers’ Preparedness to Respond Preparedness to Respond

to Climate Change in Water to Climate Change in Water and Land Use Practicesand Land Use Practices

by by Qand’elihle G. S. N. Simelane, PhDQand’elihle G. S. N. Simelane, PhD

Musa M. A. Dube, PhDMusa M. A. Dube, PhDDepartment of Agricultural Education & Department of Agricultural Education &

ExtensionExtensionUniversity of SwazilandUniversity of Swaziland

Use of Water & Land in SwazilandUse of Water & Land in Swaziland

Recognized land use Recognized land use categories categories

Crop agricultureCrop agriculture Animal husbandryAnimal husbandry ForestryForestry Extraction and collectionExtraction and collection Nature protectionNature protection Settlement and industry. Settlement and industry.

About 10% of the total area is suitable for agricultureOver 95% of the water resources are used for irrigationSugarcane utilizing at least 85% of it.

Impacts of Climate Change on Impacts of Climate Change on LivelihoodsLivelihoods

Visible on the livelihoods of the population are the Visible on the livelihoods of the population are the symptoms of the adverse effectssymptoms of the adverse effects More extreme weather events and natural disasters More extreme weather events and natural disasters An increase in rainfall intensityAn increase in rainfall intensity Crop failure resulting in food insecurityCrop failure resulting in food insecurity Water scarcityWater scarcity High frequency of water-borne and vector-borne High frequency of water-borne and vector-borne diseasesdiseases Invasive alien plant species and bush encroachmentInvasive alien plant species and bush encroachment Frequent firesFrequent fires Conversion of grasslands species to trees and savannasConversion of grasslands species to trees and savannas Scarcity of natural resources for cultural events Scarcity of natural resources for cultural events

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE IN ON AGRICULTURE IN

SWAZILANDSWAZILAND Climate variability and change have had a great Climate variability and change have had a great

impact on agricultural production.impact on agricultural production. Projections suggest an increase in temperature in Projections suggest an increase in temperature in

all agro-ecological zones of Swaziland and there all agro-ecological zones of Swaziland and there will be no significant change in the total annual will be no significant change in the total annual rainfall rainfall

The rainfall season is henceforth characterised by The rainfall season is henceforth characterised by late onset and early cessation.late onset and early cessation.

Cumulative rainfall in some parts of the country is Cumulative rainfall in some parts of the country is often sufficient to sustain crop growth when often sufficient to sustain crop growth when planting is done in time.planting is done in time.

Analysis showed that climate change in Swaziland Analysis showed that climate change in Swaziland will affect different crops differently, depend on will affect different crops differently, depend on the region and period of planting.the region and period of planting.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVESPURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

Document perceptions of Swazi farmers regarding Document perceptions of Swazi farmers regarding the effects of climate change on their livelihoods.the effects of climate change on their livelihoods.Identify water and land use technologies which Identify water and land use technologies which Swazi farmers have used to adapt to climate Swazi farmers have used to adapt to climate change.change.Identify sources of the technologies in water and Identify sources of the technologies in water and land use farmers have used to respond to climate land use farmers have used to respond to climate change.change.Describe relationship between Swazi farmers and Describe relationship between Swazi farmers and their perceptions of how they coped with climate their perceptions of how they coped with climate change.change.

To elicit farmers’ opinions regarding their To elicit farmers’ opinions regarding their response to climate change, in terms of water and response to climate change, in terms of water and land use practices in Swaziland.land use practices in Swaziland.

METHODOLOGYMETHODOLOGY Study PopulationStudy Population Instrument DevelopmentInstrument Development Data CollectionData Collection Ethical ConsiderationsEthical Considerations Limitations of the StudyLimitations of the Study

FINDINGSFINDINGSDEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE

FARMERSFARMERS Most of the respondent farmers were married (Most of the respondent farmers were married (n=n= 58 58, ,

90.77%) and only 9.23% (90.77%) and only 9.23% (nn=6) were single.=6) were single. A total of 75% of the farmers had families constituted of by A total of 75% of the farmers had families constituted of by

12 members, with an equal number of both male and 12 members, with an equal number of both male and females.females.

The youngest among the farmers was 19 years of age and The youngest among the farmers was 19 years of age and the eldest 81 years.the eldest 81 years.

Most of the commercial farmers (87.5%) were either below Most of the commercial farmers (87.5%) were either below 35 or above 62 years of age.35 or above 62 years of age.

Most of the farmers were full time farmers (Most of the farmers were full time farmers (n=n=60, 83.33%), 60, 83.33%), with families of an average of 9.75 people and the two with families of an average of 9.75 people and the two largest families hosted up to 29 individuals.largest families hosted up to 29 individuals.

The family size and dynamics indicate the size The family size and dynamics indicate the size of labour endowment in the family, of labour endowment in the family,

especially amongst the subsistence farmers.especially amongst the subsistence farmers.

FARMERS’ EDUCATION LEVEL & FARMERS’ EDUCATION LEVEL & SOURCES OF INCOME

Sources of income of the farmersSources of income

Part time Full time

Govt grant 5 25

Business 12 60

Salary 3 15

CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS EFFECTS ON FARMERS’ EFFECTS ON FARMERS’

LIVELIHOODSLIVELIHOODSJuly rains used to help decompose crop July rains used to help decompose crop

residues; august rains facilitated early residues; august rains facilitated early planting: no more consistency in the rains.planting: no more consistency in the rains.

Effects on rainfall and water supplyEffects on rainfall and water supply Effects on cropping patterns and cyclesEffects on cropping patterns and cycles Effects on overall productionEffects on overall production

The drought and shift of rains has created The drought and shift of rains has created difficulty in planning; made it difficult to difficulty in planning; made it difficult to

grow a wide range of crops; reduced grow a wide range of crops; reduced production, increased levels of poverty production, increased levels of poverty

along with food insecurityalong with food insecurity in the country. in the country. And life is challenging.And life is challenging.

WATER AND LAND USE WATER AND LAND USE CLIMATE CHANGE CLIMATE CHANGE

ADAPTATION TECHNOLOGIESADAPTATION TECHNOLOGIESWater Technologies

o Irrigation systems- furrow; sprinkler, trickle or drip

o Water pumps

o Tank

o Water recycling

o Community water system

o Earth dams, wells

o Water Harvesting

o Dams, pipes installed

o Watering basins around plants

Land use TechnologiesFertiliser application

Manuring, soil testingTractor hireCrop rotation, MulchingConservation agricultureUse of fertiliserPloughing just after harvesting

Winter ploughing, limingDisc harrow to chop stoverTree planting, cover cropping

SOURCES OF TECHNOLOGIES SOURCES OF TECHNOLOGIES Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to

the farmers was limited and provided by the farmers was limited and provided by ACAT, World Vision, Chinese Scheme and ACAT, World Vision, Chinese Scheme and COPSE.COPSE.

General sources of technologies adopted by General sources of technologies adopted by farmers included the Ministry of Agriculture farmers included the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Swaziland Water Development (MoA), Swaziland Water Development Enterprise (SWADE), colleague farmers and Enterprise (SWADE), colleague farmers and fellow farmer union members, neighbours, fellow farmer union members, neighbours, community members community members

SOURCES OF WATER USED BY FARMERS

Sources Subsistence Semi-commercial

Commercial All Cumulative %

Surface (S) 5 19 4 28 52.54Underground (U)

3 12 0 15 77.97

Both S & U 0 3 1 4 84.75Harvested (H)

2 3 2 7 96.61

Waste water (W)

1 0 0 1 98.31

Both H & W o 1 0 1 100.00Total 11 27 7 55• The adoption and use of water technologies dates further back than land technologies.

• A quarter of the respondent farmers reported having used them for 3.5 years.

• Three in four of the farmers had used water technologies for 21.0 years.

Perceived Advantages of the Perceived Advantages of the Adopted Irrigation TechnologiesAdopted Irrigation Technologies

o Effective; uses water efficiently; Effective; uses water efficiently; moisture retention; no waste of moisture retention; no waste of waterwater

o Reduces production cost,Reduces production cost,o Water conservationWater conservationo Retains moisture; reduced Retains moisture; reduced

production costs; increased yieldsproduction costs; increased yieldso Multi tasking; timelyMulti tasking; timely

Crop Changes Associated with Crop Changes Associated with Water and Land Use TechnologiesWater and Land Use Technologies

Increased productivityIncreased productivityImprovement in the quality of products Improvement in the quality of products quality of productsquality of productsA reliable supply of water ensures that A reliable supply of water ensures that crops do not experience water stresscrops do not experience water stressWhen soil and water conservation When soil and water conservation methodologies used with the effect of methodologies used with the effect of reduced erosionreduced erosionImproved soil fertility and fewer diseases, Improved soil fertility and fewer diseases, farmers reported an overall increase in farmers reported an overall increase in yieldsyieldsMost farmers produce up to two crops a year (n=54, 87.1%), the remainder produce 3 crops annually.

DATA LIMITATIONS DATA LIMITATIONS Lack of records or recalling dates a challenge to Lack of records or recalling dates a challenge to

the farmers. farmers could offer estimates on:the farmers. farmers could offer estimates on: Capital cost of the water technology.Capital cost of the water technology. The cost of maintenance of land use and water The cost of maintenance of land use and water

technologies.technologies. Estimated and actual financial profits of the Estimated and actual financial profits of the

technology.technology. The increase in production due to the technology.The increase in production due to the technology. Changes in crops produced caused by land Changes in crops produced caused by land

technology.technology. The value of NGO support technology.The value of NGO support technology.

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONSClimate change adaptation farm practices in Swaziland Climate change adaptation farm practices in Swaziland predate climate change adaptation science, and this is based predate climate change adaptation science, and this is based on the dating of these activities, the first Inter-Governmental on the dating of these activities, the first Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment report and the Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment report and the National Climate Change Committee in Swaziland.National Climate Change Committee in Swaziland.Farmer responses have shown that the risks and challenges Farmer responses have shown that the risks and challenges associated with climate change are serious concerns to associated with climate change are serious concerns to farmers. And often the farmers innovate and share farmers. And often the farmers innovate and share technologies horizontally amongst themselves.technologies horizontally amongst themselves.Innovative farmers also reported a wider diversity of crops Innovative farmers also reported a wider diversity of crops including maize and vegetables.including maize and vegetables.Water shortages, crop stresses and droughts are a greater Water shortages, crop stresses and droughts are a greater concern amongst the farmers and climate change scientists. concern amongst the farmers and climate change scientists. Water conservation technologies feature highly in Water conservation technologies feature highly in technologies adopted and in strategies considered by technologies adopted and in strategies considered by scientists.scientists.

RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

Improve the provision of extension Improve the provision of extension education to enlighten farmers about education to enlighten farmers about how to better cope with the challenges how to better cope with the challenges of climate change.of climate change.

It is necessary to prepare farmers so It is necessary to prepare farmers so that they can cope after the withdrawal that they can cope after the withdrawal of support from government and of support from government and partners.partners.

Based the findings presented in the preceding Based the findings presented in the preceding sections and the conclusions above, the following sections and the conclusions above, the following recommendations can therefore be made:recommendations can therefore be made:

IMPLICATIONSIMPLICATIONS While farmers take up farming as a means of earning While farmers take up farming as a means of earning

their livelihoods, some still require external support to their livelihoods, some still require external support to drive them to innovate in their operations.drive them to innovate in their operations.

Whereas the National Climate Change Committee (NCCC) Whereas the National Climate Change Committee (NCCC) has been with the provision of an overall coordination and has been with the provision of an overall coordination and guidance of the development and implementation of a guidance of the development and implementation of a national climate change implementation strategy as well national climate change implementation strategy as well as developing climate adaptation strategies to help as developing climate adaptation strategies to help communities and farmers manage risk and minimize communities and farmers manage risk and minimize climate-driven shocks, the farming community seems to climate-driven shocks, the farming community seems to be ahead.be ahead.

There are invaluable lessons to be learnt from these There are invaluable lessons to be learnt from these innovators, especially with regards to the challenges with innovators, especially with regards to the challenges with the adoption of these technologies; the successes that the adoption of these technologies; the successes that can be expected as well as ways in which they can be can be expected as well as ways in which they can be localised and adapted to deliver particular levels of localised and adapted to deliver particular levels of results.results.