Smallholder farmers in Limpopo who rely on rainwater are producing more food and farming more consistently thanks to water resilience projects led by the Water Research Commission.
By Levi Letsoko
Through the Giyani Local Scale Climate Resilience Project (GLSCRP) and the Multi-Water Use (MUS) Project, the Water Research Commission (WRC) has helped farmers gain more reliable access to water, making year-round food production possible.
Dr Jennifer Molwantwa, CEO of the WRC, says the initiatives were designed to address the challenges faced by subsistence and black-owned smallholder farmers, particularly those dependent on rainfall.
She says the projects have since been handed over to local authorities to ensure their long-term sustainability.
Community involvement is key to success
Tsogang Water and Sanitation, a non-profit organisation based in Tzaneen, was appointed as one of the implementation partners for the GLSCRP.
According to Thandokuhle Bophela, project coordinator at Tsogang, extensive community engagement helped to ensure the projects were implemented successfully.
She says communities first had to understand the purpose of the projects and the role they would play in ensuring their success.
Both project teams and community members initially expressed concern about the security of newly installed solar-powered infrastructure, as similar initiatives had previously led to mistrust among beneficiaries.
These concerns were effectively addressed through community engagement, Bophela says.
Dr Molwantwa says the impact is evident in communities where water is now available closer to homes and farms, reducing the need for long-distance water collection.
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Climate-smart solutions improve food production
Climate-smart technologies and farming practices introduced through the projects have improved irrigation scheduling, water harvesting, conservation agriculture and water-use efficiency.
These interventions are helping farmers maintain more consistent yields and strengthen local food security.
Dr Molwantwa describes water infrastructure, technology and supportive policies as essential components of a resilient food production system, helping to ensure the availability, access, utilisation and stability of food supplies.
According to Bophela, improved access to water has provided smallholder farmers with support they previously lacked, enabling them to produce food more consistently and sustain their livelihoods.
The projects involved several stakeholders, including the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the office of the premier and water services authorities.
Also read: The future of farming starts with every drop of water – climate-smart solutions farmers can implement
Reliable water strengthens livelihoods
Tshilidzi Florence Negondeni from the Vhembe district is one of the smallholder farmers who have benefited from improved water infrastructure improvements in her community.
She says access to water was previously a major challenge. There was hardly enough water for drinking and bathing, and residents often had to buy water delivered by truck.
The interventions implemented by Tsogang Water and Sanitation have brought new hope to the community, she says.
Also read: Your water could be killing productivity – simple water management tricks every farmer needs to know
New technologies create opportunities
Bophela says technologies such as bag farming and hydroponic systems have generated considerable interest and created income opportunities.
In one case, a farm supported through the project became an important water source for the surrounding community. Following electricity sabotage in the area, community members relied on the farm’s renewable-energy systems to access water from the integrated supply installed on the property.
Through technologies such as hydroponics, wastewater reuse, solar-powered pumps and bag farming systems, the WRC has helped people to farm more productively, while creating income opportunities for more than 2 000 households and smallholder farmers.
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