It is estimated that 19 million people in South Africa are rural survivalists with traditional agrarian lifestyles. At least 15 million individuals of these are living below the poverty level. In contrast farming contributes only 10% of material income for rural livelihoods.

In some villages in the Eastern Cape and Free State province, levels of food security have increased by means of maize and vegetable production in homestead backyard gardens through the technology and practice of in-field rainwater harvesting (IRWH) and conservation. This technique has been developed over fifteen years of on-station and on-farm research. “Through technology exchange the application of IRWH expanded to more than 1 000 households in 42 rural villages around Thaba Nchu” says Water Research Commission Director Dr Gerhard Backeberg in a recent paper [1] presented in Germany, during the 2nd International Seminar International Seminar on “Land Resources and Land Use Options” in July 2009.

In his presentation Backeberg mentioned that the current state of land use at Thaba Nchu is the result of a history of conflicts over legitimate rights and economic means to earn livelihoods. After consultations a participatory process has started to formulate rules that explicitly define the land holding and ensure exclusive use of the land for cultivation. Farmers, who are mostly women, receive skills training and have aspirations to improve livelihoods through more productive farming activities. “The available guide for farmer trainers and facilitators should be implemented for practical skills development to the benefit of women and revitalization of rain-fed farming” says Dr Backeberg.

[1] Backeberg, G.R. (2009). Improving rural livelihoods with rainwater harvesting and conservation on communal croplands in South Africa: opportunities and obstacles. 13 p. Paper presented at: 2nd International Seminar on Land Resources and Land Use Options, 14-16 July 2009, Goettingen, Germany. Read the full paper

Related web site: Multiple Use water Services Group

Contact: Dr Gerhard Backeberg, Water Utilisation in Agriculture, WRC, South Africa, tel.: +27-12-3300340, info@wrc.org.za

Source: Hlengiwe Cele, WRC, 18 Sep 2009

Tags: africa, water and livelihoods, water collection