i-fls-n .M ii-" r •• fJx AN INVESTIGATION INTQ FOOD PLO.., T PRODUCTION AT IRRIGATION SCHEMES IN CENTRAL EASTERN W van Averbeke • CK M'Marete COJgodan • A Belete WRC Report No. 719/1/98 Water Research Commission AN INVESTIGATION INTO FOOD PLOT PRODUCTION AT IRRIGATION SCHEMES IN CENTRAL EASTERN CAPE W van Averbeke, CK M'Marete, CO Igodan & A Belete Report to the WATER RESEARCH COMMISSION on the project entitled: "An investigation into food plot production at irrigation schemes in central Eastern Cape" by the Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural and Rural Development Research Institute (ARDRI) University of Fort Hare WRC Report No: 719/1/98 ISBN No: 1 86845 334 0 Disclaimer This report emanates from a project financed by the Water Research Commission (WRC) and is approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the WRC or the members of the project steering committee, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation foi use. Printed by Silowa Printers FOREWORD In 1994 the Water Research Commission invited the University of Fort Hare to renew its involvement in water-related research and make use of the Water Research Commission's research fund. The intention of the invitation was to explore the potential for the development of a centre of expertise in water-related research at the University of Fort Hare. The University responded by submitting two research proposals, one of which proposed an investigation into food plot production on irrigation schemes in central Eastern Cape. Conceived as a short one-year project the study ultimately took two years to reach report stage. Still, the study is not really complete. Readers will observe that the report mainly deals with differences between schemes using "average farmer values" to represent each scheme, and tends to be silent on variability among farmers within each scheme. The data enabling assessment of in-scheme variability were collected but the analysis has not yet been conducted. It is the intention to communicate the results of an analysis of in-scheme variability among farmers by means of future journal publications. Responsibility for the project rested with a team of principal researcher, consisting initially of five and later in the project of four members of academic stan; each representing a discipline considered important to aspects of the study. The leadership provided by a multi-disciplinary team contributed to the breadth of the study. Field work was conducted mainly by ARDRI staff and young unemployed graduates and diplomates hired for this purpose using project funds. The research contributed in a major way to capacity building and has subsequently assisted two of the four hired researchers to secure permanent employment and encouraged a third to further bis studies. The capacity building aspect of the project was an important benefit to field researchers and also to some members of the management team. The work itself has been a resource to suppliers of information and decision makers who have been giving their attention to the future of Eastern Cape agricultural parastatals and the projects they manage. Some of the issues raised by these groupings had an influence on the analysis and interpretation of the study results. The team of researchers and support staff that have contributed to the study is presented. 11 Project co-ordination and principal researchers The project was co-ordinated by W van Averbeke and the principal researchers consisted of the following members: Dr W Van Averbeke: Acting Director ARDRI Prof. CO Igodan: Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Professor in the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Mr CK M'Marete Department of Agronomy Dr A Belete Department of Agricultural Economics Within the project team the responsibilities were allocated as follows: Prof. CO Igodan: Human, social and institutional factors Dr A Belete: Economic and financial factors Mr CK M'Marete: Infrastructural factors and irrigation Mr JLH Williams: Extension and data analysis by computer Dr D Eaton: Extension and data analysis by computer Dr W Van Averbeke: Physical factors, land tenure and agricultural practices, historical factors, team and project coordination and editing of the final report Field work Field work for the questionnaire survey was conducted by Ms P Mei (field team leader), Ms JV Mafu, Ms F Blie, Mr S Tuwana and Ms T Nqodi. Data capture Capturing of the questionnaire data was done by Ms JV Mafu and Ms T Nqodi, who also assisted in data analysis. Miss P Mei, Ms JV Mafu and Ms T Nqodi contributed to the study by conducting selected literature searches and by compiling some of the sections of the report. Support services and compilation of reports Ms NE Jawe of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development was responsible for typing the first and second progress reports. Mr S Yoganathan of ARDRI compiled the draft final report. Mrs EM Danckwerts (ARDRI) assisted by Ms NH Ngcuka (ARDRI) compiled the final report. ut ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The research in this report emanated from a project funded by the Water Research Commission entitled: "An investigation into food plot production at irrigation schemes in central Eastern Cape." The Steering Committee responsible for this project consisted of the following persons; Dr GR Backeberg Water Research Commission (Chairperson) MrFPMarais Water Research Commission (Secretary) Mr DS Van Der Merwe Water Research Commission Prof MC Laker University of Pretoria Prof M Lyne University of Natal MrGJDeWaal Development Bank Southern Africa Prof CJ Van Rooyen University of Pretoria Dr S Walker University of Free State Mrs V Kwaru Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs (Eastern Cape) The financing of the project by the Water Research Commission and the contribution of the Members of the Steering Committee is acknowledged gratefully. This project was made possible as a result of the co-operation of many individuals and institutions. The authors, therefore, wish to record their sincere thanks to the following: Mr B Phillips, Mr S Farrow and Mr M Copeland and their staff at Ulimocor Head Office who contributed in a major way to the desk study by providing access to information and allowing one of the project researchers to make use of the Ulimocor facilities to study and capture this information. Mr M Fihla and the Ulimocor staff at Tyefu Irrigation Scheme for assisting with research work at the scheme. Mr F Van Aardt and Mr A Longo and the Ulimocor staff at Horseshoe Irrigation for their interest and support towards the study. Mr D Bosman and the Ulimocor staff at Zanyokwe Irrigation Scheme for technical information on the scheme. The management and extension staff at Shiloh Irrigation Scheme for assisting with organizing meetings with farmers and their interaction with the research team. IV The Executive members of the Hertzog Agricultural Cooperative for their interest and cooperation in the study. The Chairperson and executive members of the Upper Gxulu cooperative for assisting the research team in conducting work at the Scheme. A special thanks is due to all the farmers at the Tyefu, Keiskammahoek (Upper Gxulu), Shiloh, HACOP, Horseshoe and Zanyokwe (Lenye) Irrigation Schemes, who willingly gave the research team some of their valuable time to respond to the questionnaire. It i"s sincerely hoped that this report will contribute in some way to progress at their schemes. The research team is also most grateful to Dr GR Backeberg, Prof M Lyne and Mr GJ De Waal for the valuable information they supplied the team with in times of need. Their interest and active support are sincerely appreciated. An investigation into food plot production at irrigation schemes in central Eastern Cape Executive summary 1. ,i Introduction Irrigation schemes in former Ciskei and Transkei did not bring about the expected social and economic development. This raises doubts about irrigation being a suitable option for rural development in these regions. Internationally, on the other hand, irrigated agriculture is still recommended as an appropriate way of addressing rural poverty and unemployment in areas where sustained rainfed production of crops is limited by water deficits (Upton, 1996). Land reform is an integral part of the rural development policy of the South African Government. In a rural context, providing access to land will bring about economic development only when it is accompanied by productive use of the acquired land resources by the new holders. Providing rural households with access to small parcels of irrigated land is one of the models that could be considered by the South African land reform programme. One of the main apparent advantages of the food plot scheme model is that relatively small areas of land can be of benefit to a large number of households. This enables distribution of the capital expense incurred in the development of an irrigation scheme over a substantial group of beneficiaries. At present, little is known about the factors influencing food plot production and about the benefits food plot holding households derive from their plots. For this reason the present study was initiated. 2. Objectives of the study and the research approach The objectives of the study were: * To determine the physical, infrastructural, economic, institutional and social factors of food plot production at irrigation schemes in central Eastern Cape. * To analyse and assess the above factors, including economic feasibility, in order to identify potential practical applications of these to irrigation scheme planning. * To formulate guidelines for irrigated food plot policy. These objectives were pursued by means of an investigation consisting of two phases. During the first phase secondary sources of information were consulted with a view of identifying the range of factors that influence food plot production. This information was updated by means of field visits and interviews with key informants.