Smallholder Irrigation and Rural Livelihoods in Limpopo Province of South Africa: What is the Contribution to Household Food Security and Income?

This paper examines the contribution of smallholder irrigation farming to household income and food security of rural households in Limpopo Province of South Africa. The study compared livelihoods of irrigating and non-irrigating households. Data analysis employed semi-parametric propensity score matching methods. The respondents were mainly men older than 55-years. Irrigators grew a wider variety of crops in a year compared to non-irrigators and grew crops throughout the year. Irrigators had the highest proportion of households reporting always having enough food (29%) while home-gardener households reported not having enough food most of the time (40%). Income from farm produce constituted 39% of total household income for irrigators while non-irrigators relied on salaries and wages (59%). Irrigators had a stronger asset base compared to non-irrigators, partly explaining disparities in household income and food security. The PSM method showed that irrigation access increased household income and that irrigators were at least 57% more likely to be food secure than non-irrigators. These findings provided sufficient evidence that smallholder irrigation farming makes a significant contribution to rural livelihoods, a strong motivation for continued investment in smallholder irrigation farming. This contribution of smallholder irrigation farming to rural livelihoods can be enhanced by implementing policies that promote female participation in irrigation farming and equip farmers with entrepreneurial skills. Increasing the capital base of rural people should form part of a comprehensive strategy to empower rural households. The study contributes to the core of the African development debate on the importance of smallholder irrigation farming to rural livelihoods.