Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Drivers and Barriers to the Adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Technologies by Smallholder Farmers in South Africa : the Role of Technology Characteristics and Business Models

Auteur : Senyolo, Mmapatla Preciou

Université de soutenance : Wageningen University

Grade : Doctor 2020

Résumé partiel
Globally, there is a recognition of the need to reconcile environmental protection, invest in smallholder agriculture, reduce carbon emissions, improve food production and productivity and reduce vulnerability to the predicted impacts of climate change. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), agriculture forms part of the local economies. The agricultural sector is a source of food security and livelihood for many poor people in rural communities, making it necessary to safeguard livelihoods of rural smallholder farmers. Nevertheless, smallholder agriculture in Southern Africa is extremely vulnerable to climate variability and change, for instance extreme weather events such as floods, drought and heat waves. South Africa’s agricultural sector faces a scarcity of water, which will increase as a result of climate change. About two-thirds of South Africa is arid or semi-arid, which means that efficient management of water resources is a national priority. Numerous researchers in South Africa indicated existing and potential water-related impacts of climate change, thereby warranting exploration of interventions required to reduce the consumption and to manage supply in order to safeguard water security for the agricultural sector. A proposed means promoted as way to address these challenges is Climate smart agriculture (CSA), aimed at achieving sustainable agricultural development for food security under climate change. CSA technologies at farm level have the potential to address these challenges but they are not adequately adopted. Sufficient insights are needed on barriers to adoption and how those barriers influence the adoption of potential technologies and practices. Understanding technologies and practices that farmers favour or disfavour regardless of their struggle to adapt to extreme weather events associated with climate change and variability is crucial to inform transformation of Africa’s agriculture in the face of climate change. This thesis, therefore, argues that data on CSA in the context of South Africa is also necessary to foster CSA take-off on the African continent. Considering this argument and knowledge gap, this thesis posed the following general research question : What restricts the adequate adoption of high potential CSA technologies in South Africa and how can adoption of CSA technologies by the smallholder farmers be enhanced ?

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ProQuest