The effect of climate change on the farming business in Nwanedi Irrigation Scheme in Musina Local Municipality, Limpopo Province

Abstract

Nwanedi Irrigation Scheme (NIS) is situated at the far north of Limpopo. It is comprised of both livestock and crop farmers. Currently, the total number of farmers in the scheme is 160. Noteworthy is that the majority of farmers grow and harvest crops. The dominant crop produced in the area is jam tomato with a few of people who cultivate table tomato and other vegetables such as cabbage and eggplant (Mashala, 2013). The irrigation scheme covered an area of about 2000 hectares land, which belongs to the state and part of it belongs to the Communal Property Association (CPA). Moreover, agriculture is considered as one of the most sensitive to weather and climate variables, which include temperature, precipitation, light and weather extremes such as droughts, floods and severe storms. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact brought about by climate change on farming business. Moreover, to evaluate the problems that were associated with climate change that affected farming, crop production and eventually the profit generation at NIS. Considering greenhouse gas emissions, it is believed that they are one of the causes of the change in global climate. Again, most food production means rely on inputs to some or all tillage, seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, feed for animals, pest and disease control. Henceforth, the study has collected primary data. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative paradigms. The 160 crop farmers, as a sample size of 32 (20% of the population) respondents, were randomly selected and interviewed. The study found out that drought was real and had been experienced in NIS. Meanwhile, in crop farming, water is more important just as a growth media such as fertilised soil. Without water, no farming activity could take place. The drought experienced had led farmers not to plant anything on their farms, which meant that no income was generated in the entire drought period. Furthermore, most of the farmers in the area had no alternative means of acquiring water to irrigate their crops. Few farmers who managed to plant had used a very small scale than usual because there was not enough water. Drought affected job loss in the farming business where many employees had to be ceased from coming to work. The study also found that NIS had experienced high temperature, which were never experienced before. Musina is best known for its excessive heat, but the recent heat wave that has been experienced in the area of the study was extreme to a point that crop farming was very difficult because the little moisture in the soil had quickly depleted. Crops could no longer absorb it as it dried up rapidly. Usually, when it is extremely hot, the condition favours pests and diseases. Later, it was found that a new pest referred to as Eelworm (Tuta Tundra), which was not found in the area before had been discovered. Consequently, the introduction of the new pests in the area was a challenge because farmers did not know which insecticides to apply in order to control the manifestation and prevent the damage it caused on the crops, tomato in particular. Eelworm has affected the tomato crop as it damaged the leaves of their plants. That had negatively affected the fruit production. Most farmers who have experienced Eelworm in their tomato fields, had their fruits severely attacked to be unusable.