Determinants of Agricultural Efficiency of Farmers on Small-scale Irrigation Schemes in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa: A Case Study of Qamata and Tyefu Irrigation Schemes
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Abstract
Although revitalisation of small-scale irrigation schemes in rural South Africa is thought to be among the crucial development pathways for millions of people, most of the established small-scale irrigation schemes are reported to be underutilized and abandoned. Information regarding the performance of these irrigation schemes is constantly needed for designing policies that target increased food security and poverty eradication in rural South Africa. This paper established the technical, allocative and economic efficiency levels and determinants thereof of small-scale farmers nearby and at Qamata and Tyefu irrigation schemes in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The paper employed the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach to estimate the technical, allocative and economic efficiency levels of farmers. At least 108 small-scale irrigators and 50 homestead food gardeners were interviewed as a source of primary data. The findings of this study indicated that small-scale irrigators were significantly (at 10% level) more technically and economically efficient (T.E = 0.620 and E.E = 0.434 scores) compare to homestead food gardeners (T.E = 564 and E.E = 0.383 scores). Generally, allocative efficiency results for both Small-scale irrigators (A.E = 0.694 scores) and homestead food gardeners (A.E = 0.670 scores) indicated an over-expenditure on variable agro-inputs. Determinants of small-scale irrigators’ maize production efficiency were related to human capital (Farming experience, education level, and access to training) and commercialization level of maize produced. Off farm incomes earned was the main determinant of homestead food gardeners’ maize production efficiency. Therefore, for meaningful revitalisation and performance of small-scale irrigation schemes in South Africa, formulation and implementation of participatory policies geared towards improved quality of human capital among small-scale irrigators, access to agribusiness training and increased access to agro-markets need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Keywords
DEA Approach; Technical efficiency; Allocative Efficiency; Economic Efficiency; small-scale irrigators; South Africa
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