Murungweni, F. M.Chikoore, H.Mudzanani, Ntsemeni Rainah2024-10-242024-10-242024-09-06Mudzanani, N.R. 2024. Assessing climatic and non-climatic impacts on smallholder maize production in Tshimapha Irrigation Scheme, Limpopo Province. . .https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/2772MENVSCDepartment of Geography and Environmental SciencesGlobally, climatic extremes and non-climatic factors are a major concern due to their emerging and expected impacts on maize production. Climatic extremes come through drought and floods, whilst non-climatic factors include lack of education, poor management, and lack of support. The study evaluated the impacts of climatic extremes and non-climatic factors on the production of maize yield and further examined measures for sustainable production of maize yield in Tshimapha Irrigation Scheme, Limpopo Province of South Africa. The irrigation scheme was established in the 1960s, and today has 115 smallholder farmers, each having 1.5 hectares. Climate data was obtained from the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), South African Weather Services (SAWS) and from literature. Questionnaires were administered among the 115 smallholder farmers. The key informant interviews were conducted among the farmer’s leaders, community leaders and extension officers. The extension officer and smallholder farmers assisted with generating maize yield data. For the first objective, rainfall data was analysed using Mann- Kendall test analysis in R-Studio. Furthermore, Sen’s slope was also done to determine the magnitude of the trend of the rainfall, monthly, seasonal, and yearly and questionnaires were analysed using Microsoft Excel Version 2310. For the second objective, the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) was analysed using rainfall data in Microsoft Excel, and the last objectives were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) by looking at the percentage distribution. The findings of this study indicated an increase in the intensity and amount of rainfall received during flood years, with floods peaking in January and February. The SPI indicated that the area is not prone to severe drought as it is mountainous. The highest production of maize yield was 3.4 tons, with the least being 1 ton per year (based on the available data). Water and land for farming in the scheme were sufficient before the establishment of the Mutshedzi dam, which restricts access to dam water, and the land taken for some of the farmers during the establishment of the dam. This study is in response to national, regional, and global demand for knowledge on how smallholder farmers can adapt to erratic climates and in support of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Number 2. This study can be useful the in working towards alleviating challenges experienced by smallholder farmers in South Africa to ensure sustainability in smallholder production.1 online resource (xii, 76 leaves) : color illustrations, color mapsenUniversity of VendaClimatic extremesDroughtUCTDFloodSDGsSmallholder farmers632.10968257Climatic changes -- South Africa -- LimpopoClimatology -- South Africa -- LimpopoGlobal temperature changes -- South Africa -- LimpopoRainfall anomalies -- South Africa -- LimpopoCorn -- Climatic factorsCorn -- Effect of temperature on -- South Africa -- LimpopoFarms, Small -- South Africa -- LimpopoFarms, Size of -- South Africa -- LimpopoAgriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- LimpopoFarm management -- South Africa -- LimpopoFarms, Large -- South Africa -- LimpopoClimatic extremes -- South Africa -- LimpopoClimatic normals -- South Africa -- LimpopoCorn - Effect of Global warming on -- South Africa -- LimpopoDissertationMudzanani NR. Assessing climatic and non-climatic impacts on smallholder maize production in Tshimapha Irrigation Scheme, Limpopo Province. []. , 2024 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from:Mudzanani, N. R. (2024). <i>Assessing climatic and non-climatic impacts on smallholder maize production in Tshimapha Irrigation Scheme, Limpopo Province</i>. (). . Retrieved fromMudzanani, Ntsemeni Rainah. <i>"Assessing climatic and non-climatic impacts on smallholder maize production in Tshimapha Irrigation Scheme, Limpopo Province."</i> ., , 2024.TY - Dissertation AU - Mudzanani, Ntsemeni Rainah AB - Globally, climatic extremes and non-climatic factors are a major concern due to their emerging and expected impacts on maize production. Climatic extremes come through drought and floods, whilst non-climatic factors include lack of education, poor management, and lack of support. The study evaluated the impacts of climatic extremes and non-climatic factors on the production of maize yield and further examined measures for sustainable production of maize yield in Tshimapha Irrigation Scheme, Limpopo Province of South Africa. The irrigation scheme was established in the 1960s, and today has 115 smallholder farmers, each having 1.5 hectares. Climate data was obtained from the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), South African Weather Services (SAWS) and from literature. Questionnaires were administered among the 115 smallholder farmers. The key informant interviews were conducted among the farmer’s leaders, community leaders and extension officers. The extension officer and smallholder farmers assisted with generating maize yield data. For the first objective, rainfall data was analysed using Mann- Kendall test analysis in R-Studio. Furthermore, Sen’s slope was also done to determine the magnitude of the trend of the rainfall, monthly, seasonal, and yearly and questionnaires were analysed using Microsoft Excel Version 2310. For the second objective, the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) was analysed using rainfall data in Microsoft Excel, and the last objectives were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) by looking at the percentage distribution. The findings of this study indicated an increase in the intensity and amount of rainfall received during flood years, with floods peaking in January and February. The SPI indicated that the area is not prone to severe drought as it is mountainous. The highest production of maize yield was 3.4 tons, with the least being 1 ton per year (based on the available data). Water and land for farming in the scheme were sufficient before the establishment of the Mutshedzi dam, which restricts access to dam water, and the land taken for some of the farmers during the establishment of the dam. This study is in response to national, regional, and global demand for knowledge on how smallholder farmers can adapt to erratic climates and in support of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Number 2. This study can be useful the in working towards alleviating challenges experienced by smallholder farmers in South Africa to ensure sustainability in smallholder production. DA - 2024-09-06 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen KW - Climatic extremes KW - Drought KW - Flood KW - SDGs KW - Smallholder farmers LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2024 T1 - Assessing climatic and non-climatic impacts on smallholder maize production in Tshimapha Irrigation Scheme, Limpopo Province TI - Assessing climatic and non-climatic impacts on smallholder maize production in Tshimapha Irrigation Scheme, Limpopo Province UR - ER -