A smallholder level decision support process
improves resilience to climate change
DSS Guiding principles
CRA
learning
group
VSLAs
Marketing
committees
Water
committees
Livestock
associations
Youth
groups
CCA impact
assessments
Adaptive
strategies and
planning
Innovation and
practices
Implementation
Monitoring,
cyclical review
and evalution
Government
departments
Traditional
authority
Wardcommittees
Local
Municipality
Business
community
Academia
Civil
Society
Innovation
platforms –
clusters of LGs
Associations
and
organisations
Multistakeholde
r platforms
CRA learning groups: Process for development of social agency
PRESENT SITUATION
INTERVENTIONS AND PROCESSES TO BUILD
SOCIAL AGENCY
IMPROVED DECISION MAKING AND
GOVERNANCE OUTCOMES
Actions
Jointanalysis
(Outcomes) Actions/Outcomes
Co
-
learning (Outcomes)
Actions/Outcomes
Jointdecision making
(Outcomes)
Focus group discussions and mapping:
socio
-ecological patches
Present situation in land use and
management, including needs and
issues (emerging from discussions)
Focus group discussions/ Thematic workshop:
CC, resource issues (erosion, alien invasion,
wetlands and rivers, water access, grazing
management)
Socio
-
ecological mapping: Impact
of human interventions and
climate on the environment
Adaptive planning workshop using
layered socio ecological maps (expert and
community combined)
Management plan for water and land
resources
Village walks for detailed resource
discussions and mapping (key
informants)
Community workshops on CC impact (social,
economic, farming, resources). Adaptive
strategies (communities and stakeholders
combined)
CC impact and adaptive
strategies
Expert ecological mapping (GIS)
incl
EIA, Veld assessment, water resource
survey etc. (with key informants)
Prioritization of adaptive measures, and
practices
Village based learning groups
Further social organisations develop (
including markeintg, microfinance,
water livestock etc.)
Linked youth groups in resource
management and enterprise development
Experimentation with new practices and
innovations in Climate resilient agriculture
(Individual smallholders and support
organisations)
CRA experimentation and
implementation
Iterative experimentation with CRA
practices to tackle more complex issues,
Improved land use and coordination at
community level
Seasonal review and re
-planning
Stakeholder engagement
- innovation
platforms and multi stakeholder forums
etc
Focus group discussions,individual
interviews
Local structures and decisions
made by them, including factors
that influence individual and
community decision making
(emerging from discussions)
Thematic focus areas: water access and
management , livestock and grazing
management, natural resources management,
Marketing committees , VSLAs
Learning group discussions and
prioritization of urgent issues
Committees discuss, plan and
implement (with support) prioritized
actions in thematic areas
Community level structures develop for
improved governance
-
with broader and
equitable community involvement linked
to local and traditional authorities
Further engagement with stakeholders for
expanded implementation options around
water and resource management
LGs, committees and community
structures engage in resource
management projects with a range of
stakeholders
OUTCOMES
Improved participatory decision making
to support implementation and innovation
Improved governance
- new community
based structures
Improved governance improved rules and
logistics within community based
structures .
Improved governance
- coherent
collaboration with stakeholders and role
players.
Collect and
analyse
information
Identify
options and
implement
Build improved
systems and
social agency
National EbAframework
Smallholder CCA decision support system: individual and facilitated
Activities and
processes
Local good practice
Climate Change
dialogues
Farmerlevel
experimentation to test
practices
CoPs and innovation
platforms
Best practise options
Impacts of CC
Introduction of new
practices and ideas to try
Benchmarking for
visual indicators
Stakeholder
engagements
Adaptive strategies
Learning and mentoring
Materials and
information
Appropriate practices
Assessment ofoutcomes and
impacts
Internet based platform
Cyclical, iterative learning
and implementation
Facilitator-FarmerDecisionSupportSystem
A choice of appropriate,
tested practices and
technologies for
implementation at homestead
and field level across a range
of bioclimatic regions
A locally relevant decision
support system (DSS) for
implementing CRA and SWC
practices in smallholder
farming systems in South
Africa
Baskets of optionsfor use at
community level for
introduction of concepts,
awarenessraisingand
implementation, across a
range of bioclimatic regions
Recommendations for
appropriate knowledge
mediation, learning and
dissemination strategies for
CRA in smallholder farming
systems
A model for community-
based monitoring of CRA
indicators.
The outputs/outcomes ofthe process
•Size
•Resources:
physical,
environmental
•Resources:socio-
economic
•Social/institution
al
•Management
capacity/technol
ogy
Vulnerability
context
•Gardening
•Field cropping
•Livestock
•Trees,incl fruit
Aspiration
•Water
management
•Soil health
management
•Crop
management
•Livestock
management
•Natural
resource
management
Farming
system
•Waterflowmanagement
•Infiltration
•Greywater management
•RWH
•Irrigation
•Soil erosion control
•Increased organic matter
•Microclimate
management
•Crop diversification
(including varieties,
calendars
•Conservation
Agriculture
•Agroforestry
•Livestock integration
Practices
•Labour
•Cost
•Ease-technical
•Productivity
•Soil health
•Wateruse
efficiency
•Knowledge
Prioritization
- criteria
Focusgroupand
individual interviews,
walkabouts
Attendance
registers,
Focusgroup
discussions, individual
prioritization
Link to practices
flow chart
1 page descriptions-PP
DSS outline
FARMINGSYSTEMFARMERSOCIO-ECONOMIC
BACKGROUND
RESOURCES TO MANAGE
SUGGESTED PRACTICES
CONSTRAINED BY
TYPOLOGY, SYSTEM
ENVIRONMENT
RANKED PRACTICES
BASED ON FACILITATOR
RANKED PRACTICES
BASED ON FARMER
FARMER BASED
PRIORITIES
FACILITATOR
BASED PRIORITIES
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
FARMINGSYSTEMFARMERSOCIO-ECONOMIC
BACKGROUND
RESOURCES TO MANAGE
SUGGESTED PRACTICES
CONSTRAINED BY
TYPOLOGY, SYSTEM
ENVIRONMENT
RANKED PRACTICES
BASED ON FACILITATOR
RANKED PRACTICES
BASED ON FARMER
FARMER BASED
PRIORITIES
FACILITATOR
BASED PRIORITIES
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Harvesting
retention
use efficiency
conservation
improvement
Water
Heat
nutrient
disease
Water
Heat
nutrient
disease
crop/tree resistance
and efficiency
Livestock resistance
and efficiency
Resources and management strategies
Water
(quantity)
soil
(fertility)
FARMINGSYSTEMFARMERSOCIO-ECONOMIC
BACKGROUND
RESOURCES TO MANAGE
SUGGESTED PRACTICES
CONSTRAINED BY
TYPOLOGY, SYSTEM
ENVIRONMENT
RANKED PRACTICES
BASED ON FACILITATOR
RANKED PRACTICES
BASED ON FARMER
FARMER BASED
PRIORITIES
FACILITATOR
BASED PRIORITIES
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Foreachsuggestedpractice,scores(1-
3) are provided per theme by
facilitatorconcerning impact on:
•water
•soil
•crop
•Livestock
•Treeandnaturalresources
farmerconcerning need for/benefit
to:
•labour
•investment
•skills
•crop productivity
•watersaving
This helps to identify the practices that have a
higher probability of being adopted or not
Seasonality
diagrams;
rainfall,
heat
Impacts;
reality map
Climate change impacts on livelihoods and farming
KZN
EC
Limpopo
Water
Less water in the landscape; streams and
springs dry up, borehole run dry, soils dry
out quickly after rain
Less water in the landscape; streams and
springs dry up, borehole run dry, soils dry out
quickly after rain
Less water in the landscape; streams and springs dry up,
borehole run dry, soils dry out quickly after rain
Dams dry up
Dams dry up
Dams dry up
Municipal water supply becoming more
unreliable
Municipal water supply becoming more
unreliable
Municipal water supply becoming more unreliable;
Need to buy water for household use
– now sometimes for
more than 6 months of the year
RWH storage only enough for household use.
Soil
More erosion
More erosion
More erosion
Soils becoming more compacted and infertile
Soils becoming more compacted and infertile
Soils becoming more compacted and infertile
Soils too hot to sustain plant growth
Cropping
Timing for planting has changed
- later
Timing for planting has changed
- later
Can no longer plant dryland maize
All cropping now requires irrigation
– even crops such as
sweet potato
Drought tolerant crops such as sorghum and millet grow=
-
but severe bird damage
Heat damage to crops
Heat damage to crops
Heat damage to crops
Reduced germination and growth
Reduced germination and growth
Reduced germination and growth
Seeding of legumes becoming unreliable
Seeding of legumes becoming unreliable
Seeding of legumes becoming unreliable
Lower yields
Lower yields
Lower yields
Winter vegetables don’t do well
-stress induced bolting
and lack of growth
More pests and diseases
More pests and diseases
More pests and diseases
Loss of indigenous seed stocks
Loss of indigenous seed stocks
Livestock
Less grazing; not enough to see cattle
through winter
Less grazing; not enough to see cattle through
winter
Less grazing; not enough to see cattle through winter
More disease in cattle and heat stress
symptoms
More disease in cattle and heat stress
symptoms
More disease in cattle and heat stress symptoms
Fewer calves
Fewer calves
Fewer calves
More deaths
More deaths
More deaths
Climate
Change
impacts as
discussed by
smallholders
Natural resources
Fewer trees; too much cutting for
firewood
Fewer trees; too much cutting for
firewood
Fewer trees; too much cutting for firewood
Decrease in wild animals and indigenous
plants
Decrease in wild animals and indigenous
plants
Decrease in wild animals and indigenous plants
Increased crop damage from wild animals
such as birds and monkeys
Increased crop damage from wild animals
such as birds and monkeys
Increased crop damage from wild animals such
as birds and monkeys
Availability of indigenous vegetables has
decreased
No longer able to harvest any resources due to
scarcity
Increased population puts pressure on resources
Social
More diseases
More diseases
More diseases
Increased poverty and hunger
Increased poverty and hunger
Increased poverty and hunger
Increased crime and reduced job
opportunities
Increased crime and reduced job
opportunities
Increased crime and reduced job opportunities
Increased food prices
Increased conflict
Inability to survive
It feels as if the end of
the world is coming
Wearebeingpunishedby
God for not living
correctly
Climate change is a reality and we
will need to find different ways to
do thing to survive
Climate Change
impacts as
discussed by
smallholders –
continued.
73%
12%
12%
76%
73%
80%
20%
61%
22%
51%
37%
7%
49%
78%
73%
90%
12%
27%
41%
90%
0,1 - 1 ha
1-2 ha
>2ha
Gardens
Field cropping
Livestock, chickens
No,other livelihood activities
Fruit trees
Indigenous plants
Tapwater
Standpipe
Borehole
RWH storage
Electricity
Fencing
Hand tools
Traction; inclanimal
Market access
Localmarkets
Training andadvice
farm
scale
operation
farming
activities
Natur
al
resour
ces HH infrastructure
Farmi
ng
infrast
ructur
e
Livelihoo
ds
Baseline information: Vulnerability assessment
Ezimbovini(KZN) walkabout:– shows heat and
moisture stress in sweet potatoes, garden crops such as
cabbages and CA intercropping trial with maize and
beans
Area
Village
Natlresources/
landscape
Water(manage
and increase
availablewater)
Soil health and
fertility (
incl
Manage soil
movement)
Crops
Livestock
Other
Bergville
Thamela
RWH
Mulching
Savings groups
No previous exposureto
improved practices
Manureand
fertilizer
bulk buying
Bergville
Ezibomvini
Spring protection
Compost
NaturalP&D
control
Plant fodder
CA learning groups; 3
-4yrs
(MDF)
RWHstorage
tanks; Jo
-
Jotanks
Furrows
Conservation
Agriculture
Fodder
supplementation
Infield rainwater
harvesting
Contours
Mulching
Drip kits
Diversion ditches
Tunnels
Greywater;tower
gardens
Stone bunds
Infiltration pits/
banana circles
Small dams
Suggestions for
Natural
resource
management
lag behind for
most groups
DESCRIPTION
-Packstone lineson contours tocontrolwater
movement
- The stones are keyed into a shallow ditch
and larger stones are packed downslope from
the smaller stones to avoid stone lines form
breaking and allow slow movement of water
though the stone lines
-Planting can be done below the stone line as
more water accumulates there, or just above
the stone line in the accumulated silt and soil
-Rainfall: >150mm/year
-Temperature:>5°C
-Topography:0,5%-5%
-Soil: all types – where stones and
rocks are easily available
A view showing the stones keyed into a ditch
with larger stones downslope of the smaller
stones.
Bananas planted below a substantial stone
line
Brinjals planted in accumulated silt above
a garden level stone line
Small stone lines are used to control
run-off form a road and channel water
into the gardens
Stone lines are constructed on contour and can be done at
any scale.
DESCRIPTION
-Stones and sand are placed in a bucket
(20L) for filtration of greywater to be used
in dripping system
-The drip kit is assembled on site making
your own string drippers and choosing
width of lines and spacing of drippers.
-2 lines 30cm apart and 5 m long is good for
a trench bed and provides 4mm of
irrigation.
-Wateringisdoneonadailybasis
A 210l drum drip irrigation system used in a
tunnel
A well functioning string dripper that makes a
wetted circle around the dripper
Mulching thebeds adds to efficient water
management
A bucket drip kit irrigating a 1mx 3m trench
bed with mixed crops
Attaching the dripper lines to the feeder pipe
from the bucket
Making the string drippers
Bucket with stones; a cloth bad of
sand is added on top to complete
the filter
Oaks, Finale,
Lepelle: Impact of CRA practices
SCALE: 1=low; 2 = medium, 3= high (agreement between participants)
CRITERIA
PRACTIC
ES
Easy
to do
More
food
Better
growth
Good
water
man
Better
soil
fertility
Score
Rank
COMMENTS
Trenchbeds
1
3
3
3
3
13
5
Verygoodforgrowth,soilhealth
and water management. The best
practice
- but difficult to dig
Mulching
3
3
3
3
3
15
2
Less irrigation providing more
food
Furrows
2
2
3
3
3
13
4
more moisture, better growth,
carries some fertility in the water
Rockbunds
2
3
3
3
3
14
3
deep irrigation, catches more
fertile soil
Adding
organic
matter to
the soil
3
3
3
3
3
15
1
easier than trench beds
Crop
varieties
1
1
1
1
1
5
7
we donot have theknowledge
-
but
will be easy once we know
Planting
times
2
1
1
1
1
6
6
wouldbe nice to havea calendar
to remember.
PRIORITIZATION OF PRACTICES:
1 CA intercropping
2. Harvesting trad crops; sorghum, jugo beans
3. S&W conservation; stone lines
4. Check dams
5. Shallow trench beds
6. Small dams (lined with bentonite)
7. Mango production; pruning, fertilization
8. Water committees; drilling boreholes
1234 5
678
Resilience indicators
Increase for Limpopo
Increase for KZN
Comment
Increase in size of farming
activities
Gardening; 1%
Field cropping;
– 98%
Livestock; 6%
Gardening
– 18%
Field cropping
– 63%
Livestock
– 31%
Cropping areas measured, no of livestock assessed
Dryland cropping has reduced significantly due to drought
conditions and infertile soil
Increased farming activities
No
No
All involved in gardening, field cropping and livestock
management
Increased season
Yes
Yes
Forfieldcroppingandgardening
- autumn and winter options
Increased crop diversity
Crops: 21 new crops
Practices: 11 new practices
Crops: 12 new crops
Practices: 8 new
practices
Management options include; drip irrigation, tunnels, no
-till
planters, JoJo tanks, RWH drums,
Increased productivity
Gardening; 120%
Field cropping: 15%
Livestock: 6%
Gardening
– 72%
Field cropping
– 79%
Livestock
– 25%
Based on increase in yields (mainly from tunnels and trench
beds for gardening
CA for field cropping
Increased water use efficiency
45%
25%
Access, RWH, water holding capacity and irrigation efficiency
rated
Increased income
13%
13%
Based on average monthly incomes, mostly though marketing of
produce locally and through the organic marketing system
Increased household food
provisioning
Vegetables;7
-10kg/week
Fruit; 5
-10kg/week
Dryland crops (maize,
legumes, sweet potatoes); 5
-
10kg/week
Maize
- 20kg/week
Vegetables
– 7kg/week
Foodproducedandconsumedinthehousehold
Increased savings
Not applicable
R150/month
Averageofsavingsnowundertaken
Increased social agency
(collaborative actions)
2
2
Learning groups, farmer centres, local water committees
Increased informed decision
making
5
5
Own experience, local facilitators, other farmers, facilitators,
extension officers
Positivemindsets
2
-3
2
-3
More to much more positive about the future: Much improved
household food security and food availability
Soil
;
health
and
fertility
Money
;
income
and
savings
Productivity
;
acceptance
of
practice,
saving
in
farming
–
equipment,
labour
Knowledge
;
increased
knowledge
and
ability
to
use
Food
;
how
much
produced
and
how
healthy
Water
;
use
and
access
Social
agency
;
Support,
empower
ment
Total
Conservation
Agriculture
22
21
26
28
18
23
18
156
Savings
6
15
14
15
12
11
15
88
Livestock
19
11
18
7
5
12
11
83
Gardening
14
15
12
13
15
17
21
107
Crop
rotation
16
12
13
12
12
15
10
90
Intercropping
12
13
15
12
11
11
9
83
Small
businesses
11
17
15
10
20
11
9
93
In KZN positive impact of CRA and
associated practices in order of importance:
CA, gardening (tunnels, agroecology) , small
businesses (farmer centres, poultry), savings,
livestock (integration – fodder, health)
Conclusions
Appropriate for partnering
in different contexts
Effective model for
CCA; locally
contextualised and
owned
Inclusion in IDPs, DDM