Smallholder farmer readiness for sustainable land management under the GEF7 project in semi-arid Limpopo Province, South Africa

Unofficial AI-generated summary based on the public title and abstract. Not an official translation.

🔬研究者:Provides a readiness framework and empirical evidence on structural constraints for SLM adoption in semi-arid smallholder systems.

🏢実務担当者:Offers insights for designing extension and training programs to support sustainable land management in smallholder contexts.

🏛政策担当者:Highlights the importance of strengthening extension systems and collective action mechanisms to achieve land degradation neutrality and climate adaptation targets.

Introduction This study examines smallholder farmer readiness for sustainable land management (SLM) under the Global Environment Facility (GEF7) project in semi-arid Limpopo Province, South Africa. Methods Using a mixed-methods approach combining farmer profiling survey, key informant interviews, field observations, and community mapping, we assessed 48 farmers (79.2% female, 37.5% youth) across four readiness dimensions: cognitive, behavioural, structural, and motivational. Results Farming was predominantly rainfed and subsistence-oriented, with most households cultivating <1 ha. Most farmers (85.4%) reported land degradation indicators, primarily soil erosion (54.2%) and declining fertility (52.1%). Climate risks (drought, poor rainfall, heat stress) were identified by 85% of participants, yet access to climate information services was limited. Although 93.8% of farmers had implemented at least one SLM practice, adoption concentrated on low-cost options (manure/compost = 60.4%; crop rotation = 35.4%; agroforestry = 35.4%), while intensive practices such as contouring and controlled grazing remained rare (6.2%). Structural readiness was the primary limitation, i.e. extension access was infrequent (33.3% never accessed), only 35.4% had received SLM training, and collective action mechanisms were absent. Critically, all farmers expressed willingness to adopt improved practices if supported through training, demonstrations, and follow-up. Fisher's Exact Test revealed significant associations between extension access and adoption of agroforestry (p = 0.004) and mulching (p = 0.002). Conclusion We conclude that farmer readiness is high in cognitive and motivational dimensions but constrained by structural deficits. Interventions must prioritize strengthening extension systems, practical training, and community-level coordination to unlock existing readiness and scale SLM in semi-arid communal landscapes.

• openalex https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2026.1872864first seen 2026-07-09 04:59:37