The study examined the impact of small scale irrigation technology in crop production under Ncora areas of Cofimvaba. To achieve the objective of the study, data were collected from 212 farmers engaged in various crop enterprises under the Ncora. The farmers were randomly selected. Descriptive Statistics, DEA model, linear regression model and gross margin analysis were used to analyse the results obtained from the survey. The descriptive results showed that Ncora farmers are small-scale farmers cultivating small hectare of land and using simple farm tools, mainly using furrow irrigation. Furthermore, they produce more than one crop enterprises. The gross margin Analysis shows that Ncora cultivation is profitable. The most profitable crop was found to be maize than potatoes. Farm production function revealed that land, labour and purchased inputs had a positive relationship with the output of the enterprises. SPSS was used to run data for linear regression model (OLS). It was suggested that extension services and private organizations assist farmers especially the emerging ones via provision of training, processing and storage facilities. Furthermore, continuous monitoring of soil and water quality as well as ground water table was recommended, in order to ensure sustainability of Ncora irrigation in the area.

Although several studies have investigated on commercial farmers’ risk preferences, there is still lack of information on the risk attitudes and risk preferences of smallholder farmers in South Africa. Risks associated with the adoption of new agricultural technology need to be explored in order to address the transition from homestead food gardening to smallholder irrigated farming. This study seeks to understand risk perception of smallholder irrigation farmers by linking constraints to commercialisation, adoption of new agricultural technologies and risk preferences of smallholder farmers in the former Ciskei Homelands of the Eastern Cape. A total of 101 respondents were surveyed, consisting of 38 smallholder farmers and 63 homestead food gardeners in the Eastern Cape. Questionnaires were used to record household activities, socio-economic and institutional data as well as household demographics through personal interviews. The probit results indicated that older farmers are less risk averse thus more willing to take risk. The risk analysis indicates that farmers who are employed elsewhere are more willing to take risk as income is playing a major role in risk preferences. The results also prove that factors such as tenure system and years in farming have a major influence on farmers’ decision to take risk and adopt new agricultural technology. According to the multi-logit model the major factors influencing technology adoption and risk taking are household size, water rate and type of irrigation system used by the farmers. This study provides useful practical insights for policy makers, farm advisers and researchers in the design of effective and efficient policies, programmes and projects which can affect the adoption of technology, increase smallholder farmers capacity to manage risk and drive growth in the food market.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Horticulture)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / The South African Agricultural Sector has a mandate to reduce water use so that water can be available for other economic sectors. Thus, various water saving techniques must be continuously investigated in agricultural production to find efficient water use technique that saves water without compromising fresh fruit quality. Therefore, combined effect of irrigation method, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and cold storage temperature on postharvest quality of ‘Hass’ avocado fruit was evaluated. Postharvest attributes of fruit colour, flesh firmness, ripening percentage, respiration, weight loss, body rot, stem end-rot, vascular browning, chilling injury and electrolyte leakage were assessed for 2 x irrigation methods [Full irrigation (FI) and Partial root-zone drying (PRD)], 2 x 1-methylcyclopropene (300 ng/L 1-MCP and untreated) and 2 x storage temperature (2.0 and 5.5°C) treatments. An interaction between the three treatments did not significantly (P > 0.05) influence fruit colour, flesh firmness, ripening percentage, fruit weight loss, body rot, stem end-rot, vascular browning, chilling injury and electrolyte leakage. Their combined effect was only significant (P = 0.019) on ‘Hass’ fruit respiration rate. The combination of full and PRD irrigation, 1-MCP and low storage temperature (2.0°C) did not negatively affect fruit quality. However, fruit stored at 2.0°C without 1-MCP treatment were affected by chilling injury when compared with fruit stored at 5.5°C. In conclusion, due to the inconclusiveness of results obtained, further studies, on the effect of these treatments especially under 5.5°C storage temperature should be carried out prior recommending the combination treatment for export markets. / Agricultural Research Council-Tropical and Subtropical Crops (ARC-TSC) and Agricultural Sector Education Training Authority (AgriSeta)

Thesis (Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / Various types of management practices/institutional arrangements of the irrigation schemes exist in the world. According to the principles delineated in literatures, these irrigation schemes are categorized in terms of their management practices. The study was designed to compare the level of technical efficiency of farmers at different management practices of the irrigation schemes (i.e. integrated, specialised and multipurpose water management practices of the irrigation schemes) in Limpopo Province. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire which was administered on 200 farmers at different irrigation schemes. Stochastic frontier production function of Cobb-Douglas type was employed to analyse the data and thereby ascertain the level of technical efficiency and its determinants. The results indicated the mean technical efficiency of 0.74, 0.72 and 0.76 for the integrated, specialised and multipurpose water management practices of the irrigation schemes respectively which implied that, there is a greater scope to increase maize, tomato, onion and spinach production with the current technology and resources available at the irrigation schemes. The most important contributors in maize, tomato, onion and spinach production efficiencies were seed, fertilizer, capital and land. Thus an appropriate amount of seed, fertilizer, capital and land could increase the productivity of maize, tomato, onion and spinach. The results further revealed that education level of farmers, age of the farmers and land size were negatively significant toward the technical inefficiency of farmers at different irrigation schemes, which imply that an increase in any of the three variables will reduce the inefficiency and enhance the efficiency. While the family size of the farmer was positively significant, which implies that the bigger the family size, the higher the inefficiency farmers would become for the production of maize, tomato, onion and spinach. Gender and income level of the farmers at different irrigation schemes were revealed to be insignificant toward the inefficiency. The institutional arrangements or the management practice of the irrigation schemes showed slight differences in affecting the efficiency of farmers at different irrigation schemes. Policies designed to educate famers at different irrigation schemes through proper agricultural extension services could have a great impact in increasing the level of efficiency and hence maize, tomato, onion and spinach productivities. The Department of Agriculture should allocate more funds to strengthening the extension directorate and expanding the delivery of extension services to farmers at different irrigation schemes. Irrigation schemes were established in order to insure food security, alleviate poverty, job creation, among others. Therefore, it is of paramount importance for the government of South Africa in collaboration with the private sector to revitalise the irrigation schemes in Limpopo Province irrespective of the institutional arrangements. It is of vital concern for the policy makers to focus on the benefits of economies of scale in agricultural farming system. Therefore, land size should be increased for the farmers in integrated water management practice of the irrigation schemes to an optimum level in order for them to improve the level of technical efficiency.

Thesis(Ph.D. Agriculture (Soil Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Due to high incidents of drought in the semi-arid regions of Limpopo Province, South Africa, the potential feasibility of using treated wastewater for irrigating vegetable crops had been researched and developed under the best practices of Natuurboerdery farming system. The investigation aimed at the development of soil and plant health management strategies for crops irrigated with treated wastewater that could ameliorate the ever-increasing demand for fresh irrigation water in the Province. Seven specific objectives, reduced to three overall objectives under Natuurboedery farming system were intended to investigate (1) the chemical and biological quality of treated wastewater used in irrigation with respect to disposal points and sampling period, (2) the responses of soil physico-chemical properties, heavy metal distribution and biological-soil-health indicators to irrigation with treated wastewater under field conditions and (3) the partitioning of cations and heavy metals in root, stem and leaf tissues of onion, tomato and a selected weed plant irrigated with treated wastewater. In each objective, unless otherwise stated, treatment effects were described at the probability level of 5%. In Objective 1, relative to the borehole water, treated wastewater had lower concentration of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cl, HCO3 - , SO4 - , Zn, Cr and Pb, with temporal and spatial tendencies in accumulation of certain elements. In contrast, the treated wastewater had higher loads of pathogenic microbes that included bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Vibrio spp.), protozoa (Entamoeba histolytica) and two helminths (Schistosoma mansoni; Ascaris lumbricoides), with temporal and spatial tendencies. In Objective 2, Al and Cr tended to be high in deeper soil layers (60-100 cm), whereas most essential nutrient elements and essential heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn, As, Cr and Pb) were contained in the upper soil levels (0-40 cm). The upper soil levels were also characterised by having substantial attributes of root health, namely, soil organic carbon, active carbon and potentially mineralisable nitrogen. In Objective 3, root, stem and leaf tissues of horseweed (Conyza canadensis L.), onion (Allium cepa L.) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants had different accumulation abilities for different metals, except for As. Contrary to the expectation, the onion bulb contained less test cations and heavy metals. In conclusion, in terms of chemical component at the time of sampling, as depicted from the water and soil samples, the treated wastewater was suitable for irrigation. However, in terms of pathogenic microbes, the treated wastewater was not suitable for irrigating crops intended for human consumption due to significantly higher loads than the permissible standards. Amongst all observed challenges, the reduction of pathogenic microbes should be given priority since it contravened existing national and international standards for using treated wastewater for in irrigation of crops intended for human consumption. / National Research Foundation (NRF)

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2014 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of the study was to determine combined effects of irrigation and canopy management practices on grapevine water status, growth, yield and juice characteristics. The field study was carried out with Shiraz/110R grapevines in the Breede River Valley. Grapevines were drip irrigated at 30%, 60% and 90% plant available water (PAW) depletion, respectively. For each PAW level, grapevines had (i) suckered, vertical shoot positioned (VSP), (ii) non-suckered, VSP and (iii) sprawling canopies. Treatments were replicated three times in a randomised block design and applied during the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons. Irrigation applied at low PAW depletion levels, i.e. high frequency irrigation, required substantially higher irrigation volumes compared to high depletion levels, i.e. low frequency irrigation. Low frequency irrigation increased grapevine water constraints compared to high frequency irrigation. Sprawling canopy grapevines experienced more water constraints than VSP grapevines. Grapevines irrigated at 90% PAW depletion experienced strong water constraints. Low frequency irrigation seemed to accelerate berry ripening compared to high frequencies, probably due to smaller berries and lower yields. Sprawling canopies consistently enhanced berry ripening due to more sunlight interception by the leaves. Berry ripening of VSP grapevines was slower, but inconsistent between seasons. Level of PAW depletion and canopy management practice did not affect number of leaves per primary shoot. Low frequency irrigation reduced number of leaves per secondary shoot. Leaf number per shoot contributed more to total leaf area than leaf size. Level of PAW depletion did not affect number of shoots per grapevine. Suckering reduced number of shoots per grapevine. Low frequency irrigation reduced total leaf area per grapevine compared to high frequency irrigation. Effects of canopy management practice were more pronounced in the case of high frequency irrigation compared to low frequency irrigation. At pruning, primary cane length was not affected by level of PAW depletion or canopy management practice. Secondary cane mass and diameter were not affected by canopy management practice. Multiple linear regression showed that cane mass was a function of cane length and diameter. Low frequency irrigation reduced berry mass compared to high frequency irrigation, irrespective of canopy management practice. However, at harvest there was no difference in berry mass between 30% and 60% PAW depletion. Low irrigation The objective of the study was to determine combined effects of irrigation and canopy management practices on grapevine water status, growth, yield and juice characteristics. The field study was carried out with Shiraz/110R grapevines in the Breede River Valley. Grapevines were drip irrigated at 30%, 60% and 90% plant available water (PAW) depletion, respectively. For each PAW level, grapevines had (i) suckered, vertical shoot positioned (VSP), (ii) non-suckered, VSP and (iii) sprawling canopies. Treatments were replicated three times in a randomised block design and applied during the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons. Irrigation applied at low PAW depletion levels, i.e. high frequency irrigation, required substantially higher irrigation volumes compared to high depletion levels, i.e. low frequency irrigation. Low frequency irrigation increased grapevine water constraints compared to high frequency irrigation. Sprawling canopy grapevines experienced more water constraints than VSP grapevines. Grapevines irrigated at 90% PAW depletion experienced strong water constraints. Low frequency irrigation seemed to accelerate berry ripening compared to high frequencies, probably due to smaller berries and lower yields. Sprawling canopies consistently enhanced berry ripening due to more sunlight interception by the leaves. Berry ripening of VSP grapevines was slower, but inconsistent between seasons. Level of PAW depletion and canopy management practice did not affect number of leaves per primary shoot. Low frequency irrigation reduced number of leaves per secondary shoot. Leaf number per shoot contributed more to total leaf area than leaf size. Level of PAW depletion did not affect number of shoots per grapevine. Suckering reduced number of shoots per grapevine. Low frequency irrigation reduced total leaf area per grapevine compared to high frequency irrigation. Effects of canopy management practice were more pronounced in the case of high frequency irrigation compared to low frequency irrigation. At pruning, primary cane length was not affected by level of PAW depletion or canopy management practice. Secondary cane mass and diameter were not affected by canopy management practice. Multiple linear regression showed that cane mass was a function of cane length and diameter. Low frequency irrigation reduced berry mass compared to high frequency irrigation, irrespective of canopy management practice. However, at harvest there was no difference in berry mass between 30% and 60% PAW depletion. Low irrigation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doelwit van hierdie studie was om die gekombineerde effek van besproeiing en lowerbestuurspraktyke op wingerd waterstatus, groei, opbrengs en druiwesap eienskappe te bepaal. Die veld studie is uitgevoer met Shiraz/110R wingerdstokke in die Breede Rivier Vallei. Wingerdstokke was d.m.v. drupbesproeiing teen 30%, 60% en 90% plant beskikbare water (PBW) ontrekking, onderskeidelik besproei. Vir elke PBW ontrekkingspeil, was wingerdstokke (i) gesuier en vertikale lootposisionering toegepas, (ii) ongesuier en vertikale lootposisionering toegepas en (iii) geen lowerbestuur toegepas nie (lowers wat oophang). Behandelings is drie keer in ‘n ewekansige blokontwerp herhaal en tydens die 2011/12 en 2012/13 seisoene toegepas. Besproeiing wat teen ‘n lae PBW ontrekkingspeil toegedien is, d.w.s. hoë frekwensie besproeiing, vereis aansienlik hoër besproeiings volumes i.v.m. hoë besproeiing ontrekkingspeile, d.w.s. lae frekwensie besproeiing. Wingerdstokke wat oopgehang het meer watertekorte as vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke ervaar. Wingerdstokke wat teen 90% PBW ontrekking besproei was, het sterk watertekorte ervaar. Dit het voorgekom of lae frekwensie besproeiing korrelrypwording versnel het i.v.m. hoë frekwensie besproeiing. Dit was heelwaarskynlik a.g.v. kleiner korrels en laer opbrengste. Wingerdstokke wat oophang het, het konsekwent korrelrypwording versnel a.g.v. meer sonligonderskepping deur die blare. Korrelrypwording van vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke was stadiger, maar teenstrydig tussen die seisoene. Plant beskikbare water ontrekkingspeil en lowerbestuurspraktyke het geen invoeld gehad op die aantal blare per primêre loot nie. Lae frekwensie besproeiing het die aantal blare per sekondêre loot verminder. Die hoeveelheid blare per loot het ‘n groter bygedra gemaak i.v.m. blaar grootte. Plant beskikbare water ontrekkingspeil het geen invloed gehad op die aantal lote per wingerdstok nie. Suier verminder die aantal lote per wingerdstok. Lae frekwensie besproeiing verminder die totale blaar oppervlak i.v.m. hoë frekwensie besproeiing. Die effek van lowerebestuurspraktyke is duideliker sigbaar by hoë frekwensie besproeiing i.v.m. lae frekwensie besproeiing. Primêre lootlengte was nie deur PBW ontrekkingspeil of lowerbestuurspraktyke beïnvloed nie. Sekondêre lootmassa en -deursnit is nie deur lowerbestuurspraktyk beïnvloed nie. Meervoudige lineêre regressie het getoon dat lootmassa ‘n funksie van lootlengte en -deursnit was. Lae frekwensie besproeiing het korrelmassa verminder ongeag die lowerbestuurspraktyk i.v.m. hoë frekwensie besproeiing. Daar was egter geen verskil in korrelmassa by oes tussen 30% en 60% PBW ontrekking nie. Lae frekwensie besproeiing was geneig om suiker akkumulasie te versnel i.v.m. hoë frekwensie besproeiing. Wingerdstokke wat oopgehang het, het veral by lae frekwensie besproeiing korrelrypwording versnel i.v.m. vertikaal lootgeposisioneeide wingerdstokke. Suikerinhoud per korrel het geneig om toe te neem totdat dit ‘n plato bereik het. Hierdie plato was meer prominent by hoë frekwensie besproeiing i.v.m. lae frekwensie besproeiing. Wingerdstokke wat oopgehang het, het ook hierdie plato vroeër bereik i.v.m. vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke. By oes was die totale titreerbare suur (TTS) hoër vir wingerdstokke wat vroeër geoes was. As gevolg van versnelde rypwording was TTS van wingerdstokke wat teen lae frekwensie besproei is hoër i.v.m. hoë frekwensie besproeiing. ‘n Ligter oeslading in verhouding tot ‘n hoër blaaroppervlak het ook gelei tot hoër TTS by oes. Plant beskikbare water ontrekkingspeil en lowerbestuurspraktyke het geen invloed op die pH gehad met oes nie. Die hoeveelheid trosse per wingerdstok het nie duidelike tendense gewys wat verbind kon word met watertekorte wat deur die stokke ervaar is nie. Gesuierde vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke het die hoeveelheid trosse per stok verminder i.v.m. die ongesuierde vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke en wingerstokke wat oopgehang het. Trosmassa het dieselfde tendense as korrels per tros gevolg. Lae frekwensie besproeiing het opbrengs aansienlik verminder i.v.m. hoë frekwensie besproeiing. Gesuierde vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke het geneig om opbrengste te verminder i.v.m. ongesuierde vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke. Hierdie effek het egter verdwyn waar wingerdstokke teen 90% PBW ontrekking besproei was. Druif skade a.g.v. suurvrot was meer prominent by hoë frekwensie besproeiing, veral vir ongesuierde vertikaal lootgeposisioneerde wingerdstokke. Total opbrengs verlies, uitgedruk as ‘n persentasie, was hoofsaaklik ‘n funksie van sonbrand eerder as ‘n funksie van suurvrot.

D. Tech. Engineering: Civil. / Aims to map and model the salinity trends in Vaal Harts irrigation schemes in Jan Kempdorp, Northern Cape Province of South Africa using Landsat SRS, GIS computational tools (IDRIS and ERDAS). The resulted maps and models will aid the effective management of salinity problem and thereby minimizing its occurrence in the future through planning and policy formulation, on the irrigation scheme within the context of environmental sustainability.

The goal of this study was to determine the nature and factors influencing smallholder farmers in their adoption decision-making regarding the use of soil conservation practices introduced by extension practitioners in South Africa, using the case of farming at Qamata Irrigation Scheme, Eastern Cape. Using a central argument (thesis statement), the study argued that an adequate understanding and definition of smallholder farmers’ adoption decision-making process is very crucial to solving the problem of soil erosion/ degradation problem amongst smallholder farmers. Adopting the case study research design, information from 70 crop farmers (in a farmer focus group interviews) form the basis of the study. Basic models of analysis were the multiple, probit and logit, as well as the binary logistic regression analyses. According to the empirical results, perception was found very relevant in adoption decision-making, interacting positively and significantly with eight of the seventeen adoption variables chosen for the study. The indication therefore is that age (p<0.050), education (p<0.0030), and marriage (p<0.036), have more potentials to improve farmers’ perception. Similarly, higher farmer incomes (from crops [p<0.017], off-farm [p<0.038] and overall [p<0.011] income) also have a likelihood to improve farmers’ perception regarding soil conservation, for improved adoption. Further indication is that farmers who are aware (p<0.015) of the soil practices introduced by extension are also those who participate in their use (p<0.041). Employing the binary logistic, probit and logit regression models, results suggest that the nature of adoption decision-making processes of smallholder farmers is complex (not straight), being influenced by multiple factors. While age (p<0.099), gender (p<0.031), total income (p<0.081) impacted positively significant on smallholder farmers’ adoption decision-making, marital status (p<0.025), sources of land (p<0.063), length of continuously farming on same piece of land (p<0.013), and level of crop production (p<0.002) impacted negatively. The indication therefore was that older farmers preferred their own practices to the recommended practices by extension, which is in line with literature. Also as expected, more females preferred their own practices to extension recommended, while more males preferred the recommended practices. Similarly, marriage, land ownership, farming continuously on a spot for a long period, as well as increase in the level of crop production, all had a propensity to influence farmers toward the adoption of extension recommended practices as against farmers’ practices. Further results indicate, that farmers’ education (p<0.032), household size (p<0.37), and income (off-farm [p<0.036] and total [p<0.004]), measures used to measure farmers’ livelihood standards in the study, were positively significant in association with adoption. The indication was that, adoption decision-making is potentially capable of improving education level of farmers; increase the size of household, thus providing easy family labour; and as well improve level of income for the farmer. Based on the foregoing, the suggestion therefore is that any technology intervention programme that will succeed must begin with a clear understanding and analysis of farmers’ adoption process. This is better achieved when the adoption process is seen as a four-stage process, where the farmer first forms a view about the innovation (perception stage), and then decides whether or not to use it (adoption stage), as well as how much of the innovation to adopt (level of adoption stage), and finally how much is this innovation going to affect my livelihood (impact of adoption stage). Also, due to the particular relevance of perception in the adoption decision-making process, technology disseminators (extension), researchers and policy makers alike must never conclude on the rejection of any technology, not until factors determining perception of individuals have been well studied. The notion here is that, even at the confirmation stage of the adoption process of an individual adopter, when a rejection is confirmed, for an example, analysing factors of the adopter’s perception at play at the particular time of the innovation in question, could go a long way to redirecting the course of the adoption process of the said individual.

Irrigation farming is one of the most important rural development investments that can have both direct and indirect impacts on poverty and food security. The irregular and unreliable rainfall in the Eastern Cape Province has caused the smallholder farmers to deepen the irrigation farming systems as a strategy to cope with food shortage, income and poverty. South Africa has invested substantially in smallholder irrigation to benefit smallholder farmers in the less developed areas. Although the investment on small scale irrigation was to improve the welfare of the people, the performance and welfare impact of smallholder irrigation schemes has been poor and fall far short of the expectations of many stakeholders. The broad objective of the study was to examine the contribution of smallholder irrigation scheme on rural livelihoods of smallholder farmers at the project area. The null hypothesis was that smallholder irrigation schemes have no impact on farmer’s livelihoods. The alternative hypothesis for this study was that Melani irrigation scheme is contributing in improving rural livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the area. Cross study research design was used in the methodology. The purposive sampling was applied in order to choose a sample of 107 respondents that were interviewed using questionnaires, including both irrigating and non-irrigating farmers. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to find out whether the performance of the two groups of farmers is different and to what extent. To determine the specific role of irrigation an Independent T-Test was ran. Out of the selected sample 68 percent of households were farmers, 7.5 percent informal employed and 27 percent unemployed. It was found that the majority of participants were males and were uneducated. They depended on social grants for a living. The findings from the study showed that 84 percent of the respondents agreed that there is no market available in the village and farmers had limited access to credits. The crop income was the most contributing factor to household income. The results showed that whether the farmer is a non-irrigator or an irrigator the performance is not significant. Irrigation scheme improvement attained by smallholder farmers need to be maintained.

The study was conducted in Zanyokwe and Shiloh smallholder irrigation schemes located in Eastern Cape Province at Amathole and Chris Hani districts respectively. The choice of Zanyokwe and Shiloh smallholder irrigation scheme for this study is mainly supported by the fact that it had a substantial level of crop farming activity taking place especially at Zanyokwe while the Shiloh smallholder irrigation specialises dairy farming. The study examined decision making in smallholder irrigation practice with particular reference to Shiloh and Zanyokwe irrigation schemes. The general objective of the thesis was to analyse and model the determinants of SIS farmer‟s decision making. The specific objectives of the study are as follows: to investigate the determinants of decision making among smallholder irrigation farmers; to examine the relationship between household and farm characteristics and institutional factors that explain decision making in smallholder irrigation scheme; assess the contribution of smallholder irrigation farming to household food security; and determine the production and marketing constraints of smallholder farmers‟ in both schemes. The theoretical and conceptual framework of the study gave a detailed discussion on the determinants of decision making of households. The theories used to understand household behaviour under different assumptions were variously discussed. Comprehensive illustrations of analytical framework of the study were also conceptualised. This study used a survey design, quantitative and qualitative research methodologies involving the use of questionnaires and focus group discussions. The data was coded and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). However, frequencies, percentages, bar and pie chart was also computed to describe the data. In consideration of the conceptual framework of the study, the agricultural household model was adopted to analyse smallholder farmer‟s household decision making. Twenty one explanatory variables identified in the conceptual framework of the study were discussed and some of these identified variables were incorporated into the model. The logistic regression model was used as a method of analysis because it can estimate the probability of a certain event occurring and it accommodates a lot of variables which can be ranked in order to illustrate which variables are significant. In the binary logistic model used, seven variables (farm experience, size of farmland, land rights/PTO, water sufficiency, farm asset, market information and production variation) out of the twelve predictor variables were found to have significant effect on influencing household decision making in Shiloh smallholder irrigation scheme, while five variables (gender, age, education, road distance and extension access) were not significant. Of the seven significant variables, four had positive signs (land rights/PTO, water sufficiency and market information); which means that an increase in either of these variables may be associated with an increase in household decision making in Shiloh. The other three predictor variables (farm experience, farm asset and product variation) had negative signs; this means an increase in either of these variables may be associated with a decrease in decision making. In Zanyokwe, six variables (farm experience, land rights/PTO, water sufficiency, farm asset, market information and production variation) out of the twelve predictor variables were found to have significant impact on influencing household decision making, while six variables (gender, age, education, size of farm land, road distance and extension access) were not significant. Of the six significant variables, two had positive signs (water sufficiency and farm asset); which means that an increase in either of these variables may be associated with an increase in household decision making in Zanyokwe. The other four predictor variables (farm experience, land rights/PTO, market information and product variation) had negative signs; this means an increase in either of these variables may be associated with a decrease in decision making. The study concludes that smallholder agriculture is essential for employment generation and food security of households. It is apparent that household food security will not be achieved without giving attention to the role played by smallholders‟ farmers in South Africa. It is pertinent to promulgate an efficient policy programme to address the diversity of smallholders‟ situations and identify the main constraints on investment. Therefore, all spheres of government, the private sector and NGOs should consider investment in smallholder agriculture through coordinated strategies and political support. This study also recommends that government should develop a strategic Smallholder Investment Plan which would improve investments in smallholder agriculture.