Mpandeli et al. (2026) Optimizing water productivity: challenges and opportunities in smallholder irrigation schemes—a case study from South Africa

Identification

• Journal: Elsevier eBooks
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-01
• Authors: Sylvester Mpandeli, Luxon Nhamo, Samkelisiwe Hlophe-Ginindza, Stanley Liphadzi, Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi
• DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-443-21584-1.00016-8

Research Groups

• Water Research Commission of South Africa
• Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda
• Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
• Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems (CTAFS), School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal
• Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
• United Nations University, Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)
• International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Short Summary

This paper explores the challenges and opportunities for optimizing water productivity within smallholder irrigation schemes in South Africa, focusing on their historical context and current state, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal Province. It aims to provide insights and recommendations for revitalizing these schemes to address rural poverty and historical imbalances.

Objective

• To characterize the historical background and current state of smallholder irrigation schemes in South Africa, with a specific case study in KwaZulu-Natal Province.
• To identify the key challenges and opportunities for optimizing water productivity within these schemes.
• To propose recommendations for revitalizing smallholder irrigation schemes to enhance agricultural water management and address rural poverty.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: National (South Africa), with a specific focus on KwaZulu-Natal Province.
• Temporal Scale: Historical analysis (post-1994) leading to the contemporary state and future prospects of irrigation schemes.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
• Data sources: Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text, but likely includes literature review, policy analysis, and potentially socio-economic data or field observations related to smallholder irrigation schemes in South Africa.

Main Results

• The provided text is an introduction and chapter outline, so specific quantitative results are not available. However, the study aims to characterize the state of smallholder irrigation schemes in South Africa, identify the challenges and opportunities for optimizing water productivity within them, and provide recommendations for their revitalization.

Contributions

• Provides a comprehensive analysis of smallholder irrigation schemes in South Africa, integrating historical context, current challenges, and future opportunities for water productivity optimization.
• Offers insights into the socio-economic dimensions of irrigation, particularly in relation to rural poverty and historical imbalances in a post-apartheid South Africa.
• Proposes actionable recommendations for policy and practice aimed at revitalizing these schemes and improving agricultural water management.

Funding

• Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Mpandeli2026Optimizing,
  author = {Mpandeli, Sylvester and Nhamo, Luxon and Hlophe-Ginindza, Samkelisiwe and Liphadzi, Stanley and Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe},
  title = {Optimizing water productivity: challenges and opportunities in smallholder irrigation schemes—a case study from South Africa},
  journal = {Elsevier eBooks},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/b978-0-443-21584-1.00016-8},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-443-21584-1.00016-8}
}