ALLEVIATING HOUSEHOLD FOOD INSECURITY THROUGH IN-FIELD RAINWATER HARVESTING†

Poverty and food insecurity are generic to the rural communities of poor countries in the sub-Saharan African region. South Africa, with its huge rural population, is not excluded from poverty. In the Thaba Nchu area of the Free State Province, South Africa, where the study was conducted, 54% of the population was food insecure in 2006 owing partly to high unemployment, low levels of education and collapsed agricultural production, amongst other things. In order to contribute towards the reduction of food insecurity, agricultural techniques, specifically the in-field rainwater harvesting (IRWH) technique, suited to the climate were introduced and households were encouraged to use these on their homestead gardens. This was done to help improve food production and ensure household food security. This paper reports on the rapid spread of the IRWH technique amongst households in the Thaba Nchu area. Household members obtained the necessary skills to apply the technique in an innovative manner in their homesteads to produce a variety of cash and vegetable crops. Results indicated that excess produce could be sold on local markets, which could promote sustainable livelihoods among the adopting households. RESUME La pauvrete et l'insecurite alimentaire sont inherentes aux communautes rurales des pays pauvres de l'Afrique sub-saharienne. L'Afrique du Sud, avec son enorme population rurale, n'est pas exempte de pauvrete. Dans le domaine de Thaba Nchu de la province de Free State (Afrique du Sud) ou l'etude a ete menee, 54% de la population etait en situation d'insecurite alimentaire en 2006. Les techniques agricoles adaptees au climat ont ete introduites et les menages ont ete encourages a utiliser la collecte des eaux de pluie a la parcelle (IRWH) dans leurs jardins potagers. Cela a ete fait pour aider a ameliorer la production alimentaire et assurer la securite alimentaire des menages. Ce document rend compte de la propagation rapide des techniques IRWH aupres des menages de la zone de Thaba Nchu. Les membres du menage ont obtenu les competences necessaires pour appliquer la technique d'une maniere novatrice a leurs fermes pour produire une variete de cultures de rente et de legumes. Les resultats ont indique que les produits en exces pourraient etre vendus sur les marches locaux, ce qui pourrait favoriser un mode de vie durable. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.