Deactivation of field cultivation in communal areas of South Africa: Patterns, drivers and socio-economic and ecological consequences

Shackleton, Charlie M; Mograbi, Penelope; Drimie, Scott; Fay, Derick; Hebinck, Paul; Hoffman, Michael T; Maciejewski, Kristine; Twine, Wayne

Title: Deactivation of field cultivation in communal areas of South Africa: Patterns, drivers and socio-economic and ecological consequences
Creator: Shackleton, Charlie M
Creator: Mograbi, Penelope
Creator: Drimie, Scott
Creator: Fay, Derick
Creator: Hebinck, Paul
Creator: Hoffman, Michael T
Creator: Maciejewski, Kristine
Creator: Twine, Wayne
Subject: To be catalogued
Date Issued: 2019
Date: 2019
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/398210
Identifier: vital:69384
Identifier: xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.01.009"
Description: Smallholder production is a significant contributor to rural livelihoods and rural economies in much of the developing world. Yet, there is evidence of increasing disengagement in some regions, including southern Africa. However, there has been little consideration of the rates and the livelihood, ecological and policy implications of such. In this paper we examine previous studies on rates of deactivation of crop fields by smallholders in the communal areas of South Africa, supported by repeat photo images and case study material. Together these various methods show that it is a widespread phenomenon occurring at variable rates. Over short periods deactivation of crop fields can be balanced through some reactivation or intensification of homegardens. But over longer periods there is a net decline in the area of fields cultivated in many areas, with corresponding increases in the area of fallow land which, through time, may undergo changes towards more natural vegetation. We review the drivers of this deactivation of field cropping, and then contemplate the possible socio-economic and ecological implications at local and national scales. We show that there are numerous and profound implications that require greater understanding and policy responses.
Format: computer
Format: online resource
Format: application/pdf
Format: 1 online resource (14 pages)
Format: pdf
Publisher: Elsevier
Language: English
Relation: Land Use Policy
Relation: Shackleton, C.M., Mograbi, P.J., Drimie, S., Fay, D., Hebinck, P., Hoffman, M.T., Maciejewski, K. and Twine, W., 2019. Deactivation of field cultivation in communal areas of South Africa: Patterns, drivers and socio-economic and ecological consequences. Land Use Policy, 82, pp.686-699
Relation: Land Use Policy volume 82 p. 82 2019 0264-8377
Rights: Publisher
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Elsevier Terms and Conditions Statement (https://www.elsevier.com/legal/elsevier-website-terms-and-conditions)
Rights: Closed Access

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RU DST/NRF SARChI for Interdisciplinary Science in Land and Natural Resource Use for Sustainable Livelihoods

Shackleton, Charles Michael (Distinguished Prof)

RU Department of Environmental Science

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