Evaluation of access to climate-smart technologies for women empowerment in small-holder farming sector in South Africa

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the CSA technologies that could enhance women’s empowerment in smallholder farming of South Africa. The study was carried out in two high profile agricultural provinces in South Africa (n=384) using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The simple randomized sampling design was used to select the respondents of the study. Qualitative data were collected through a combination of literature reviews, interviews, focus group workshops, and observations. The results revealed that five CSA technologies could be used to enhance the climate-smart agriculture for the women farmers in South Africa. The impact of the use of the CSA technologies was presented in the study. The study recommends that for women farmers to access CSA technologies, they should be supported by the government and private sector since the women farmers are from a fragile educational and financial background.

Keywords: women, CSA, government, empowerment, technologies