Assessing the contribution of smallholder irrigation to household food security, in comparison to dryland farming in Vhembe district of Limpopo province, South Africa

The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of irrigation to household food security, in comparison to dry-land farming. This study used both primary and secondary data to analyse the factors. The primary data was collected by using a pre-tested questionnaire administered to selected farmers in the study area. A probability sampling method (that is pure or simple random sampling technique) was used to select the respondents. From a total population of 3,236 small-scale irrigators in Vhembe District, 147 irrigation farmers were randomly selected while 43 dry-land farmers were selected adjacent to the selected irrigators. A logistic regression model was used to analyse the variables in the model, selected from factors identified by previous researchers that affect food security in rural areas.