An inquiry into factors influencing croplands abandonment by households in eMzitheni village, Eastern Cape.

Abstract

Cropland abandonment is a complex phenomenon that continues to threaten food security and livelihoods of farming households in South Africa and elsewhere in the world, yet the factors influencing land abandonment are understudied. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors behind the abandonment of arable lands in the rural community of eMzitheni village in Mnquma Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape province and evaluate the consequences of cropland abandonment on food availability among households. A mixed-methods research approach was employed, involving structured and semi-structured questionnaires administered to 95 farming households, who were selected through purposive and stratified sampling method. A cross-sectional and exploratory research design was followed. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse household food production and associated characteristics, while a logit regression model identified factors influencing cropland abandonment. Thematic analysis was conducted to analyse households’ perceptions, attitudes and lived experiences of cropland abandonment and the consequences of cropland abandonment on food availability. The results of the study showed that 54% of the participants were females. The findings revealed that adult participation in agricultural activities is high in eMzitheni, as the average mean age of the participants was 54 years, and their average farming experience 17 years. The study showed that 24% of the households indicated that they were solely dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods and 48% of the households indicated that they had slightly abandoned their croplands, with maize being the predominantly grown crop in the area. Among all tested variables, smartphone ownership showed a significant relationship (p = 0.007) with land abandonment, suggesting that increased access to digital and non-farm opportunities may influence livelihood diversification away from agriculture. The study also found that cropland abandonment negatively affected household food availability, reducing self-produced food supplies and increasing reliance on purchased food, thereby heightening vulnerability to food insecurity. The study recommended effective intervention against cropland abandonment in eMzitheni and similar rural areas require holistic, well-coordinated, and inclusive policies that combine economic incentives, environmental resilience, social empowerment, and institutional reform.