Many thanks to Jonathan Denison for a very interesting presentation on the 3rd of August.
Jonathan introduced us to the irrigation scheme as a scheme that includes multiple farming units which share water resources and infrastructures rather than that of a single farming unit. In South Africa, often irrigation schemes don’t work and, according to Jonathan, this is due to a mixture of factors. There is never just one factor that gives a scheme life and therefore it is difficult to link one problem as a reason for failure. This indicates that irrigation schemes are complex systems.
Through the study of complexity Jonathan is looking at different techniques for improvement of irrigation schemes and problems that arise within irrigation schemes with a specific focus on adaptive management strategies. In doing so he looked at several small holder farms which are often politically and economically disadvantaged due to South Africa’s unequal history. An in-depth survey was taken in the course of his work on current irrigation schemes in order to try to gain an understanding of why these systems either work or don’t work and how they could be improved.
With regard to complexity and systems there is a definite need for interconnections and defined boundaries. Complexity theory states that when a system is not very complex there is little incentive for learning, which results in the deterioration of the scheme. When a system is too complex, individual shutdown occurs. It is important to find a balance between these two components. It seems that the most productive system occurs at a level close to chaos when there is enough space for creativity but a definite boundary to rein it in. One can therefore attempt to understand systems by studying these emerging patterns.
Complex systems are never in equilibrium and therefore the system lies in the middle of a predictable or chaotic state. It is important to manage the in-control and out-control factors by studying the day-to-day management of schemes as well as the responses to change. It is often useful to view this in terms of the butterfly effect where even the slightest error can be carried into the feedback loops affecting the overall outcome. Adaptive management of these complex systems must have a feedback loop consisting of the irrigation scheme and the irrigated farming enterprise. An enterprise model is highly complex and dynamic as production factors are continually changing.
Everything is interlinked in these complex systems and therefore it is essential to manage them through an adaptive, integrated and holistic manner.
By Dave and Dan (Geography Honours Students)
Catchment Research Group 