Three methods, namely, review of project documents, interviews and questionnaires were used in the research in assessing small scale irrigation schemes as a food security initiative. The research was done within the framework of the four main dimensions of food security, namely, food availability, accessibility, stability and utilization. The three methods are explained below:
3.4.1. Review of Documents
Review of relevant documents was done to develop an in-depth understanding of the project area. This included both documents in the public domain on food security and irrigation in general, and World Vision project documents on the Inkosikazi irrigation scheme along the project cycle such as the baseline survey, project feasibility study, environmental impact assessment analysis, progress reports, production reports, farmer training, climate changes, and management reports. Overall, the documents review assisted in the development of participatory question guides for discussions and interviews with various categories of respondents who were selected after literature review. The Literature review was a continuous process that was carried out throughout the whole survey process.
64 3.4.2. Individual Key Informant Interviews
Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with key staff member of World Vision, the irrigation committee chairperson, the ward Agricultural Extension Officer, a local councillor, the headmaster of the local school, one randomly selected community member, and two village heads. The objective of these interviews was to gain more in-depth appreciation of the changes that have been brought by the Inkosikazi irrigation scheme. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to guide the interviews. This qualitative method enabled the researcher to capture in-depth information from the interviewees on their perceptions and ideas on the impact of the Inkosikazi irrigation scheme on food security in the community of Bubi district at large.
3.4.3. Household Survey Questionnaire
Stuart and Nicola, (1986:15) say there are two types of surveys, namely cross-sectional and longitudinal. Cross-sectional surveys are used to gather information on a population at a single point in time. An example of a cross- sectional survey would be a questionnaire that collects data on peoples’ experiences of a particular initiative or event. A cross-sectional survey questionnaire might try to determine the relationship between two factors, like the impact of a programme of activity on the level of benefits claims to the community involved. Longitudinal surveys gather data over a period of time. This would allow analysis of changes in the population over time and attempt to describe and/or explain them.
This research used the cross-sectional survey in which a questionnaire was administered in the process. A questionnaire is a list of research or survey questions asked to respondents, and designed to extract specific information. It serves four basic purposes, namely to collect the appropriate data, to make data comparable and amenable to analysis, minimize bias in formulating and asking question, and to make questions engaging and varied. The household survey structured questionnaire was the main instrument of the research. A representative sample of households was selected and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The main target of the questionnaire was the house
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head or the person designated to be part of the Inkosikazi irrigation scheme. Stuart & Nicola, (1986:18) identify three types of interview styles and these are structured, semi-structured and unstructured interviews. Structured interviews follow a set of specific questions, which are systematically developed. This type of interview is used when the researcher wishes to acquire information where the responses are directly comparable. Semi- structured interviews are a more commonly used interview technique that follows a framework in order to address key themes rather than specific questions. At the same time it allows a certain degree of flexibility for the researcher to respond to the answers of the interviewee and therefore develop the themes and issues as they arise. Unstructured interviews do not follow any predetermined pattern of questions or themes. The interviewer addresses the issues as they emerge during the interview. This method is useful when the researcher wishes to explore the full breadth of a topic.
Advantages of Interviews
Kothari, (1985:23) lists five advantages of personal interviews as one of the best technique to acquire detailed information from respondents.
• It is very flexible and can be used to collect large amounts of information.
• Trained interviewers can hold the respondent’s attention and are available to clarify difficult questions.
• They can guide interviews, explore issues, and probe as the situation requires.
• Personal interview can be used in any type of questionnaire and can be conducted fairly quickly.
• Interviewers can also show actual products, advertisements, packages and observe and record their reactions and behaviour.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Questionnaires
As noted by Haralambos and Holborn (2000:33), there are inherent strengths and weaknesses in the use of questionnaires. The first advantage is that they allow for the collection of large quantities of data in a short period of time.
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Secondly, they provide a method to collect the data at a manageable financial cost. Thirdly, data from a questionnaire is easily quantified and manipulated. Fourthly, questionnaire research has the capacity to use larger samples than a more qualitative method such as interviews.
However, the use of questionnaires does have its own weaknesses. This includes researcher biases embedded in the very design of questionnaires especially on coded questions where a range of responses are pre-planned. The other one is that respondents may not give full and accurate replies to questions and this jeopardizes the validity of the data. Furthermore it cannot be assumed that different answers to the same question reflect real differences.