Achieving his PhD is a step towards the goal of creating meaningful and impactful change in climate security, the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus, and food security for Dr Denver Naidoo, a lecturer at the African Centre for Food Security (ACFS) at UKZN.
Naidoo joined the staff of UKZN in 2012, following a family legacy as his mother dedicated 36 years of her life to working in the University’s Estates Division, where she managed the cleaning sector.
Despite initially planning to become a chef, even taking on two years of training at a hotel school, Naidoo was led back to UKZN as the natural choice, given the benefits of having a parent working at the Institution.
‘It’s a place that has become more than just a university to me – it’s a significant part of my life’s story,’ said Naidoo.
He pursued his undergraduate studies in the social sciences in community development and geography, when the developmental challenges and living conditions of communities he encountered deeply impacted him, resonating with his empathic spirit and desire to see people thrive.
Food security was a natural segue, given its focus on rural development and influencing policy, allowing Naidoo to channel his commitment to improving lives and tackling inequalities.
Supervised by Professors Joyce Chitja and Hussein Shimelis, Naidoo’s topic formed part of a broader Water Research Commission (WRC) project titled: Empowerment of Women Through Water Use Security, Land Use Security and Knowledge Generation for Improved Household Food Security and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods in Selected Areas in Limpopo. He explored livelihoods and food security in the Limpopo Province using insights from small-scale irrigation scheme users.
Small-scale irrigation schemes are critical for enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring land and water security in a region with scarce and unevenly distributed resources. Naidoo’s research provided insight into optimising resource use, improving food security and bolstering the resilience of rural communities against climate change.
He also conducted an in-depth analysis of land and water policies to investigate the gaps, synergies and redress in shaping current policies that will address land and water management, ultimately contributing to sustainable development and poverty reduction in Limpopo Province.
Naidoo’s research revealed the pivotal role of small-scale irrigation schemes in improving livelihoods and household food security despite the many challenges rural households face, and his study identified challenges in water management, including escalating water costs, competition for water resources and inadequate water management that are exacerbated by weak institutional arrangements and gender disparities. He also focused on the impact of policies, highlighting issues implementing South Africa’s water legislation, particularly in transitioning responsibilities from national to catchment levels, leading to deteriorating monitoring systems and declining data quality.
When his research seemed to be going nowhere, the pressure of pursuing a PhD while juggling work, family responsibilities and personal challenges almost led Naidoo to give up on his studies. Reaching out to Chitja, other academics, colleagues and friends provided invaluable support and encouragement to persevere.
Overcoming this overwhelm was helped along by a commitment to time management and self-discipline. With the support of colleagues, supervisors and friends and by setting clear priorities, Naidoo was able to balance his responsibilities as a lecturer with his personal commitments and PhD goals.
‘It wasn’t easy, but the experience taught me the importance of resilience, support and staying focused on my long-term goals,’ he said.
Naidoo plans to remain in an academic career, driven to contribute to the body of knowledge in his field and influence policies and practices that can lead to tangible improvements. He enjoys collaborating with other researchers, practitioners and communities to address society’s pressing challenges, using research to drive innovation and create sustainable solutions.
Naidoo thanked his family for their unwavering support, even at the hardest times, particularly his mother who was a source of strength and inspiration despite her own struggles; Chitja and Shimelis for their guidance, patience, belief and mentorship to which he credits much of his success; his friends and colleagues for their encouragement, camaraderie and practical and emotional support; his mentors who shaped his academic path with wisdom and direction; the WRC; the National Research Foundation; Denis Hurley Bursary; Ernst and Ethel Eriksen Trust Bursary; University administrators who provided the resources and opportunities that made his research possible; as well as farmers in Mafefe, Rambuda and Steelpoort who he said became family.
Words: Christine Cuénod
Photograph: Sethu Dlamin
