Smallholder farmers’ adaptation strategies to mitigate the effect of drought on maize production in O.R Tambo District Municipality
- Authors: Masinda, Nasiphi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Farms, Small
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18709 , vital:42726
- Description: Drought is a normal periodical event that influences the livelihoods of millions of people around the world and it is considered one of the most devastating natural disasters in economic, social and environmental terms. South Africa is considered a semi-arid country vulnerable to water stress, particularly drought. Drought is expected to affect maize production in South Africa in the coming years. Although drought cannot be controlled, producers can adopt adaptation practices to reduce yield loss caused by drought. Maize is a staple crop in South Africa, which makes it the most important grain crop, being both the major feed grain and the staple food of the majority of the South African population. Literature has identified and presented several adaptation strategies that farmers can use however, it has not been conclusively investigated whether vulnerable smallholder farmers affected by drought are able to use or benefit from them. The study examined drought adaptation strategies employed by smallholder farmers and factors affecting adoption and intensity of adoption of drought mitigation strategies. This study determined smallholder farmer’s adoption of adaptation strategies to mitigate the effects of drought on maize production in O.R Tambo district municipality. The study was carried in ORTDM in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A mixed methods approach utilizing qualitative and quantitative data was employed. Both primary and secondary data sources were used for this study. The study gathered data from ORTDM in the Eastern Cape from 200 smallholder maize producers. Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire and was complemented by secondary data on maize production, yield and area planted sourced from the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, the adaptation strategy index in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software and double hurdle model used Statistical package called STATA (version 12. Results from descriptive analysis identified separate livelihood adoptions which were, increase fertilizer, use savings, indigenous knowledge, sell livestock, off-farm income (salary) and reduction of production. The adaptation strategies adopted by maize farmers are mostly shifting planting date, reduction of maize cultivated area and intercropping. The double hurdle model was used to estimate the factors affecting the farmers’ adoption of drought mitigation strategies and factors which were found to be statistically significant were gender of the household head, level of education of the household head, household size, extension services and land ownership. The Adaptation Strategy Index was used in order to establish the relationship between adopting adaptation strategies and maize production. The farmers ranked the adaptation strategies in terms of their useful in adapting with drought and successfully alleviating decline in maize production. Shifting of planting date, reduction of maize cultivated area, planting drought resistant varieties, crop diversification and intercropping were ranked as the most useful respectively. The findings of this study have a number of policy implications since a number of farmers did nothing to adapt to the effects of drought hence supporting smallholder farmers through training on climate change adaption and adapting options is necessary. Training targeting female headed and poor farmers can have significant positive impacts for increasing the implementation of drought adaptation strategies.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Masinda, Nasiphi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Farms, Small
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18709 , vital:42726
- Description: Drought is a normal periodical event that influences the livelihoods of millions of people around the world and it is considered one of the most devastating natural disasters in economic, social and environmental terms. South Africa is considered a semi-arid country vulnerable to water stress, particularly drought. Drought is expected to affect maize production in South Africa in the coming years. Although drought cannot be controlled, producers can adopt adaptation practices to reduce yield loss caused by drought. Maize is a staple crop in South Africa, which makes it the most important grain crop, being both the major feed grain and the staple food of the majority of the South African population. Literature has identified and presented several adaptation strategies that farmers can use however, it has not been conclusively investigated whether vulnerable smallholder farmers affected by drought are able to use or benefit from them. The study examined drought adaptation strategies employed by smallholder farmers and factors affecting adoption and intensity of adoption of drought mitigation strategies. This study determined smallholder farmer’s adoption of adaptation strategies to mitigate the effects of drought on maize production in O.R Tambo district municipality. The study was carried in ORTDM in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A mixed methods approach utilizing qualitative and quantitative data was employed. Both primary and secondary data sources were used for this study. The study gathered data from ORTDM in the Eastern Cape from 200 smallholder maize producers. Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire and was complemented by secondary data on maize production, yield and area planted sourced from the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, the adaptation strategy index in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software and double hurdle model used Statistical package called STATA (version 12. Results from descriptive analysis identified separate livelihood adoptions which were, increase fertilizer, use savings, indigenous knowledge, sell livestock, off-farm income (salary) and reduction of production. The adaptation strategies adopted by maize farmers are mostly shifting planting date, reduction of maize cultivated area and intercropping. The double hurdle model was used to estimate the factors affecting the farmers’ adoption of drought mitigation strategies and factors which were found to be statistically significant were gender of the household head, level of education of the household head, household size, extension services and land ownership. The Adaptation Strategy Index was used in order to establish the relationship between adopting adaptation strategies and maize production. The farmers ranked the adaptation strategies in terms of their useful in adapting with drought and successfully alleviating decline in maize production. Shifting of planting date, reduction of maize cultivated area, planting drought resistant varieties, crop diversification and intercropping were ranked as the most useful respectively. The findings of this study have a number of policy implications since a number of farmers did nothing to adapt to the effects of drought hence supporting smallholder farmers through training on climate change adaption and adapting options is necessary. Training targeting female headed and poor farmers can have significant positive impacts for increasing the implementation of drought adaptation strategies.
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Understanding the links between smallholder farmers and retailers of meat and vegetables in Mthatha, Mqanduli, Port St Johns and Tsolo, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Qaula, Nyaniso
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Farms, Small
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Agric
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18823 , vital:42811
- Description: It is commonly accepted that one of the challenges faced by smallholder farmers is lack of ‘access to markets’. This is especially so against the backdrop of the supermarket revolution, which is widely understood to give advantage to large-scale farmers at the expense of smallholder farmers. Given that supermarkets are now well established even within South Africa’s former homelands, it would seem that even smallholders based in these areas are at a disadvantage. The purpose of this study is to delve deeply into the market access of smallholder farmers, and to do so specifically across a large area of the former Transkei where supermarkets are well established and where there are also a range of other types of retailers. The study seeks to understand the links between smallholder farmers and diverse kinds of food retailers of meat and vegetables in and around the towns of Mthatha, Mqanduli, Port St Johns and Tsolo in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. For each of these sites, the study estimates the share of purchased fresh vegetables and meat that ultimately originates from smallholder farmers within the former Transkei, as opposed to large-scale farmers further afield. The findings suggest that smallholder farmers account for about 24% to 40% of fresh vegetables, and 3% to 13% of meat. The difference between vegetables and meat seems to relate to the fact that smallholder farmers account for a reasonably large share of the fresh vegetables sold by at least some supermarkets, whereas smallholder livestock farmers are largely unable to sell to abattoirs, whether because of the standards imposed by these abattoirs (including the one in Mthatha), or because of the cost of transport. The differences between sites appear to be a function of several factors, including differential market size and resource endowments. The study further sought to identify the advantages and disadvantages that the different types of retailers experience in procuring from smallholder farmers, and also identify the advantages and disadvantages that smallholder farmers experience in supplying different types of retailers. The advantage of working with smallholder farmers is that smallholder farmers can even deliver on Sundays, unlike other suppliers that refuse to work during weekends. The disadvantage is that smallholder farmers are not producing consistently therefore it is hard to rely on smallholder farmers for supply of produce. The advantage that smallholder farmers experience in supplying different types of retailers is that they get their cash right away after delivering the produce. The challenge that smallholder farmers experience when supplying food retailers is that some of the supermarkets will see the sample and order large quantity, however on the day of delivery they will complain and say it is not the good quality so the farmers must reduce the selling price. The study suggests the strategy that could be used by farmers to access the market, which is to enhance knowledge of market skills and negotiation skills.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Qaula, Nyaniso
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Farms, Small
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Agric
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18823 , vital:42811
- Description: It is commonly accepted that one of the challenges faced by smallholder farmers is lack of ‘access to markets’. This is especially so against the backdrop of the supermarket revolution, which is widely understood to give advantage to large-scale farmers at the expense of smallholder farmers. Given that supermarkets are now well established even within South Africa’s former homelands, it would seem that even smallholders based in these areas are at a disadvantage. The purpose of this study is to delve deeply into the market access of smallholder farmers, and to do so specifically across a large area of the former Transkei where supermarkets are well established and where there are also a range of other types of retailers. The study seeks to understand the links between smallholder farmers and diverse kinds of food retailers of meat and vegetables in and around the towns of Mthatha, Mqanduli, Port St Johns and Tsolo in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. For each of these sites, the study estimates the share of purchased fresh vegetables and meat that ultimately originates from smallholder farmers within the former Transkei, as opposed to large-scale farmers further afield. The findings suggest that smallholder farmers account for about 24% to 40% of fresh vegetables, and 3% to 13% of meat. The difference between vegetables and meat seems to relate to the fact that smallholder farmers account for a reasonably large share of the fresh vegetables sold by at least some supermarkets, whereas smallholder livestock farmers are largely unable to sell to abattoirs, whether because of the standards imposed by these abattoirs (including the one in Mthatha), or because of the cost of transport. The differences between sites appear to be a function of several factors, including differential market size and resource endowments. The study further sought to identify the advantages and disadvantages that the different types of retailers experience in procuring from smallholder farmers, and also identify the advantages and disadvantages that smallholder farmers experience in supplying different types of retailers. The advantage of working with smallholder farmers is that smallholder farmers can even deliver on Sundays, unlike other suppliers that refuse to work during weekends. The disadvantage is that smallholder farmers are not producing consistently therefore it is hard to rely on smallholder farmers for supply of produce. The advantage that smallholder farmers experience in supplying different types of retailers is that they get their cash right away after delivering the produce. The challenge that smallholder farmers experience when supplying food retailers is that some of the supermarkets will see the sample and order large quantity, however on the day of delivery they will complain and say it is not the good quality so the farmers must reduce the selling price. The study suggests the strategy that could be used by farmers to access the market, which is to enhance knowledge of market skills and negotiation skills.
- Full Text:
Records management by the Wesley community small-scale farmers in the Ngqushwa Municipality of the Eastern Cape
- Ncanywa, Ziyanda https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5075-7448
- Authors: Ncanywa, Ziyanda https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5075-7448
- Date: 2018-05
- Subjects: Records -- Management , Farms, Small
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/25305 , vital:64142
- Description: The study sought to investigate records management programmes by small-scale farmers, focussing on small-scale farmers in Wesley Community in Eastern Cape South Africa. The objectives of the study were to: Determine the types of records kept by small-scale farmers in Wesley Community; Assess records the records management practices used by small-scale farmers in Wesley Community; Find out the benefits of managing farm records by small-scale farmers in Wesley Community; and Identify the constraints small-scale farmers in Wesley Community encounter in the management of their farm records. This study adopted both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The researcher followed a methodological path that began with a thorough literature review and a careful and thoughtful posing of research questions and objectives. A sample of Wesley Community small-scale farmers was chosen using both convenience and snowball sampling where available and willing farmers were interviewed using questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Collected data were analysed using Microsoft Excel 2010. The study found that an encouraging number of small-scale farmers keep records. The records kept by small-scale farmers, however, some of them are not organised or being kept in a systematic way. Small-scale farmers do find record keeping very beneficial and are interested in keeping more records. Illiteracy and low self-esteem proved to be constraints when it comes to small-scale farmers’ records keeping and management. It was concluded that small-scale farmers do keep records. The manner in which the records are kept is mostly systematic. There a benefits of keeping records for farmers even though small-scale farmers face a few constrains when it comes to record keeping. From the findings it is recommended that: the government offer basic education classes for small-scale farmers, records management awards to motivate small-scale farmers and records management training for small-scale farmers. , Thesis (MLIS) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2018
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- Authors: Ncanywa, Ziyanda https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5075-7448
- Date: 2018-05
- Subjects: Records -- Management , Farms, Small
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/25305 , vital:64142
- Description: The study sought to investigate records management programmes by small-scale farmers, focussing on small-scale farmers in Wesley Community in Eastern Cape South Africa. The objectives of the study were to: Determine the types of records kept by small-scale farmers in Wesley Community; Assess records the records management practices used by small-scale farmers in Wesley Community; Find out the benefits of managing farm records by small-scale farmers in Wesley Community; and Identify the constraints small-scale farmers in Wesley Community encounter in the management of their farm records. This study adopted both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The researcher followed a methodological path that began with a thorough literature review and a careful and thoughtful posing of research questions and objectives. A sample of Wesley Community small-scale farmers was chosen using both convenience and snowball sampling where available and willing farmers were interviewed using questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Collected data were analysed using Microsoft Excel 2010. The study found that an encouraging number of small-scale farmers keep records. The records kept by small-scale farmers, however, some of them are not organised or being kept in a systematic way. Small-scale farmers do find record keeping very beneficial and are interested in keeping more records. Illiteracy and low self-esteem proved to be constraints when it comes to small-scale farmers’ records keeping and management. It was concluded that small-scale farmers do keep records. The manner in which the records are kept is mostly systematic. There a benefits of keeping records for farmers even though small-scale farmers face a few constrains when it comes to record keeping. From the findings it is recommended that: the government offer basic education classes for small-scale farmers, records management awards to motivate small-scale farmers and records management training for small-scale farmers. , Thesis (MLIS) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2018
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