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:
- Date Issued: 2020
- 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:
- Date Issued: 2020
Inter-generational dynamics of smallholder farming households : a case study of family farms at Bumbane and Emagaleni villages, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Sixoto, Wandisile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Family farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Family-owned business enterprises -- Succession
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Agric
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/7886 , vital:30791
- Description: This research investigates the inter-generational dynamics of smallholder farming households and their implications for the future of agriculture in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The study was conducted in two villages, of which one, Bumbane, is in Amahlathi Local Municipality, and the other, Emagaleni, is in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality. The study was mainly qualitative in nature, and involved semi structured, in-depth interviews with small-scale farming households. In particular, interviews were conducted with both youth and elders in the same households, so as to deeply understand the inter-relationships between the two. The study established that there is an age-based hierarchy in most farming families whereby the household head is ‘in charge’ and allows little input from or discretion of his/her adult children. For example, most household heads are not comfortable sharing decision-making authority with adult children, which alienates these adult children. This is the case even though household heads are keen to transfer their knowledge to their children, and hope that their children will one day take over the farming. The discord between household heads and their adult child is one of the reasons why the youth tend to dedicate little of their time to helping out with the farming. On the other hand, the youth are also discouraged from agriculture by other factors, such as production constraints and poor access to markets These intergenerational dynamics may pose a threat to the future of family farming in these and similar communities. The paper concludes that, in as much as household heads learnt agriculture through a participatory approach, there is a necessity to change the strategy and emphasise motivating young adults through farmers’ days and other gatherings that may serve as an inspiration. Alternatively, elders need to be coaxed to adopt a more thoughtful approach to engaging their adult children in agriculture that has a better possibility of encouraging their participation in agriculture rather than discouraging it. The participatory approach must not be the only option, since females do not get the opportunity to be motivated as most of the talks happen on the field.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Sixoto, Wandisile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Family farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Family-owned business enterprises -- Succession
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Agric
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/7886 , vital:30791
- Description: This research investigates the inter-generational dynamics of smallholder farming households and their implications for the future of agriculture in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The study was conducted in two villages, of which one, Bumbane, is in Amahlathi Local Municipality, and the other, Emagaleni, is in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality. The study was mainly qualitative in nature, and involved semi structured, in-depth interviews with small-scale farming households. In particular, interviews were conducted with both youth and elders in the same households, so as to deeply understand the inter-relationships between the two. The study established that there is an age-based hierarchy in most farming families whereby the household head is ‘in charge’ and allows little input from or discretion of his/her adult children. For example, most household heads are not comfortable sharing decision-making authority with adult children, which alienates these adult children. This is the case even though household heads are keen to transfer their knowledge to their children, and hope that their children will one day take over the farming. The discord between household heads and their adult child is one of the reasons why the youth tend to dedicate little of their time to helping out with the farming. On the other hand, the youth are also discouraged from agriculture by other factors, such as production constraints and poor access to markets These intergenerational dynamics may pose a threat to the future of family farming in these and similar communities. The paper concludes that, in as much as household heads learnt agriculture through a participatory approach, there is a necessity to change the strategy and emphasise motivating young adults through farmers’ days and other gatherings that may serve as an inspiration. Alternatively, elders need to be coaxed to adopt a more thoughtful approach to engaging their adult children in agriculture that has a better possibility of encouraging their participation in agriculture rather than discouraging it. The participatory approach must not be the only option, since females do not get the opportunity to be motivated as most of the talks happen on the field.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
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