The acceptability of mulching on zero tillage as a water and soil conservation strategy by small scale farmers of Matatiele, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Ngciva, Jabulani Emmanuel
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Tillage -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape No-tillage -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Agricultural Extension
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10564 , vital:35610
- Description: The acceptability of zero tillage amongst small-scale farmers is a challenge in the Eastern Cape Province as farmers have different strategies on how to manage residue. This situation is due to the limited information available on the benefits of implementing zero tillage, such as improving soil health. The Department of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform have been assisting small-scale farmers by subsidising them with the latest innovations, such as zero tillage. The main essence of these initiatives was to compensate farmers that are previously disadvantaged as a result of the apartheid system prior to 1994. Zero tillage has recently gained more attention as one of the most important farm practices due to its benefits for soil conservation and the elimination of greenhouse gases. The study was conducted at Magadla and Nkawu villages in Matatiele, Eastern Cape. The objective of the survey was to examine the influence of current residue management practices amongst Matatiele farmers in the light of the adoption of zero tillage practices. The data was collected using questionnaires and group discussions. The statistical package SPSS and Microsoft Excel were used to analyse data. The findings showed that the adoption percentages of zero tillage by small-scale farmers was 34 percent and 65 percent in Magadla and Nkawu villages respectively. Amongst the challenges that non-adopters faced were shortage of inputs, weak communication channels between farmers and coordinators, residue benefits to livestock and lack of proper monitoring and evaluation. Binary logistic model was adopted and used to analyse 13 independent variables that influence the adoption of mulching in the study area.
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- Authors: Ngciva, Jabulani Emmanuel
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Tillage -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape No-tillage -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Agricultural Extension
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10564 , vital:35610
- Description: The acceptability of zero tillage amongst small-scale farmers is a challenge in the Eastern Cape Province as farmers have different strategies on how to manage residue. This situation is due to the limited information available on the benefits of implementing zero tillage, such as improving soil health. The Department of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform have been assisting small-scale farmers by subsidising them with the latest innovations, such as zero tillage. The main essence of these initiatives was to compensate farmers that are previously disadvantaged as a result of the apartheid system prior to 1994. Zero tillage has recently gained more attention as one of the most important farm practices due to its benefits for soil conservation and the elimination of greenhouse gases. The study was conducted at Magadla and Nkawu villages in Matatiele, Eastern Cape. The objective of the survey was to examine the influence of current residue management practices amongst Matatiele farmers in the light of the adoption of zero tillage practices. The data was collected using questionnaires and group discussions. The statistical package SPSS and Microsoft Excel were used to analyse data. The findings showed that the adoption percentages of zero tillage by small-scale farmers was 34 percent and 65 percent in Magadla and Nkawu villages respectively. Amongst the challenges that non-adopters faced were shortage of inputs, weak communication channels between farmers and coordinators, residue benefits to livestock and lack of proper monitoring and evaluation. Binary logistic model was adopted and used to analyse 13 independent variables that influence the adoption of mulching in the study area.
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Towards the development of a conceptual framework for hospital performance assessment of a South African public hospital in the Eastern Cape province
- Authors: Wagner, Rolene Margaret
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Public hospitals Hospital care Hospitals -- Administration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPH
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12249 , vital:39223
- Description: An integrated conceptual framework for measuring and comparing the performance of a South African teaching hospital in the Eastern Cape Province with other hospitals, is not available. The aim of this study was therefore to contribute to the development of a conceptual framework for assessing the performance of a SA public hospital in the Eastern Cape Province. The systematic literature review included all black and grey literature that relate to one of the two main themes- the purpose of measuring hospital performance and the methodology of assessing hospital performance. Relevant studies were identified through a Google search using the following descriptors: “Hospital Performance”, and “Hospital Performance Assessment”. There were 369 scholarly articles with the exact descriptors anywhere in the article with 59 articles released during the period 2012 to 2016. Ultimately, 7 articles met all the inclusionary criteria and described enterprise wide assessments of hospital performance. Other relevant articles, inclusive of grey literature, are included. Two of the studies in Morocco and Costa Rica were systematic reviews of hospital performance and covered the period 2000-2011. The Botswana case study assessed the use of the WHO PATH tool to measure the performance of its public hospitals. The Iranian, United States and Malaysian studies reflected on single aspect measures of hospital performance such as efficiency; the effect of weighting hospital performance indicators for patient harm on hospital profiles and payment; and Bed Occupancy rates, respectively. The review of the challenges associated with developing a hospital performance assessment framework was not found to be as useful as the other articles. The WHO PATH tool provides a high level integrated conceptual framework for measuring and comparing the performance of a South African teaching hospital in the Eastern Cape Province with other hospitals. This, however, needs to be adapted to the South African context with specific indicators being selected by local stakeholders that will promote best possible patient outcomes and a positive experience of patient-centred care at effective and efficient public health facilities. Lessons can be drawn from other countries’ experiences that have implemented hospital performance assessments and tested specific performance indicators.
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- Authors: Wagner, Rolene Margaret
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Public hospitals Hospital care Hospitals -- Administration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPH
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12249 , vital:39223
- Description: An integrated conceptual framework for measuring and comparing the performance of a South African teaching hospital in the Eastern Cape Province with other hospitals, is not available. The aim of this study was therefore to contribute to the development of a conceptual framework for assessing the performance of a SA public hospital in the Eastern Cape Province. The systematic literature review included all black and grey literature that relate to one of the two main themes- the purpose of measuring hospital performance and the methodology of assessing hospital performance. Relevant studies were identified through a Google search using the following descriptors: “Hospital Performance”, and “Hospital Performance Assessment”. There were 369 scholarly articles with the exact descriptors anywhere in the article with 59 articles released during the period 2012 to 2016. Ultimately, 7 articles met all the inclusionary criteria and described enterprise wide assessments of hospital performance. Other relevant articles, inclusive of grey literature, are included. Two of the studies in Morocco and Costa Rica were systematic reviews of hospital performance and covered the period 2000-2011. The Botswana case study assessed the use of the WHO PATH tool to measure the performance of its public hospitals. The Iranian, United States and Malaysian studies reflected on single aspect measures of hospital performance such as efficiency; the effect of weighting hospital performance indicators for patient harm on hospital profiles and payment; and Bed Occupancy rates, respectively. The review of the challenges associated with developing a hospital performance assessment framework was not found to be as useful as the other articles. The WHO PATH tool provides a high level integrated conceptual framework for measuring and comparing the performance of a South African teaching hospital in the Eastern Cape Province with other hospitals. This, however, needs to be adapted to the South African context with specific indicators being selected by local stakeholders that will promote best possible patient outcomes and a positive experience of patient-centred care at effective and efficient public health facilities. Lessons can be drawn from other countries’ experiences that have implemented hospital performance assessments and tested specific performance indicators.
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