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An appraisal of the Methodist church’s role in poverty alleviation in the Alice region

- Jibiliza, Xolisa Terrance

  • Authors: Jibiliza, Xolisa Terrance
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Economic assistance, Domestic , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Th
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1451 , vital:27187
  • Description: “All religions emphasize the need to support charity, welfare and the disadvantaged. Obligatory giving is, thus, a manifestation of spirituality. This is why religious communities are capable, like no other sector of society, of mobilizing enormous resources for poverty alleviation and development initiative” (Maharaj & Chetty, 2007:82). Most African countries are faced with serious and worsening poverty (Wogaman, 1986:47), and one of greatest issues that demands our immediate attention within the church and society is poverty alleviation. Wogaman (1986:47) further argues that the increase in production has not served to bridge the great historic chasm between rich and poor. Hence, the church needs to direct its attention and its activity to poverty alleviation so that it becomes an advocate for the poor. Lawrence (2012:1) argued that we are created for fellowship with other people and also depend on God for our survival. Therefore, poverty touches all of God’s creatures and not simply those who experience it directly. Poverty prevents human beings from realizing their potential; it creates barriers of inequality between people, and bars people from experiencing the abundance of God’s creation.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Hearing the voice of rural women regarding personal development issues

- Ntloko, Balisa Mirriam

  • Authors: Ntloko, Balisa Mirriam
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Women in rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Women's rights -- South Africa , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12736 , vital:27116
  • Description: Some rural communities in South Africa suffer from the results of inequity and disempowerment. It is especially black females who are affected in this regard. A number of factors contribute to the oppression of female voices in their rural communities. In this study the voice is considered the right and freedom of speech for women to express their opinions in order to influence others. Both the national government and civil society fervently push for the placement of women and children empowerment onto the development agenda. Yet, one still notes with concern that in reality, it seems to be mostly men who fully enjoy freedom of speech, senior employment and decision making powers in South Africa. Thus, it remains evident that not enough has been done to redress gender inequities,especially in South African rural communities. Focussing on one rural community situated in the outskirts of the Eastern Cape (former Transkei), this research undertook to determine the various ways in which rural women may have their voice heard in their immediate communities, particularly pertaining to personal development issues. Community members, who were identified through a purposive sampling method, shared their perceptions on the research topic.Through the research, it has become clear that in order to overcome female silence, the communal role of women needs to be broadened beyond the scope of traditionally gendered activities such as the carrying out of house work/chores such as cooking or childrearing. Furthermore, women must be knowledgeable about their basic human rights and responsibilities; their education in this regard should be made a national priority. It has also become evident that in order to overcome female voices remaining silent, women should begin to take greater personal responsibility over their reproductive health.Practical recommendations to ddress each framed theme have been presented.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

The relative contribution of non-timber forest products, agriculture and off-farm sources of income to rural households in Koloni and Guquka, Eastern Cape

- Mtati, Nosiseko

A socio-economic impact assessment (SEIA) of the Idutywa agripark project on project beneficiaries in Mbashe local municipality of the Eastern Cape Province

- Magida, Phiwokuhle Thulani

  • Authors: Magida, Phiwokuhle Thulani
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
  • Identifier: vital:11211 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016195 , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: Poverty, inequality and unemployment have always been challenging first in South Africa with special reference to rural South Africa. These persistent challenges with severe impacts on black population are believed to be the results of the previous governance in South Africa. Policies have been formulated, reformulated and others implemented in a form of development projects which have achieved little success in pursuit of combating these challenges. However, in the process of achieving rural development through developmental projects, a fundamental stage in the life cycle of these projects is often omitted or given little attention. This stage is the monitoring and evaluation stage which is critical to ascertain potential impacts (both positive and negative) especially if the project is to be replicated and achieve its objectives as postulated in the millennium development goals. This thesis attempted to carry out a Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA) of the Agripark project implemented at Dutywa on the livelihoods of communities directly affected by this project. The Agripark project is a project that comprises three linked components, a seedling nursery, an agro-processing facility and a sizeable feeder plot and has been implemented to benefit four villages. This project has been implemented as the second Agripark project by the University of Fort Hare in partnership with the province’s Department of Agriculture. To track change after the implementation of the project, data were collected from the same respondents that were interviewed for the baseline study, therefore, the same sample size that was used in the baseline study was also used for this study. As a tool for data collection, a questionnaire was developed to elicit the required information and was interviewer administered during data collection. The results of the study revealed that Agripark project has impact on both social and economic wellbeing of the households. The processing unit of the project was not yet functioning therefore the project was not fully effective thus the impact was not as intended by the project when the study was carried out. Skills transferred were only on production but only a small number of people could receive them. These households largely relied on external sources of income mainly on social grants and their contribution to total household income had increased to 88% in 2011 compared to 80% in 2008. As much as the increase in incomes cannot be entirely be because of the project but Agripark had a positive impact on household incomes through wages of those employed there and through increased profitability of hawking vegetables. The proportion of household earning incomes less than the Poverty line fell from 85% in 2008 to approximately 79% in 2011. The household complemented their staples with a variety of vegetables and the main source of these vegetables was Agripark even though own production was declining. Even though food was still the main item of these households expenditure, the proportion of income spent on food fell from 64% in 2008 to 48% in 2011. There were no environmental impacts found. From the descriptive analysis, the project had impact on the livelihoods of these households because it brought change on the household expenditure as a result of the income earned by those who are working in the Agripark. There was an improvement on risk of food insecurity through cheaper vegetable that both physically and financially attainable. However, as much as the project had positive impact, there were also concerns raised by the respondents that the employment was only biased to certain individuals which cased stress to some households. Furthermore, the empirical analysis of the selected variables showed that participation in Agripark had an impact on economic wellbeing of the beneficiaries. Thus, funding must be made available to the project so that it can upgrade their electricity and have the processing plant running as it may be the major source of employment, skills development and achievement of its objectives.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Assessment of sources of livelihoods and opportunities to improve the contribution of farming within available food chains

- Mbusi, Nontembeko

  • Authors: Mbusi, Nontembeko
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livelihood strategies , Outcomes , Poverty , Farming , Employment
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
  • Identifier: vital:11204 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007575 , Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livelihood strategies , Outcomes , Poverty , Farming , Employment
  • Description: Official statistics suggest that as many as 40 percent to 60 percent of people in South Africa are living in poverty, and the 15 percent poorest are in a desperate struggle for survival. Since 1994, Government has been making an effort to help smallholder agriculture through numerous programmes, including those that address land ownership and provide credit and grants for farms and households, but very little change has taken place. Understanding the sources of livelihood and opportunities to improve the contribution of farming within available food chains is therefore an important practical need. The study investigated sources of livelihood and mapped the livelihoods profile of the farming households in parts of the Eastern Cape. The study was conducted in the Alice and Peddie communities in the Amathole district municipality. A set of structured questionnaires were used to interview the sample of 80 farming households selected through a random process within two irrigation schemes and communities that were selected purposively in line with the focus of the larger project on which this study is based. The resulting data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The descriptive results indicated that members of most rural households were old, married, uneducated and unemployed. Farming was primary livelihood strategy employed in these areas. Rural households were also dependent on remittances, social grants and pension funds because the farming strategy could not meet all their household needs. The major crops that were grown for income and food security to sustain their livelihoods included maize, potatoes, onions and butternut. Factors that had significant influences on outcomes were extension services, grants, pension and remittances, land productivity, type of irrigation system, market accessibility, output price difference and value adding. The available opportunities were land productivity, irrigation facilities, government or NGO programmes and working as a group. For improved livelihood of rural communities in Alice and Peddie, government needs to strengthen agricultural activities and equip farmers with market information, improve their access to irrigation schemes, provide training on value adding and also improve access to extension services.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Agricultural public spending, growth and poverty linkage hypotheses in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

- Ndhleve, Simbarashe

  • Authors: Ndhleve, Simbarashe
  • Date: 2012
  • Subjects: Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Government spending policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Finance, Public -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Agricultural Economics)
  • Identifier: vital:11157 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/493 , Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Government spending policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Finance, Public -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: The adoption of the Millennium Development Goal 1 (MDG1) of reducing the rate of poverty to half of the 1990-level by 2015, the advent of democracy in South Africa, among other things, have raised concerns over the potential role of the agricultural sector. There is a belief that the sector has the capacity to successfully reduce poverty among the rural masses and contribute to addressing the problem of inequality in South Africa. In line with that thinking, South Africa‘s agricultural sector has attracted considerable fiscal policy interest. For instance, South Africa‘s statistics show that public investments in agricultural development programmes have been growing. In spite of this, rural poverty is still a major concern on an overall basis. However, this might not be the case in the Eastern Cape Province and the situation might be different for each district municipality. This study assesses the linkages between public agricultural investment, agricultural growth and poverty reduction in the Eastern Cape Province. The study also addresses the question whether Eastern Cape Province is on course to meet several regional development targets. The study also aims to provide an estimate of the amount of agricultural investment required to attain the agricultural productivity growth rate which is sufficient to meet MDG1. The study reviewed the various theories of public spending, linkages between public investment and agricultural growth and how these components affect the incidence of poverty. The conventional wisdom that public expenditure in agriculture positively affects economic growth and this growth consequently reduces poverty was noted. The reviews also revealed that in many developing countries, the current level of public agricultural investment needs to be increased significantly for countries to meet the MDG1. This study employed the decomposition technique and growth elasticity of poverty concept to estimate the response of poverty to its key determinants. The size of public spending, prioritization of public spending and the intensity in the use of public funds emerged as important in increasing agricultural production. The relationship between government investment in agriculture and agricultural GDP shows iv that public funds were largely behind the province‘s success in increasing agricultural production throughout the period from 1990s to 2010. Agricultural spending went to sustainable resource management, administrative functions and then farmer support programme. Exceptional growth in the size of spending was recorded in respect to agricultural economic function, structured agricultural training, sustainable resource management and veterinary services. Overall output from the agricultural sector fluctuated, and the sector contributed less than 5 per cent to the total provincial GDP. Correlations between growth in agricultural sector and changes in the incidence of poverty in Eastern Cape show that during the period 1995 to 2000, increases in the agricultural GDP per capita may have failed to benefit the poor as poverty increased in all the reported cases.–However, for the period between 2005 and 2010, the situation was different and it was observed that increases in agricultural GDP per capita and were associated with reduction in the incidence of poverty. Growth elasticity of poverty (GEP) estimates reveal that agricultural GDP per capita was more important in reducing poverty in 5 out of the 7 district municipalities. Non-agricultural GDP per capita was only important in two district municipalities. It emerged that most of the district municipalities are not in a position to meet any of the regional set goals. This situation is largely attributable to the province‘s failure to boost agricultural production which is an outcome of low and inefficient public expenditure management, inconsistent and misaligned policies and failure to fully embrace the concept of pro-poor growth. Varied provisional estimates for the required agricultural growth rate and the increase in public spending on agriculture required in order to reach MDG1 were calculated for each district municipalities. All the district municipalities of Eastern Cape will need to increase public investment in agriculture for them to achieve MDG1.
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  • Date Issued: 2012

The impact of transport costs on household income: the case of Nkonkobe Municipality Alice in the Easten Cape Province

- Dlwangushe, Sizwe

  • Authors: Dlwangushe, Sizwe
  • Date: 2012
  • Subjects: Income -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transportation and state -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transportation -- Cost effectiveness , Automobiles -- Fuel consumption , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
  • Identifier: vital:11470 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007130 , Income -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transportation and state -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transportation -- Cost effectiveness , Automobiles -- Fuel consumption , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: The study investigated the impact of transport costs on household income the case of Nkonkobe Local Municipality. The objective of the study was to establish the impact of transport costs on household income. To achieve the objective, the study hypothesized that transport costs have a negative impact of household income. The research design of the study that was used include research instrument, research technique, sample size, population and data analysis procedure. However the research instrument that was followed was the questionnaire which contains a set of questions whilst the research technique used to collect primary data was the self-administered questionnaire. The results of the study revealed that households in Nkonkobe Local Municipality were spending more of their income on transport. Finally, the study recommended that subsidies for poor households must be provided by the government.
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  • Date Issued: 2012

The socio-cultural factors affecting the participation of women in agricultural development: Khezana village in Alice district

- Majali, Vuyiseka

  • Authors: Majali, Vuyiseka
  • Date: 2012
  • Subjects: Women in agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Anthropology)
  • Identifier: vital:11774 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/557 , Women in agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: The study sought to investigate socio-cultural factors that contribute to the invisibility of women in agricultural activities at Khwezana village, Alice district. The present study was underpinned by a people’s –centered developmental approach paired with the feminist perspective based of ethnographic research methods, participant observation and basic individual interviews. The study mainly focused on female residents of the village, those who are active in agriculture and also those who are not practicing crop production. Rural women of South Africa have historically played a significant role by contributing in the sustainable livelihoods of the country as well as their communities. However, it has been revealed that there are factors that impede the participation of women in agricultural development. The study revealed that socio-cultural factors such as limited access to land, access to credit (due to tradition and culture circumstances), limited education and culture change in general are the major factors that significantly influence the low agricultural activity in the study village.
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  • Date Issued: 2012

Development of an M-Payment system prototype for a marginalized region (Dwesa case study)

- Mpofu, Handsome C

  • Authors: Mpofu, Handsome C
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Electronic commerce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home banking services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
  • Identifier: vital:11387 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/458 , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Electronic commerce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home banking services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: Wireless technologies, such as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), are making it easier to provide the much needed telecommunications infrastructure in marginalized areas worldwide. These technologies enable the rapid deployment of network services as well as their redistribution throughout these marginalized areas. The ability to bring Internet connectivity to previously underserviced and marginalized areas has the potential to leap-frog socio-economic development and improve participation in the global knowledge economy. This study investigated how wireless access technologies, such as WiMAX and WiFi, can be integrated and used to deliver ubiquitous distributed Internet connectivity with increased capillarity in rural areas. The research was undertaken within an ICT for Development (ICT4D) intervention called Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) which is based in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The research further eliminated the accessibility constraints associated with long distances and remoteness from the Digital Access Nodes (DANs) and provided increased penetration in the network in contrast to the traditional Telecentre model which has been used extensively in ICT4D interventions. This was achieved by deploying WiFi hotspots around the DANs and extending the existing SLL WiMAX backbone to increase the network footprint to neighboring communities. The technical result of the research has been the provision of increased capillarity on the network and service redistribution throughout the entire Dwesa community. Consequently, this has given local community members an opportunity to access network services easily and ubiquitously. Finally, the research investigated and presented the benefits of such wireless network deployment configurations on ICT4D activities in marginalized areas.
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  • Date Issued: 2011

Integrated crop-livestock farming system for sustainable economic empowerment of small-scale and emerging farmers in the former homeland of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa: a case study of Ciskei area in Nkonkobe municipality

- Ngxetwane, Vuyolwethu

  • Authors: Ngxetwane, Vuyolwethu
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural productivity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural assistance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farmers -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
  • Identifier: vital:11183 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/459 , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural productivity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural assistance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farmers -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: For decades, there has been significant investment in the development of agricultural technologies that aim to increase productivity of smallholder farmers in Africa. But farm output and productivity have stagnated and poverty rates have remained high and even increasing in some areas. At the same time, increases in human population levels have resulted in rising demand for food as well as for arable land. The growing intensification of farming has been accompanied by degradation of wild lands, including tropical forests and wetlands, at an alarming rate. Further pressure on fragile land has come from associated urbanization, leading to agricultural land being converted to residential and industrial uses with serious consequences for agricultural production and food supply. The recent increases in food prices across the globe as well as South Africa have drawn attention to this problem even more strongly. The main objective of the current study was to investigate farmer’s perception of the relative importance of crop-livestock integration in the small holder farming systems. Data were collected from 70 emerging and smallholder farmers selected by stratified random sampling in the communities surrounding Alice, Middledrift and the Seymour- Balfour area of Nkonkobe municipality of the Eastern Cape Province. To collect the data, a semi-structure questionnaire was administered to the respondents through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the farmers in terms of their socio-economic and demographic backgrounds. A series of multiple linear regression models and a binary logistic regression equation were fitted to determine the factors influencing farmers’ perception and how these in turn contribute to the decision to adopt or not to adopt crop-livestock integration. The results of the study reveal that small farmers in the Nkonkobe municipality have the possibility of realizing immense benefits from the integrated systems which also have the potential to lead to substantial improvements of the physical, chemical and biological soil properties. There is clear evidence of widespread interest to experiment with the practices based on the strong positive perceptions that a majority of the survey farmers exhibited during the course of the survey. But the farmers are facing challenges in coping with the associated complexities of competition on land, and management skill which are often in limited supply. That in most cases is not enough and efficient even to manage one of these two enterprises alone and reduction in crops yield due to use of manure as a substitute of fertilizer. Constraints to integrating crops and livestock include the competition for resources, especially land. Managing two types of farming on the same farm was perceived as difficult and many respondents held the view that use of waste of one enterprise as input to the other enterprise can reduce productivity. For example some farmers considered that the use of manure to improve soil fertility may not lead to output growth to the same extent as the use of fertilizer. A number of farmers (86%) pointed out that they only market their produce after deducting their consumption share, highlighting the crucial role of food security as a motivation for crop-livestock integration. Complementation of inputs rather than substituting inputs is required to render the system more productive and sustainable as costs are minimized and output is boosted. Associations of grain and livestock producers are useful for filling these gaps which include limited access to credit, technology and knowledge and can promote the adoption of a crop-livestock system.
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  • Date Issued: 2011

The empowerment of women in agriculture: does it contribute to poverty alleviation and improvement of quality of lives in rural areas?

- Kalazani-Mtya, Lindeka

  • Authors: Kalazani-Mtya, Lindeka
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Women in rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land tenure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Women in agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Quality of life -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Rural Development)
  • Identifier: vital:11941 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/318 , Women in rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land tenure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Women in agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Quality of life -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: This study examines the extent to which the Siyazondla food programme, which is a woman based project, empowers women with agricultural skills and knowledge to alleviate poverty and improve their quality of lives in Ducats North area in East London. The investigation is based on the argument that when a woman is empowered, poverty will be reduced and the quality of life will improve. Through the use of qualitative research methodology, all women who are the main beneficiaries of the Siyazondla programme in Ducats North village were interviewed. Findings seem to indicate that although women in the project manage to produce good crops to feed their families, they are still not sufficiently empowered with skills and education to improve their quality of lives. This was found to be exacerbated by the fact that the officials assigned for the programme are to a greater extent inefficient and lack relevant knowledge to support beneficiaries. Most importantly, it was revealed that there is lack of monitoring and evaluation of the programme by government and this was considered to be the major constraint to successful implementation of the programme and in ensuring that poverty is alleviated in the area. It is on the basis of these findings that the study recommends that in order to yield positive results and ensure that women in the programme are empowered, there is a need to change the deeply embedded patriarchal perceptions and discriminatory practices and attitudes that seem to undervalue women‟s work. This will require greater awareness of women‟s contribution to agriculture, and the recognition of the role played by women in food security and poverty alleviation, coupled with a strong commitment from the government to empower rural women in agriculture.
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  • Date Issued: 2011

The survival strategies of unemployed rural women : a case study of Wooldridge

- Dyubhele, Noluntu Stella

  • Authors: Dyubhele, Noluntu Stella
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Women in rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural women -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Unemployment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DCom
  • Identifier: vital:8982 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1651 , Women in rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural women -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Unemployment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: Despite decades of gender research and public action by civil society, policy makers continue to neglect the role of women as breadwinners who work at improving the socio-economic conditions in rural areas such as Wooldridge, a traditional rural village in the Amathole district of the Eastern Cape Province. The apartheid system created an environment that continues to perpetuate both poverty and gender inequality in rural areas. Hence, rural women in Wooldridge still experience poverty, despite welfare benefits. They are located in a poverty-stricken area without basic infrastructure and with little or no access to economic assets. They use primitive methods and indigenous knowledge to develop survival strategies. This study argues that unemployed rural women in Wooldridge cannot survive without assistance from government. Indigenous knowledge and agricultural as well as non-agricultural activities are critical to household livelihoods in Wooldridge. These activities are an important route through which these rural women can escape poverty. The primary objective of this research was to obtain a better understanding of how unemployed rural women survive in Wooldridge. Furthermore, the necessary conditions required to sustain livelihood in the rural areas were identified. This was mainly done to help alleviate the plight of rural women in Wooldridge and to improve the quality of life of the rural population. The aim is to generate a policy response to rural women that is economically development-oriented. The study was based on five research objectives. The first objective was to identify the survival strategies of unemployed rural women in Wooldridge; the second to ascertain what can be done to alleviate the plight of rural women in Wooldridge. The third objective was to ascertain what has been v done to address the needs of rural women in the Wooldridge area by actors of development, such as government and non-governmental organisations. The fourth objective was to identify the constraints faced by unemployed rural women in Wooldridge in achieving food security and generating income, with the last objective to make recommendations regarding policies that can enhance rural economic development and assist unemployed rural women to reduce poverty. The main finding in terms of the first research objective is that the survival strategies of unemployed rural women are welfare benefits, the selling of assets, remittances, handicraft production and vegetable gardens. In terms of the second research objective, the main finding is that investment in human capital through the empowerment of women will assist them in improving the quality of life of the Wooldridge community. Empowerment involves skills and training, education and access to basic services, expertise regarding credit, land, the growing of vegetables and income-generating projects. The main finding in terms of the third research objective is that the Peddie Women Support Centre that is located in the city centre of Ngqushwa does not have the capacity to reach out to rural areas. Rural women in Wooldridge have not received responses to their plights from government or from development practitioners. These actors of development play an important role in empowerment. In terms of the fourth research objective, the main finding is that structural constraints hinder the economic activity of rural women in Wooldridge. Government policy that encourages investment in infrastructure using labour-intensive methods will eliminate service backlogs in underserviced areas such as Wooldridge. The main finding in terms of the fifth research objective is to ascertain the impact that new legislation can have to ensure that rural women have the same access and entitlement to land and resources as women from urban areas. Furthermore, service-improvement programmes should be developed and micro-enterprises and agricultural and non-agricultural activities that will generate income and employment should be encouraged in order to reduce poverty in Wooldridge.
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  • Date Issued: 2011

Application of the sustainable livelihoods framework to the analysis of the Provincial Growth and Development Plan of the Eastern Cape: a case study of the Massive Food Production Programme in Nkonkobe Municipality and Buffalo City Municipality

- Dirwayi, Tafadzwa P

  • Authors: Dirwayi, Tafadzwa P
  • Date: 2010
  • Subjects: Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
  • Identifier: vital:11159 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/353 , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: The Government of the Eastern Cape Province introduced the Massive Food Production programme, which is a cornerstone within the agrarian reform initiative of the Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP). The programme has been going on for more than seven years, however little has been documented on its impact. The main objective of the study was to investigate the impact of the Massive Food Production Programme on the livelihoods in Nkonkobe Municipality. This study did not only investigate its impact on the participants but also assessed its impact on the recipient communities. Accordingly, the specific objectives of the study were to investigate the impact of the Massive Food Programme on the asset base of participants, the general livelihood activities, and the livelihood outcomes. Among other livelihood activities, the study made an in-depth investigation on the impact of the Massive Food Production Programme on maize crop production. This is because the Massive Food Production was aimed at maize crop production. Previous studies investigated on the indicators of success that can be used to measure the impact of this programme. After the wide-ranging evaluation of views, arguments and research findings, a model to measure impact of the programme was designed. The asset base improvement was used as the proxy of impact. Nine factors were selected from the principal component analysis of the many factors that were taken to affect participation. Three other dummy variables to proximate location, participation and group turnover were added to the regression model that was developed to measure impact. The DFID Sustainable Livelihood Framework was used to investigate the impact of the Massive Food Production Programme. This approach was used in both conceptualizing the study and the selection of variables. The DFID Sustainable Livelihood Approach was selected because unlike the CARE or UNDP Sustainable Livelihood models, it was designed for such purposes. Data collection was accomplished through observation, interviewing, and focus group discussions. The researcher also made use of project annual reports on change of livelihoods, baseline survey reports, project log frame, internal reports, work plans, budgets and mid-term evaluation reports as sources of secondary data. v The research findings were analysed using several analytical procedures, including the conventional descriptive statistics, principal components analysis, and linear regression analysis. The use of the different types of analysis was driven by the research questions under investigation and the theories on which they are based, and by the available data. The study revealed that to some extent the Massive Food Production Programme has managed to improve the asset base of the farmers. However, its impact on ensuring food security is still debatable. Findings of the study revealed that most of the participants and the non-participants communities experienced food shortages in the last season 2007/8 for at most three months. The study revealed that the highest agricultural income is from livestock sales. The varying locations showed the potential of livestock production. It is recommended that development agencies consider livestock production as an agricultural strategy with immense potential for enhancing sustaining rural livelihoods
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  • Date Issued: 2010

A model for user requirements elicitation specific to users in rural areas

- Isabirye, Naomi

  • Authors: Isabirye, Naomi
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Internet marketing , Electronic commerce , Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information resources management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Information Systems)
  • Identifier: vital:11130 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/145 , Internet marketing , Electronic commerce , Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information resources management
  • Description: Dwesa is a rural town situated in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province that has been selected as a testing site for an e-commerce project to address some of the challenges faced by the community. These challenges include difficulties stemming from poverty, poor access to public services, unemployment and low levels of literacy. The Siyakhula Living Lab project’s aim is to develop an e-commerce platform that will 'connect' the residents with the necessary access to services and markets by providing them with the necessary tools that can help in alleviating some of their challenges. In order for the project to achieve its objectives, a deeper understanding into the needs of the prospective users is required. User requirements elicitation deals with the process of interacting with the prospective users to understand and document their needs. This research aims at evaluating existing requirements elicitation techniques and methodologies in the context of rural information technology implementations. The primary objective is to develop a model for user requirements elicitation in Dwesa. Many requirements elicitation techniques and frameworks exist, but few have been evaluated in the context of rural software implementations. Requirements elicitation techniques should not be applied simply as steps to gather information. Instead this research project proposes a model that can be applied to assimilate the contribution of knowledge regarding the stakeholders, problem and solution characteristics, and other characteristics into the software development process for the effective elicitation of requirements.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2009

Access to credit and the effect of credit constraints on household welfare in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

- Baiyegunhi, Lloyd-James Segun

  • Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd-James Segun
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Households -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Investments -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Finance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Credit -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Agricultural Economics)
  • Identifier: vital:11153 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1000977 , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Households -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Investments -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Finance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Credit -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: In recent years, concern about food safety linked to health issues has seen a rise in private food safety standards in addition to the regulations set by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO). These have presented challenges to producers and exporters of agricultural food products especially the producers of fresh fruits and vegetables. In spite of the food safety-linked challenges from the demand side, the vast range of business-environment forces pose equally formidable challenges that negatively impact on the exporting industries’ ability to maintain or improve their market shares and their ability to compete in world markets. The objective of this study was therefore to establish the competitiveness of the South African citrus industry in the international markets within this prevailing scenario. Due to the diversity of the definitions of competitiveness as a concept, this study formulated the following working definition: “the ability to create, deliver and maintain value and constant market share through strategic management of the industrial environment or competitiveness drivers”. This was based on the understanding that the international market shares of an industry are a function of forces in the business environment which range from intra-industry, external and national as well as the international elements. The unit of analysis were the citrus producers engaged in export of their products and the study made use of 151 responses by producers. The study adopted a five-step approach to the analysis of the performance of the South African citrus industry in the global markets, starting with the analysis of the Constant Market Share (CMS) of the South African citrus industry in various world markets, establishing the impact of the business environmental factors upon competitiveness, establishing the costs of compliance with private food safety standards, determining the non-price benefits of compliance with the standards, as well as highlighting the strategies for enhancing long-term competitiveness of the industry in the international markets. South Africa is one of the top three countries dominating the citrus fruit export market. Since its entry into the citrus fruit exports market in the 1900s, the industry has sustained its activity in the international market. The Constant Market Share Analysis shows that, amidst the challenges on the international market side, and the changes in the business environment, over much of which the industry has limited control and influence, the industry has maintained its competitive advantage in several markets. The CMS shows that South Africa’s lemons are competitive in America. Despite a negative trend, the South African grapefruit has been competitive in France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. Oranges have been competitive in the Greece, Italy, Portugal, UK, Asian and Northern Europe markets. Competitiveness in these markets has been due to the inherent competitiveness of the industry. Competitiveness in such markets as the Middle East has been attributed to the relatively rapid growth of these markets. The South African citrus industry has similarly undergone many major processes of transformation. The business environmental factors influencing its performance have ranged reform to the challenges beyond the country’s borders. These factors directly and indirectly affect the performance of the industry in the export market. They have influenced the flow of fruits into different international destinations. Of major concern are the food safety and private standards. Challenges in traditional markets as well as opportunities presented by demand from newly emerging citrus consuming nations have seen a diversification in the marketing of the South African citrus. The intensity of competition in the global market is reflected by the fluctuations in the market shares in different markets as well as the increase and fluctuations of fruit rejection rates in some lucrative markets such as America. A combination of challenging national environmental forces and stringent demand conditions negatively impact on revenues especially from markets characterised by price competitiveness. This study identified cost of production, foreign market support systems, adaptability, worker skills, challenges of management in an international environment and government policies such as labour and trade policies as some of the most influential obstacles to competitiveness. Some of the most competiveness-enhancing factors were market availability, market size, market information, market growth and the availability of research institutions. However, compliance with private standards still poses a challenge to the exporters. The different performance levels of the industry in various markets prove the dissimilarity of the demand conditions in the global market. These are supported by the negative influence associated with the foreign market support regimes as well as the challenges associated with compliance with private food safety standards. While market availability, market growth, market information and size were identified as enhancing competitiveness, the fluctuations and inconsistencies in the competitiveness of the industry in different foreign markets require more than finding markets. Resource allocation by both the government and the industry may need to take into account the off-setting of the national challenges and support of farmers faced with distorted and unfair international playing fields. Otherwise, market availability is not a challenge for the industry save meeting the specifications therewith as well as price competitiveness which is unattainable for the South African citrus producers faced with high production costs. For the purposes of further study, it is recommended that account should be taken of all the products marketed by the industry (including processed products such as fruit juices) in order to have a whole picture of the competitiveness of the industry in the international market. This study also proffers a new theoretical framework for the analysis of the business environment for the citrus industry and other agro-businesses. This framework takes into account the indispensability of the food safety standards and measures as well as the diversity of the global consumer and the non-negotiability of food trade for the sustenance of the growing population.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2009

An exploratory study of the impact of land redistribution on the rural poor : the case of Nkonkobe municipality

- Hule, Zwelandile Cyril

  • Authors: Hule, Zwelandile Cyril
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land tenure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (South Africa)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:9077 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1251 , Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land tenure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (South Africa)
  • Description: This is an exploratory study of the impact of the land redistribution programme on the rural poor of Nkonkobe Municipality. There is a brief historical overview of land redistribution in the South African context. The study demonstrates the impact of the programme of land redistribution and its challenges for the rural poor. The critical question is whether the programme benefitted the rural poor of Nkonkobe Municipality. Chapter one deals with the aims of the research, background of the study, sub-related questions, delimitation of the study and the research method. Chapter two deals with the theoretical framework, a brief description of the study area, a discussion of the land question in South Africa including land reform experiences, redistribution policy and the government land reform programme. Chapter three deals with methodology, discussing the research design and research methods used. Chapter four deals with findings and recommendations.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2009

Livestock, rural livelihoods and rural development interventions in the Eastern Cape: case studies of Chris Hani, Alfred Nzo and Amathole district municipalities

- Phiri, Christopher

  • Authors: Phiri, Christopher
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Province , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D Soc Sc (Rural Development)
  • Identifier: vital:11937 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/184 , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Province , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: This study explores how livestock in rural communities were accessed, used as livelihoods portfolios and how off-farm activities and portfolios such as social grants, support from family members and employment assisted the rural poor to build their asset base. Empirical data was collected from 26 villages in the three districts. In particular the study examines firstly, the nature of rural poverty in these villages in the three districts and how households with and without livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, pigs, cats, ducks, horses and donkeys) used livestock local knowledge to sustain a living. Secondly it explores how the local government and related rural development agencies, intervened in livestock production and the thesis highlights the problematic nature of these interventions, and the implications this has for the form and nature of livestock ownership and use in relation to rural livelihoods. Arising from this, the thesis thirdly explores Ruliv‟s through concrete case studies, the challenges, constraints and implications of a pre-dominant top-down approach to rural development. Contrary to this approach, the study illustrates, through the Rhoxeni case study, the potential effectiveness of a „bottom-up‟ actor oriented approach to rural development. Fourthly, the study explores how local government initiatives intervened in the development of a rural livestock project in Alfred Nzo District Municipality through the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programme Goat Project. Here iv the concerns of „commercialisation‟ of livestock production are explored and the thesis points to the implications that the exclusion of social and cultural meanings of livestock have for assumed paths of commercialisation and its associations with development. Fifthly the study explores the potentiality of emerging black commercial farmers who had acquired large areas of agricultural land through local government interventions (Land Redistribution Agricultural Development) but who lacked further support and capacity to transform themselves into commercial farmers. The thesis concludes that their livestock and crop farming activities remained more subsistence and livelihood based, than any transition to expected technical market oriented commercial farming. Overall, the thesis argues that while local government planning for rural development prioritised commercial agriculture as the basis of rural development and the key mechanism of rural poverty alleviation in developmental policies (PGDP, IDP, LED), rural poverty has actually been deepening. In this context, the study argues that the value of livestock to the rural poor lies „outside‟ of its assumed economic value and is more firmly and determinedly located in its social meanings and values, despite these significant levels of material poverty. This has major implications for understanding livelihoods, engaging livestock agency, defining farming and what it means to be a „farmer‟ and engaging with prevalent understandings and practices directed at rural development.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2009

Rural livelihoods at Dwesa/Cwebe: poverty, development and natural resource use on the Wild Coast, South Africa

- Timmermans, Herman Gerald

  • Authors: Timmermans, Herman Gerald
  • Date: 2004
  • Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Citizen participation , Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Income distribution -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Household surveys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:4767 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007174 , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Citizen participation , Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Income distribution -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Household surveys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: This thesis uses the sustainable rural livelihoods framework to investigate the livelihoods of communities residing adjacent to a remote protected area on the Wild Coast. The communities living in the area are among the poorest in South Africa and are largely dependent on migrant remittances and state welfare grants for their survival. Soon after South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, the communities lodged a land claim against the protected area on the basis of past removals. In 2001, their land rights to the protected area were restored, opening up new avenues for the development of the area. It is argued that livelihood systems in the area are complex, varied and dynamic, and that for development to be sustainable, it needs to be informed by a thorough understanding of the many factors that shape the context in which livelihoods are generated. The research is based primarily on 'in-depth' micro-studies of two villages in the area - Ntubeni and Cwebe. It includes a detailed assessment of the extent and distribution of poverty and the various factors that make households vulnerable to livelihood shocks. The role of the rich and diverse natural resource base, the property rights associated with it, and the under-development of infrastructure and services in the area, are discussed in relation to livelihood prospects. A systems approach is used to examine the various ways in which livestock husbandry, cropping, natural resource use, employment and welfare dependence interact. Finally, the thesis examines in some detail the distribution of household assets, livelihood strategies and livelihood outcomes between the two villages, and between households in different income groups.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2004
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