Institutional constraints to horticulture production and marketing
- Mphahama, Litsoanelo Evodiah
- Authors: Mphahama, Litsoanelo Evodiah
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Horticulture -- Economic aspects -- Lesotho , Agricultural extension work -- Lesotho , Gardening -- Lesotho , Food security -- Lesotho , Poverty -- Lesotho , Agricultural productivity -- Lesotho , Farm produce -- Lesotho -- Marketing , Land tenure -- Lesotho
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11182 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/428 , Horticulture -- Economic aspects -- Lesotho , Agricultural extension work -- Lesotho , Gardening -- Lesotho , Food security -- Lesotho , Poverty -- Lesotho , Agricultural productivity -- Lesotho , Farm produce -- Lesotho -- Marketing , Land tenure -- Lesotho
- Description: Lesotho has a land area of about 30.340 square kilometers and is completely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. Much of the country is mountainous. Its agricultural sector is characterized by low productivity due to erratic climatic conditions, limited arable land and fragile soils with a low water holding capacity. These conditions have proved very detrimental to crop production, rendering agriculture a risky economic activity. Numerous efforts have been made over the years to address the technical constraints confronting the sector, but nothing seems to be changing. The implication is that the technical/climatic factors mentioned above may be only part of the problem. The current situation whereby Lesotho imports nearly 95% of its domestic food requirements is unsustainable, but this desperate picture looks set to worsen with the continuing threats of contracting farm sizes and further declines in farmer participation rates. But this sector has continued to be an important source of household survival and existence. A study was designed and conducted during 2008 and 2009 to identify the institutional constraints to horticulture production in Lesotho, looking specifically at the obstacles to effective production and marketing of horticultural products. A total of 100 farming households were enumerated in four districts of the country, namely Butha Buthe, Berea, Mafeteng, and Thaba-Tseka. A range of institutional and non-price factors in the farming and marketing environment were incorporated in a binary choice model to investigate the degree of satisfaction of the farming households with their previous year’s farming results. To avoid selection bias in the sample, a probit model was chosen, and the Stata-10 software was used to estimate probit coefficients. The results provide indications that property rights, the agricultural extension service, the condition of the physical infrastructure, and distance to markets may be crucial elements threatening the existence of this sector in Lesotho. The difficulties in accessing markets and land remain important institutional constraints to horticulture production and marketing in Lesotho. Recommendations made on these issues include providing more policy support to homestead gardening and for these issues to be incorporated into the Vision 2020 process. Also to be included is the issue of addressing the growing national food insecurity and enhancing Basotho livelihoods in general.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Mphahama, Litsoanelo Evodiah
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Horticulture -- Economic aspects -- Lesotho , Agricultural extension work -- Lesotho , Gardening -- Lesotho , Food security -- Lesotho , Poverty -- Lesotho , Agricultural productivity -- Lesotho , Farm produce -- Lesotho -- Marketing , Land tenure -- Lesotho
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11182 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/428 , Horticulture -- Economic aspects -- Lesotho , Agricultural extension work -- Lesotho , Gardening -- Lesotho , Food security -- Lesotho , Poverty -- Lesotho , Agricultural productivity -- Lesotho , Farm produce -- Lesotho -- Marketing , Land tenure -- Lesotho
- Description: Lesotho has a land area of about 30.340 square kilometers and is completely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. Much of the country is mountainous. Its agricultural sector is characterized by low productivity due to erratic climatic conditions, limited arable land and fragile soils with a low water holding capacity. These conditions have proved very detrimental to crop production, rendering agriculture a risky economic activity. Numerous efforts have been made over the years to address the technical constraints confronting the sector, but nothing seems to be changing. The implication is that the technical/climatic factors mentioned above may be only part of the problem. The current situation whereby Lesotho imports nearly 95% of its domestic food requirements is unsustainable, but this desperate picture looks set to worsen with the continuing threats of contracting farm sizes and further declines in farmer participation rates. But this sector has continued to be an important source of household survival and existence. A study was designed and conducted during 2008 and 2009 to identify the institutional constraints to horticulture production in Lesotho, looking specifically at the obstacles to effective production and marketing of horticultural products. A total of 100 farming households were enumerated in four districts of the country, namely Butha Buthe, Berea, Mafeteng, and Thaba-Tseka. A range of institutional and non-price factors in the farming and marketing environment were incorporated in a binary choice model to investigate the degree of satisfaction of the farming households with their previous year’s farming results. To avoid selection bias in the sample, a probit model was chosen, and the Stata-10 software was used to estimate probit coefficients. The results provide indications that property rights, the agricultural extension service, the condition of the physical infrastructure, and distance to markets may be crucial elements threatening the existence of this sector in Lesotho. The difficulties in accessing markets and land remain important institutional constraints to horticulture production and marketing in Lesotho. Recommendations made on these issues include providing more policy support to homestead gardening and for these issues to be incorporated into the Vision 2020 process. Also to be included is the issue of addressing the growing national food insecurity and enhancing Basotho livelihoods in general.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
An assessment of the challenges and implications of community participation in the formulation of Lesotho Land Bill 2009
- Authors: Modia, Teboho Edward
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Community development -- Lesotho , Rural development projects -- Planning -- Citizen participation , Rural development -- Lesotho , Land reform -- Law and legislation -- Lesotho , Land tenure -- Lesotho , Land settlement -- Lesotho , Land use -- Lesotho
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11436 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007192 , Community development -- Lesotho , Rural development projects -- Planning -- Citizen participation , Rural development -- Lesotho , Land reform -- Law and legislation -- Lesotho , Land tenure -- Lesotho , Land settlement -- Lesotho , Land use -- Lesotho
- Description: This study focused on community participation in relation to policy formulation in Lesotho. It paid particular attention to whether the Lesotho community participated in the formulation of the Lesotho Land Bill 2009. Literature related to the concept of participatory development, community participation and policy formulation was reviewed. From the literature, it was clear that the attainment of effective community participation in policy formulation is not something that can take place overnight and this makes community participation a crucial aspect of any development project. The study used the qualitative approach to provide more information and detailed examination of community participation in the formulation of the Lesotho Land Bill 2009. This approach adopted the case study design. The data was collected using focus groups, interview schedule and document analysis. The study found that the government did not consult widely on the Bill before it was enacted into an Act of parliament. Therefore, it recommends that the government of Lesotho should involve all relevant stakeholders to participate in policy formulation. This will help to establish a link between the government and civil society stakeholders at local levels, for participatory policy-making to be effective.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Modia, Teboho Edward
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Community development -- Lesotho , Rural development projects -- Planning -- Citizen participation , Rural development -- Lesotho , Land reform -- Law and legislation -- Lesotho , Land tenure -- Lesotho , Land settlement -- Lesotho , Land use -- Lesotho
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11436 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007192 , Community development -- Lesotho , Rural development projects -- Planning -- Citizen participation , Rural development -- Lesotho , Land reform -- Law and legislation -- Lesotho , Land tenure -- Lesotho , Land settlement -- Lesotho , Land use -- Lesotho
- Description: This study focused on community participation in relation to policy formulation in Lesotho. It paid particular attention to whether the Lesotho community participated in the formulation of the Lesotho Land Bill 2009. Literature related to the concept of participatory development, community participation and policy formulation was reviewed. From the literature, it was clear that the attainment of effective community participation in policy formulation is not something that can take place overnight and this makes community participation a crucial aspect of any development project. The study used the qualitative approach to provide more information and detailed examination of community participation in the formulation of the Lesotho Land Bill 2009. This approach adopted the case study design. The data was collected using focus groups, interview schedule and document analysis. The study found that the government did not consult widely on the Bill before it was enacted into an Act of parliament. Therefore, it recommends that the government of Lesotho should involve all relevant stakeholders to participate in policy formulation. This will help to establish a link between the government and civil society stakeholders at local levels, for participatory policy-making to be effective.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
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