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Thesis (M.Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / In 2010, the South African Department of Agriculture rolled out the Farm Together Agricultural Co-operative Training Programme (Farm Together Programme) to support the development and growth of selected agricultural co-operatives nationwide. This study is an impact assessment of the programme, focusing on the Capricorn District Municipality in the Limpopo Province. A survey of co-operative members whose co-operatives had participated in the programme and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders were conducted. The findings provide insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the programme. Overall, the programme was relevant and comprehensive. It provided the basic skills needed to run co-operatives. However, there has been minimum impact on growth and development. Gaps identified in the programme include lack of ongoing mentoring, monitoring and evaluation of progress being made in setting up structures to support growth and development. Women with low levels of literacy dominate the membership. Further research is required to explore why the youth and men do not participate in co-operatives.

MSCAGR / Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness / Agricultural cooperatives have been generally promoted as a vehicle for smallholder agricultural development in South Africa. As a result, agricultural co-operative registrations in South Africa are increasing. However, research suggests that South African co-operatives have generally not been effective, successful and functional. The study determined factors affecting proper functioning of smallholder agricultural cooperatives in Lepelle Nkumpi Municipality. Simple random sampling method was used to select a sample of 140 active cooperative members from 13 registered agricultural cooperatives. A list of agricultural cooperatives was obtained from the Department of Agriculture, Limpopo Province to facilitate the process. Primary data was collected using designed questionnaires and secondary data was collected from journal articles, internet and other recorded data. All questionnaires were handed out during face to face interviews held with participants. Discriminant analysis was used to analyse the data. The model was used to identify different factors which might have positive or negative effects on the functioning of agricultural cooperatives. The discriminant analysis results revealed that functional smallholder agricultural cooperatives were characterized by high level of training of members; interaction with other stakeholder and satisfaction with the training and assistance received. On the other hand Dysfunctional smallholder agricultural cooperative were characterized by high age group, low level of meeting attendance, large cooperative size, dissatisfaction of assistance and training received and high number of females. The weighting coefficients of the standardized canonical discriminant coefficients of the independent variables showed that variables that discriminated between functional and dysfunctional cooperatives were: cooperative size (-0.852), interaction vi    with stakeholders to improve the level of skill (0.579), satisfaction with assistance provided (0.516), number of females in cooperative (-0.455), years in existence of cooperative (0.452), members participation in decision making (0.407) and age group (0.446). The finding obtained in this study could be quite useful to policy makers. This study recommended that government should intensify effort on cooperative training, extension service and assistance to support functioning of agricultural cooperatives in the study area. Cooperative members should also participate in decision making and attend cooperative meetings to acquire more agricultural information

Thesis (M.Sc. (Agricultural Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Information Communication Technology tools in facilitating development within Community-Based Farming Projects (CBFPs) served by Mankweng Service Centre (MSC). The objectives of the study were to identify various ICT tools through which farmers get agricultural information, to determine the types of ICT-based agricultural information preferred by farmers in Mankweng, to examine the factors influencing use of ICTs by farmers in Mankweng and also to identify the challenges encountered by Mankweng farmers in their use of ICT. The study was cross-sectional in design and included 102 farmers from the Community-Based Farming Projects in Mankweng Service Centre as participants. Participants were selected using multi-stage sampling of combined cluster and systematic random sampling. Quantitative data was collected from participants using a structured questionnaire under the supervision of the researcher. Descriptive and inferential methods of analysis were employed. Data was summarised using frequency distribution of variables followed by measures of central tendency, measures of variance, and relationship of variables. Summary of findings was presented in the form of tables, figures and frequencies. Univariate regression model was used to analyse factors influencing use of ICT amongst farmers. The findings of the study show that majority (64%) of the farmers were women and (36%) of the farmers were men. Majority of the farmers (56%) were less than 50 years of age with 79% of the farmers having no tertiary education. The results of this study also revealed that the demographics of the participants were not the critical determinant factors in ICT usage (p>0.2) amongst farmers. The level of education farmers acquired was rather a very important predictor of the utilization of the ICT tools available to the farmers. The study revealed cell phones to be the most commonly used ICT device followed by Radio and TV. The study revealed that the affordability of ICT devices is the main challenge which ultimately limits access. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the Limpopo Department of Agriculture (LDoA) should make a provision of informal education sessions for farmers on the use of ICT devices, and ICT infrastructure and smart phones. In addition, the study recommends advocacy for more agricultural programmes through affordable platforms like TV and community radio stations media. Keywords: ICT tools, Education, CBFPs, MSC, LDA, Farmers

Thesis (M.Dev. ( Planning and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Cooperatives are recognised as an important instrument to reduce poverty, create employment, achieve economic growth and development. As a result, smallholder farmers with common interests have organised themselves and registered agricultural cooperatives. However, the operational performance of smallholder agricultural cooperatives for sustainable community development has remained poor. The purpose of the study is to explore the operational performance of smallholder agricultural cooperatives for sustainable community development in Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality in Limpopo Province. Mixed research design was used in this study. Data was collected from sixty participants, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used to collect primary data for both quantitative and qualitative methods. The study found that smallholder agricultural cooperatives in the area of the study face challenges such as lack of managerial skills, poor governance, lack of adequate financial support and access to loans, lack of clarity on policy as well as lack of alternative strategies. The main findings of the study confirmed that there are challenges associated with the operational performance for sustainable community development. Inadequate financial support and lack of managerial skills were regarded as the main challenges that hinder the operational performance for sustainable community development. The study has suggested alternative strategies and recommendations that can assist smallholder agricultural cooperatives to improve their operational performance for sustainable community development.

The study was undertaken to establish the role that should be played by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to strengthen existing second-tier agricultural cooperatives in South Africa to ensure that they are able to provide support services to member cooperatives. Ten existing second-tier agricultural cooperatives in the Zululand district of the province of Kwazulu Natal took part in the study. The results indicate that although these cooperatives understand the services to provide, they lack capacity mainly due to lack of the necessary infrastructure, finance and skills. The study recommends that DAFF should recognise the significance of this tier of cooperatives and provide direct and focused support. DAFF should develop a Cooperative Development Strategy for the sector that clearly articulates how it is going to support this level of cooperatives. Among others DAFF should also provide initial infrastructure to these cooperatives and facilitate private-public-partnership initiatives. / Public Administration & Management / M. Tech. (Public Management)

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Against the backdrop of recent co-operative challenges, it may not be very pragmatic to paint a euphoric picture of things in the world of co-operatives. The distaste from co-operative scamp will continue for some time but, despite all that has happened in the recent past, co-operative activity particularly in the rural context will remain the answer to poverty in the rural areas. The spirit and principles that lead to the formation of co-operatives make sense and have a global appeal. If they are applied in properly structured and well managed environments, they can add value towards the improvement of the quality of lives in the rural communities. This work explains the failure, hopes and fears, potential and inadequacies of the co-operative effort in the Limpopo Province. The recommendations made by the researcher are linked to the data of the study and should not be read as bland generalisations. The new economic outlook in the province makes it all the more imperative that an understanding of the individual initiative should be reinforced by co-operative struggle in the rural areas where no other option seems to be more promising. The Limpopo Province will benefit from big irrigation projects to be implemented in the various districts. All well-wishers of co-operatives focus their attention on the future potential and try to forget the bitterness of the past. Any significant success in co-operatives in Limpopo Province will send good signals everywhere in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Teen die agtergrond van die onlangse koöporasie uitdagings, kan dit dalk uiters pragmaties klink om 'n euforiese siening in die wêreld van koöporasies te skilder. Die teensin in koöporasie-ongerymdhede sal nog vir 'n geruime tyd voortduur, maar ten spyte van alles wat in die verlede gebeur het, bly samewerking, veral in die plaaslike konteks, die antwoord vir die armoede in die platteland. Die geesdrif en beginsels wat lei tot die ontstaan van koöperasies maak sin en het wel 'n algemene trefkrag. Indien hulle in behoorlike strukture, en goed bestuurde omgewings toegepas word, kan hulle waarde tot die verbetering in die lewensgehalte van gemeenskappe in die landelike gebiede voeg. Hierdie navorsing verteenwoordig die mislukking, hoop, vrese, potensiaal en ongelykhede van koöporasiepogings in die Limpopo Provinsie. Die aanbevelings wat deur die navorser gedoen word, is gekoppel aan die inligting van die studie en behoort nie as veralgemenings gesien te word nie. Weens die nuwe ekonomie uitkyk in die provinse is dit noodsaaklik dat die inisiatief van die individu versterk word, deur die samewerking stryd in die platteland gebiede. Die Limpopo Provinsie sal baat vind by groot besproeiingsprojekte in die verskillende distrikte. Alle voorstanders van koöporasie-aksie moet op die pontensiaal vir die toekoms fokus en die griewe van die verlede probeer vergeet. Enige noemenswaardige kooporasie aksie in Limpopo Provinsie sal goeie seine wyd en syd stuur.

Thesis (MSc(Agric)) -- Stellenbosch University, 1966. / INLEIDING: Die ontstaan van kooperasiewese kan teruggevoer word na die jaar 1844 toe 28 wewers van Rochdale in Engeland 'n suksesvolle koöperatiewe verbruikswinkel geloods het. Die sogenaamde Rochdale-pioniers word veral onthou vanweë die feit dat hulle die beginsels van koöperasiewese duidelik geformuleer het. In Suid-Afrika speel landboukoöperasie vandag 'n belangrike rol in die bemarking van landbouprodukte, die verskaffing van boerderybenodighede en die lewering van dienste aan boere. Koöperasies is, veral in die beginjare, meesal gestig met die doel om gebreke in die bemarking en verwerking van landbouprodukte te oorbrug. In Suid-Afrika het koöperasiewese ontwikkel sedert die twintigste eeu toe 'n Ier, Mnr. P.J. Hannon na die land gebring is om te dien as superintendent van landboukoöperasies. Vandaar het dit ontwikkel tot feitlik al die sektore van die landboubedryf in Suid-Afrika.

This research was undertaken to determine the extent to which share equity schemes have been successful. The research also investigated the possible causes of failure of the established share equity projects and sought to determine the feasibility requirements that may be put in place to ensure success and sustainability of the ventures in support of land reform. The methodology used involved comparing the data gathered from business plans, valuation reports and other project documents from the Department of Land Affairs (DLA) with the information gathered through interviews and observations. The results revealed causes of failure to include the fact that beneficiaries of the investigated equity schemes did not participate in business plan development or implementation and therefore had no sense of ownership in the intended joint ventures. It was also found that none of the business plans included any form of training for capacity building and therefore no mechanism for empowering beneficiaries existed to participate effectively at all levels of the farming enterprise. Furthermore, original farm owners as the majority shareholders tended to re-invest profits into farm assets rather than paying dividends. It was concluded that the inclusion of a training programme in every business plan is crucial to the success of farm share equity ventures as this may enable beneficiaries to be sufficiently empowered to participate effectively at all levels of the business. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

Monitoring and evaluation is multidisciplinary. It is interpreted differently and is instituted to achieve different outcomes. In South Africa, monitoring and evaluation is fairly new and as such extensive research on it is required. It enjoys immense legislative support and is implemented by multiple role players as a reform initiative to safeguard the use of limited resources, improve transparency, enforce accountability, and ensure that there is value for money and to improve service delivery to satisfy the needs of the society. Using a quantitative research method in which a research questionnaire was administered to a representative sample of respondents that were selected from the study area, the findings of this study reveals both the areas of effective and ineffective implementation of monitoring and evaluation. Effective implementation is verified by the findings through which the respondents report that monitoring and evaluation processes are clearly outlined, respondents have the expertise to implement monitoring and evaluation, monitoring and evaluation as a critical management tool complements other functions, improves service delivery, enforces accountability, promotes transparency, strengthens internal management processes and improves capacity. Adherence by the department to its financial reporting obligations to oversight institutions using the prescribed procedures is helpful and does not distract it from achieving its objectives. Contrarily, the findings also reveal areas of ineffective implementation, namely, majorities of respondents are not regularly trained on monitoring and evaluation, there is lack of accountability, support and failure by senior managers to prioritise monitoring and evaluation, the monitoring and evaluation directorate is inappropriately located and insufficiently resourced, progress in the implementation of the recommendations that are made in quarterly performance reports is not tracked and there is lack of evidence to support achieved targets. / Centre for Public Administration and Management / M.P.A. (Public Administration and Management)