Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With the advent of Globalisation, the need for improved competitiveness ill agriculture, as in all sectors, has become increasingly important in obtaining satisfactory levels of growth and development. International producers are competing for South African markets while local producers must not only defend these markets, but also seek out opportunities globally. Agricultural research has been identified as one of the more important agricultural support services contributing towards the goal of increased competitiveness. Innovation and new technology are central towards achieving satisfactory competitiveness, and in order for these to be adequately available, the agricultural research system in place must be effective and efficient in its tasks and responsibilities. The objective of this study was to determine whether or not the agricultural research systems of KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape conform to the current challenges presented by the market, technology and economic environments. The effectiveness and efficiency of these systems regarding structural interactions, research investments and the involvement of the private sector was critically analysed with regard to the stakeholders within the system, namely: producers, co-operatives, private sector agribusiness companies and agricultural research institutes. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the agricultural sectors concerned and recommendations made for potential improvements and future areas of research. It was found that most of the structural interactions between the various stakeholders investigated were conducted inefficiently and have thus resulted in a lack of cooperation, poor relationship building, and sub-optimum productivity and growth. Furthermore, it was established that investment in agricultural research is too low. Although research expenditure growth rates and expenditure per fulltime researcher are high, most of the growth rates are on the decline and most of the organizations do not employ fulltime researchers, while the actual total amounts invested are low. Investment in market research for current products is satisfactory, while investment in market research prior to conducting research is poor. Finally, increased private sector involvement has not been realized. Incentives for greater private sector involvement based on profitability, have not been adequately developed. Of those companies who have recognized the need for increased commitment to research, all but one have predicted zero to low increases in research expenditure for the future, while current research expenditures are also low. There are many areas in which the agricultural research systems of the two provinces concerned must improve. A culture inductive of greater research spending and private sector participation should be fostered to overcome the causes and motives behind these problem areas. Currently, the research systems investigated seem incapable of effectively and efficiently supplying the agricultural sectors concerned with the much needed new technologies, innovations and research management necessary to adequately increase competitiveness. However, if all the shortcomings of the system are recognized and a new demand driven orientation adopted, the research systems of South Africa will in the future be more likely to promote increased productivity and growth in agriculture through greater competitiveness. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Met die koms van In verenigde wêreldmark, het dit noodsaaklik geword dat die landbou - net soos ander bedryfsektore - mededingend moet wees vir bevredigende groei en ontwikkeling in dié sektor. Internasionale produsente ding mee om Suid- Afrikaanse markte, terwyl plaaslike produsente nie net hierdie markte moet verdedig nie, maar ook nuwe geleenthede in die buiteland moet soek. Landbounavorsing is as een van die belangrikste landbou-ondersteuningsdienste geïdentifiseer om mededingendheid te verhoog. Om voldoende mededingend te wees, is vernuwing en nuwe tegnologie van wesenlike belang. Vir dié doel moet die bestaande landbounavorsingstelsel doeltreffend funksioneer en sy take en verantwoordelikhede behoorlik nakom. Die doel van hierdie studie is om te bepaal of die landbounavorsingstelsels van KwaZulu/Natal en die Wes-Kaap die uitdagings van die huidige mark-, tegnologiese en ekonomiese omgewings die hoof kan bied. Die doeltreffendheid van strukturele interaksies, beleggings in navorsing en die betrokkenheid van die privaatsektor is krities ontleed aan die hand van die belangegroepe binne die stelsel, te wete produsente, kooperasies, private maatskappye en landbounavorsingsinstitute. Die implikasies van die resultate is vervolgens bespreek en aanbevelings is gedoen vir moontlike verbeterings en toekomstige navorsingsgebiede. Daar is bevind dat die meeste strukturele interaksies tussen die onderskeie belangegroepe wat bestudeer is, ondoeltreffend is. Daar is te min samewerking, weinig sprake van verhoudings bou, produktiwiteit is te laag en daar is te min groei. Daar is verder vasgestel dat daar te min in landbou-navorsing belê word. Alhoewel die groeikoerse van navorsingsuitgawes en uitgawes per voltydse navorser hoog is, is die meeste groeikoerse aan die daal, die meeste organisasies neem geen voltydse navorsers in diens nie en die totale besteding is laag. Belegging in marknavorsing vir bestaande produkte is bevredigend, maar belegging in marknavorsing voor navorsing aangepak word, is onbevredigend. Laastens is die privaatsektor nog nie voldoende betrokke nie. Daar bestaan egter nie genoeg aansporingsmaatreëls om die privaatsektor se betrokkenheid te verhoog nie. Van dié maatskappye wat wel die noodsaaklikheid van 'n groter verbintenis tot navorsing erken het, het almal behalwe een, nul tot lae verhogings in navorsingsuitgawes vir die toekoms voorsien, terwyl hulle huidige navorsingsuitgawes alreeds laag is. Daar is baie opsigte waann die landbounavorsingstelsels van die twee betrokke provinsies moet verbeter. Daar moet 'n kultuur ontstaan waar meer bestee word aan navorsing. Verder moet die privaatsektor meer betrokke raak om die omstandighede wat aanleiding gee tot die probleme, die hoof te help bied. Tans wil dit voorkom of die navorsingstelsels wat ondersoek is, nie daarin slaag om die betrokke landbousektore van die nuwe tegnologie, vernuwings en navorsingsbestuur te voorsien wat noodsaaklik is om mededingendheid te verhoog nie. Indien al die tekortkominge van die stelsel erken word en die korrekte aanpassings gemaak word, sal die navorsingstelsels van Suid Afrika in die toekoms 'n groter bydrae kan lewer om produktiwiteit te laat styg en groei in die landbou teweeg te bring.

M.Sc. / Because of South Africa's high rate of population growth, it becomes more difficult to supply in the basic needs of people, of which water for personal use and food may be the most important. South Africa is a dry country with weak and marginal soils in most parts. This necessitates the effective use of these important natural resources. Recent legislation forces commercial agriculture to use care and sustainable methods in their resource use. Justification must also be made for ratio of resources used compared to the product delivered from that use. Therefore it is necessary to examine this use and the role it plays in the supply of basic human needs as well as economic growth. A study of these agricultural resources cannot be undertaken on a large scale, because every agricultural is unique. The purpose of this study is to generate an idea of the physical and agricultural environment of the Ohrigstad valley. This research is mostly based on the assimilation of previous studies and the comparing of results over time. This information is used to compare results from previous studies and to determine possible trends in factors_such as rainfall. A further study of the natural resources that attribute to effective commercial agriculture are made. From here the emphasis falls on the use and distribution of irrigation water to these activities in the valley. These natural sources of water and their means of distribution are studied and described. Rainfall as a direct source of water is determined by information regarding rainfall and microclimatic circumstances. Surface and subterraneous sources are described by information on the general hydrology and geohydrology of the study area. In such an environment there are many factors affecting the supply of water to agriculture such as: forestry, afforestation of riparian zones, as well as geological occurrences in the streambeds. Possible solutions for problems posed by these factors are discussed in relation to previous studies in similar areas, as well as the economic benefits that may be reaped because of such change. Finally the role that legislation (Water Act 36 of 1998) plays in the use of water by agriculture is discussed in terms of possible impacts that it may have on commercial agriculture in the area. In this study it has become clear that a lot more research must be done in such a project before any trends can be related and proved.

The goal of the research paper was to understand the complex relationship between the issue of sustainability and maize farmers’ decision-making processes. The aim is to shed light on the realities experienced by maize farmers in terms of how sustainability impacts on the decisions they make and how the decisions they make impact on sustainability. The importance of the research lies in the current state of affairs in the world in terms of the current economic recession, overpopulation, dire poverty and hunger, and the poor state of the environment. If humankind is to continue its existence on Earth in a happy, healthy world, something is going to have to give. In order for this to happen, people need to start grappling with the concept of sustainability. Focusing on sustainability as a whole is likely to end in despair. However, breaking the problem down into its component pieces will allow people to influence the particular sector in which they operate. It is therefore imperative for research into sustainability to be undertaken in all sectors of society and the economy. Agriculture presents an excellent research area due to its intrinsic link with the environment, society and the economy. Agriculture and its wellbeing is inextricably tied to environmental health. Healthy plants and animals will not grow in unhealthy conditions. Society is to a large degree dependent on agriculture for food, agriculture therefore has a significant impact on social order and function. Agriculture is one of the primary contributors to GDP, particularly in poor and developing nations. As a result, agriculture has an important role to play in ensuring economic sustainability. In order to engage with sustainability from an agricultural perspective it was decided to engage on the farmer-level. Gaining an understanding of their reality in terms of what motivates their decisions is key to understanding the relationship between agriculture and sustainability. Three maize farmers in Mpumalanga, South Africa, were interviewed with the aim of collecting qualitative data and then analysing the data using thematic analysis. The methodology employed enabled the researcher to uncover patterns in the data that constituted themes across the interviews. The following themes emerged: Theme 1: Economic factors are the primary decision driver. This is primarily due to the extent of the financial risk experienced by farmers as a result of market risk, production risk, finance risk, and rising input costs. This results in economic considerations superseding environmental or social concerns in farmers’ decisions. This has a negative impact on the overall sustainability of the farming operation. Theme 2: There has been a decrease in the number of family-run farms. This is attributable to a number of factors including economic failure, fear of loss of land due to land-reform policies, as well as crime. Family-run farms tend to have a greater focus on sustainability due to the vested interest in the next generation taking over the farm. The corporate farming operations that are taking over the farms tend to be more focussed on short-term gains in order to satisfy shareholders. Theme 3: Mechanisation is preferable to manual labour. There has been an alarming decrease in the number of labourers employed on farms. Farmers say this is due to two factors. Firstly, machines are more efficient than labour. Secondly, restrictive labour laws have made famers less keen to employ people. The net effect of these two factors is that unemployment is rising. This has negative consequences for society, the economy, and the environment. Theme 4: Farmers believe they do very little environmental damage. This results in decisions being made that do not consider environmental wellbeing other than soil health. This is because farmers see healthy soil as an integral input that optimises economic performance. Farmers tend to prioritise economic factors in their decisions more than environmental or social factors. This results in an unsustainable perspective. The only ways in which this is likely to change is if the financial risk associated with agriculture is decreased, or if farmers are given financial incentive to change their ways. In order to deal with this issue it is necessary for further research to be conducted. Research needs to be conducted to confirm the results of this study. It is important to know whether the results pertain only to maize farmers in Mpumalanga or whether most farmers in South Africa, and indeed the world, face similar problems. Research should also be conducted to propose policies or procedures to reduce financial risk in agriculture. Research should focus on reducing market risk and reducing input costs, possibly via subsidisation.

Thesis (MTech (Information Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / The objective of this study was to determine the current status of e-agriculture research in the South African context. A systematic literature review was used to gather and analyse data in alignment with the objective of the study. The researcher used keywords and combined search keywords on web search engines and digital databases to obtain pertinent research papers. The scope of the study was limited to the period 2000-2016. The books, theses, conference papers and journal articles identified as pertinent to conduct the study, amounted to 114 in number. The analysis of the study described the focus of research papers, research methods, research approaches, theoretical lenses, units of analysis and observation, levels of analysis, historical development, and major concepts and disciplines used by authors in their studies. The study also sought to discover the year of publication and assessment of searchability of the papers. The results indicate that 13 papers (11.4%) were published in the first five years (2000- 2004) and 51 papers (44.7%) in the last five years (2012-2016) of the delimited period for the study. The results of the study further indicate that the application of geographic information systems (GISs) towards improving agriculture was the most prominent eagriculture research area in South Africa (27 papers, 23.6%), followed by the use of satellite enhancing agriculture (26 papers, 22.8%). E-government direct services, mobile in agriculture, and agricultural information systems were the least prominent e-agriculture research areas in South Africa with a contribution of two papers (1.8%) each. The results of this study show that information mapping was the most used research method by researchers in their studies (57 papers, 50%), followed by the case study method with 31 papers (27.1%). The results further denote that the least used research method was industry reports with no mention of it in any of the pertinent papers, followed by grounded theory with two papers (1.7%). Interpretivism was the most used research approach by researchers (six papers, 5.2%) during the period 2000-2016. The findings of this study clearly show that researchers still need to address certain issues or problems regarding e-agriculture in South Africa in order to improve the agricultural sector. The contribution of the study is to understand the importance of enhancing research capability and socio-economic transformation of farmworkers and farmers through enhanced communication of agriculture research knowledge in the area of agricultural informatics. A foundation for further studies was created for continuous e-agriculture research in South Africa.

Mini-study project (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study considers the importance of research and development (R&D) investment for enhanced productivity in the agricultural sector. In this regard, some detail of R&D investments will be discussed. Focus is given to research intensity ratios and government spending intensities in different parts of the world, for both developed and developing countries. Furthermore, the extent of focus on investment activities by the public and private sector, respectively, will be considered. Aspects of agricultural R&D in Africa, such as the crisis of funding, incentives to perform, priorities and procedures will be deliberated. Measures for reform will be addressed. Thereafter, the sustainability of investment in agricultural R&D will be emphasized. Roles and responsibilities of the public and private sectors, funding adequacy, funding trends and mechanisms of funding are discussed. Attention will be given to the impact public and agricultural policies have on both the level and nature of agricultural investment. Furthermore, R&D efforts may impact a wide audience and in this regard welfare implications for different interest groups are evaluated. Previous econometric studies are discussed. The relationship between R&D investment and productivity in the sugar industry in South Africa is studied for the period 1925-2001 within the context of a production function regression. Data were obtained from the South African Sugar Association Experiment Station. The dependent variable was sucrose yield, while the independent variables were rainfall, land used in sugar production, technology and production costs. The techniques of ordinary least squares and Ridge Regression, respectively, were used. Using ordinary least squares, it was determined that the length of the R&D lag was three years. The short lag length may be justified by the fact that research done by the Experiment Station is of an applied nature and research, training and extension are integrated by this commodity organisation. Furthermore, the education level of South African commercial farmers is relatively high. All the variables were economically relevant and statistically significant at the 1% level, except the land variable, which was statistically significant at the 5% level. In addition, it was established that there was a structural change in the model during the period concerned. The impact of technology on sucrose yield was higher during 1959-1979, than either before or after this period. Remedies and violations to the classic normal linear regression model were considered. In particular, there was evidence of multicollinearity, as indicated by the high condition index and variance inflation factors. Multicollinearity was addressed using the technique of Ridge Regression (k=O,15).The R2 determined for this model was 83,43%. All the t-statistics, except for land, were statistically significant at the 1% level. The t-statistics describing the technology and production cost variables were higher in the Ridge Regression model. However, the land variable proved to be unstable using Ridge Regression, as the sign changed. This made it difficult to draw firm conclusions about the contribution of this variable. It was concluded that the Ridge regression model provided the best fit to the data. Finally, the rate of return to R&D investment in the sugar industry in South Africa was calculated. Cost-benefit analysis yielded a benefiUcost value of 1,61, when allowing for direct spillover effects to millers. Furthermore, the export realisation price for sugar was used in the calculation. Costs included those of production, harvesting and land. Using the three-year lag determined in this study, the internal rate of return in the South African sugar industry was estimated as 17{20%. This exceeds the discount rate in South African agriculture, the latter that is equal to 6%. In conclusion, this study makes the argument that even if a commodity displays public good characteristics, there may still be incentives for the private sector to invest, especially if research benefits can be internalised in the industry. A prime example of this situation may be seen in the sugar industry in South Africa, which is privately-funded by industry levies. This concept can be stretched to include other industries. Furthermore, this study established that there was sufficient statistical evidence to conclude, that there is a relationship between investment in R&D and increased productivity in the sugar industry in South Africa, at the 1% level of significance. In addition, it was determined that these investments yielded a high . rate of return. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie oorweeg die belangrikheid van investering in navorsing en ontwikkeling vir verbeterde produktiwiteit in die landbousektor. In hierdie verband, sal sekere aspekte van navorsing en ontwikkelingsbeleggings bespreek word. Fokus· sal gegee word aan navorsingsintensiteit verhoudings and regeringsbestedings intensiteite in verskillende dele van die wêreld, vir beide ontwikkelde en ontwikkelende lande. Verder, sal die mate waarin die publieke- en privaatsektore betrokke is by investering in navorsing en ontwikkeling, oorweeg word. Verskillende aspekte van navorsing en ontwikkeling in landbou in Afrika word bespreek. Voorbeelde hiervan is die krisis in befondsing, motivering om te presteer, prioriteite en prosedures. Stappe vir hervorming word oorweeg. Vervolgens, word die volhoubaarheid van investering in navorsing en ontwikkeling beskou. Daar is verskillende rolle en verantwoordelikhede vir beide die publieke- en privaatsektore in hierdie verband. Verder, lê aspekte van befondsing, soos die genoegsaamheid daarvan, verandering in maniere van befondsing en verskillende meganismes van befondsing, onder die riem. Fokus sal gegee word aan die impak van publieke - en landbouregulasies op beide die vlak en tipe landbou investering wat waargeneem word. Navorsing en ontwikkelingsaktiwiteite beïnvloed 'n wye verskeidenheid van belangegroepe. Die mate waarin hierdie groepe geaffekteer word, word oorweeg. Die verwantskap tussen investering in navorsing en ontwikkeling en produktiwiteit in die suikerindustrie in Suid-Afrika word vervolgens beskou. Vorige ekonometriese artikels word bespreek, waarna modelle van meervoudige lineêre regressie bepaal word. Data vir die periode 1925-2001, wat produksie in die suikerindustrie beskryf, is verkry van die Suid-Afrikaanse Suiker Assosiasie Eksperiment Stasie. Die afhanklike veranderlike is opbrengs van sukrose, terwyl die onafhanklike veranderlikes na reënval, land onder suikerproduksie, produksiekostes en tegnologie verwys. Die tegnieke van gewone kleinste kwadrate en rif regressie (Ridge Regression) is gebruik. Deur die tegniek van gewone kleinste kwadrate te gebruik, is dit bepaal dat die sloer voor die voordele van navorsing en ontwikkeling inskop, drie jaar is. Dat die sloer wat bepaal is so kort is, kan gemotiveer word deur die feit dat die navorsing wat gedoen word deur die Eksperiment Stasie, van 'n toegepaste aard is. Verder is navorsing, opleiding en ekstensie is geïntegreer. Die vlak van opvoeding van Suid- Afrikaanse kommersiële boere is ook relatief hoog. AI die veranderlikes was ekonomies relevant en statisties beduidend by die 1% vlak, behalwe die veranderlike wat land onder suikerproduksie beskryf, wat beduidend was by die 5% vlak. Verder is dit bepaal, dat daar 'n strukturele verandering in die model ingetree het. Die impak van tegnologie was groter tydens die 1959-1979 periode, as vóór of ná hierdie tydperk. Daar is verskeie aannames wat gemaak word met die gebruik van 'n lineêre regressie model. Daar was tekens van multikolineariteit, soos duidelik deur die hoë waardes vir die kondisie indeks en variansie inflasie indeks aangedui is. Multikolineariteit is aangespreek deur die tegniek van rif regressie (k=0,15) te gebruik. Die R2 waarde wat vir hierdie model bepaal is, is 83,43%. AI die t-waardes, behalwe dié van land, was statisties beduidend by die 1% vlak. Dié veranderlike se koëffisiëntleken het met rif regressie, verander van negatief na positief. Siende dat die veranderlike geblyk het om onstabiel te wees, was dit moeilik om ferm beslissings oor die bydrae daarvan te lewer. Wanneer die rif regressie model vergelyk word met die model wat strukturele verandering beskryf met gewone kleinste kwadrate, is die t-waardes wat tegnologie en produksiekoste beskryf, heelwat hoër in die eersgenoemde model. Dit was beslis dat die rif regressie model die beste passing vir die data gebied het. Vervolgens is die terugkeerkoers tot investering in navorsing en ontwikkeling vir die suikerindustrie in Suid-Afrika bereken. Die beraamde waarde vir die voordeel/koste van navorsing en ontwikkeling was 1,61. Die voordeel wat deur suikerindustriemeulenaars verkry is, is in berekening gebring. Verder is die uitvoer realisasieprys vir suiker gebruik. Die kostes het dié van produksie, oes en geleentheidskoste van land ingesluit. Die interne terugkeerkoers vir die suikerindustrie in Suid-Afrika is bereken as 17,20%, inaggenome die drie jaar sloer voor die voordele van navorsing en ontwikkeling realiseer. Hierdie waarde is heelwat hoër as die verdiskonteringskoers in die Suid-Afrikaanse landboubedryf, wat beraam word op 6%. Ter samevatting, in hierdie studie word geargumenteer dat al sou 'n kommoditeit eienskappe van openbare goedere toon, daar tog motivering is vir die privaatsektor om te investeer, veral as die voordele van navorsing en ontwikkeling in die industrie self ge-internaliseer word. 'n Welsprekende geval hiervan is die suikerindustrie in Suid-Afrika wat privaat befonds word. Hierdie beginsel kan gestrek word om ander industrieë in te sluit. Verder was daar in hierdie studie oorweldigende statistiese bewyse, by die 1% vlak van beduidendheid, van 'n verwantskap tussen investering in navorsing en ontwikkeling in die suikerindustrie in Suid-Afrika en verhoogde produktiwiteit. Vervolgens was dit bepaal dat hierdie investerings 'n goeie terugkeerkoers gelewer het.

Economic development remains elusive for many world economies, but especially those of African countries. The current global inequalities in terms of GNP per capita and human living standards between developed and developing nations have ensured that the challenges of food insecurities are only some of the many negative experiences of underdevelopment in the African continent. Hence, delivery pressures are increasing on policy makers and researchers to provide tangible and timely economic solutions to the resilient state of underdevelopment. In the policy fights against the challenges posed by a lack of development in South Africa, the agricultural sector has in the past and continues in the present to play a central role. Such is the case because the majority of citizens rely on agricultural production activities for their livelihoods. For instance, even though the sector only contributed four percent towards the national Gross Domestic Product in 2006, in the Eastern Cape Province, more than seventy percent of the total population resided in rural areas. Moreover, in 2004 more than sixty percent of the national formal and informal employment levels were found in the sector. These economic indicators do not only reinforce the assertions that high levels of geographical and sectoral inequalities exist in the country’s economy, but they also illustrate the importance of the agricultural sector in public policy attempts, which are aimed at achieving food security alongside long-term developmental objectives. Some economists, especially the proponents of institutionalism, have argued that most of the recommendations to public policy interventions from mainstream economic research endeavours are not adequately helpful. The recommendations generally lack well considered and socially effective ideas, mainly because there remains some level of ignorance about the impacts that institutions have on economic and social systems. Some argue that this ignorance is reflected in (flawed) hedonistic and rationalist assumptions made about economic actors and in the methodological thinking of many research designs and economic analyses. The misuse of formal tools and statistical methods, for example, are some of the important factors, which have led to failures of the discipline of economics to provide effective policy solutions to problems of underdevelopment and poverty, especially in poor country environments. The thesis, having taken account of the majority of criticisms levelled against the classical and new-classical economic schools of thought, argues that the discipline as a whole lacks a paradigmatic integration of institutional and new-classical economic perspectives to offer appropriate guidelines for a methodology aimed at achieving socially responsive research outputs. The lack of this integration has resulted in a skewed selection of methods by economists, which are employed in research without a supportive and in-depth understanding of institutional and social factors. To support the thesis, a more effective and integrated framework for economic research is developed and presented with case study illustrations in a cumulative manner. The 20th century history of agricultural policies in South Africa, the agricultural and institutional case studies from the Eastern Cape Province alongside reviews of other agricultural studies are all used in presenting a case for rigorous institutional investigations in general economic research. These are also used in developing the proposed integrated framework, which aims to give guidance in developing research methods, which are more socially responsive. Having shown the usefulness of the proposed research framework, the thesis recommends that public policy interventions (at national and local levels) should aim to eliminate all types of institutions which have high associated transactional costs. The interventions should also encourage the emergence and growth of the types of institutions, which present the lowest costs to initiatives of economic development. In the primary case studies from the Eastern Cape Province, the insecurity of land tenure and the various local initiatives of business ventures are highlighted as two examples of the types of institutions, which respectively present high and low transactional costs to local initiatives of agricultural and economic development.