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.

M.Tech. Business Administration. Business School. / In South Africa emerging farm enterprises are a primary focus of government interventions with the view of improving and increasing productivity and profitability of the land redistribution beneficiaries. However, the state of productivity and profitability of the emerging farm enterprises is not well documented. The problem faced by emerging farm enterprises in South Africa is that they are not graduating from emerging to commercial farming enterprises as was expected from 1994. Smallholder farmers find it difficult to participate in the markets because of a range of constraints and barriers reducing incentives to participation. There are several factors contributing to this, but lack of information on productivity and profitability seem to champion the dilemma. Not much is known about the productivity and profitability of emerging farming enterprises. The aim of this study was to contribute to the body of knowledge, in pursuance of measures of productivity and profitability for improving the emerging farmers' situation.

M. Tech. Operations Management / Makhathini Farmers have produced cotton for over 10 years at subsistence level despite utilising related technology extensively; the farmers' mission remains to produce cotton at commercial level. The technology mentioned in the study is available worldwide, as well as locally. The technology accessed is readily available to the local farmers. Theories pertaining to technology were explored to assimilate a kaleidoscope of technological perspectives and to gain a better understanding of what can be expected if these were utilized. Against the above background the research problem was formulated as: How technology could be deployed to upcoming commercial - cotton farmers in the Makhathini region to support sustainable cotton production in this specific area.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word gekyk na die gevolge van die totale oorheersing van ‘n baie suksesvolle landboubedryf in ‘n afgebakende gebied, wat as gevolg van verskeie faktore in duie gestort het. In die Klein Karoo was so ‘n bedryf die volstruisboerdery, waar ongekende hoë pryse vir volstruisvere tot 1914 behaal is waarna die prys geval het en die boerdery –gemeenskap in ellende gedompel is. Die studie konsentreer op die herbopbou van die landbou in die Oudtshoorn-distrik en op die maniere waarop die boere gedwing is om innoverend te dink om te oorleef. Die fokus van die boere het weggeskuif van die produksie van volstruisvere en hulle het teruggekeer na die produksie van beproefde landbougewasse. Daar is nuut gedink oor hoe om hierdie gewasse meer effektief en meer lewensvatbaar te produseer. Nuwe produkte is beproef en met die terugkeer van die volstruis as bemarkbare kommoditeit is op die verwerking van die hele volstruis gekonsentreer en nie net op die vere nie. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study the effects of the total domination of a very successful agricultural industry in a defined area, which has collapsed as a result of various factors, will be looked at. In the Klein Karoo unprecedented high prices were obtained for ostrich feathers up till 1914 and when the price fell, the farming community was plunged into misery. The study focuses on the redevelopment of the agriculture in the Oudtshoorn district and the ways in which farmers were forced to think innovatively to survive. The focus of the farmers had to move away from the production of ostrich feathers and they had to return to the production of proven agricultural crops. There had to be some new thinking on how to make the production of these crops efficiently and economically more viable. New products were tried and tested and with the return of the ostrich as a marketable commodity the farmers concentrated on the processing of the whole ostrich and not just the feathers.

This study explores the impact of post-apartheid agricultural changes on citrus farmers in the Peddie area. The case study focused on the Craighead Citrus Farm at Kwatho as well as the Naudeshoek Citrus Farm, Ripplemead Citrus Farm and Siyamila Citrus Farm in the Balteni area. The study considered the effect of agricultural changes on citrus production, productivity of the farms in question, as well as the impact on poverty alleviation in Peddie District. In the study, the challenges encountered by both farmers and communities due to the agricultural changes in the new democratic dispensation were also considered. The study further considered the role played by the Department of Agriculture and Ngqushwa Local Municipality in assisting these farmers to increase citrus production in order to create employment opportunities. To achieve these objectives, a review of literature and collection of evidence in the form of interviews, and observations were conducted in the research areas. The research findings indicated that the Craighead Citrus Farms is state owned land, which belonged to Ulimocor, a parastatal under the former homeland government (Ciskei). This farm is no longer operational and is abandoned. During the period of this study the Naudeshoek Citrus Farm, Ripplemead Citrus Farm and Siyamila Citrus Farm were operational and progressing. Citrus farming in this area has potential to boost the economy, which would only be possible with the establishment of partnerships between the emerging farmers, government, commercial farmers and Ngqushwa Local Municipality.

This study investigates the impact of urban agriculture in the city of East London as well as the possibility of adopting agricultural urbanism as an urban farming model to bolster food security. The study goes further to understand the role that could be played by University of Fort Hare and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in capacitating small scale urban farmers in the city of East London. Unemployment and food insecurity are the key challenges that are affecting many families in South Africa, including urban dwellers. The main objective of this study therefore is to investigate the contributions of urban farming in securing food security and livelihoods in East London. This study adopted a mixed methods research approach, where both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to harvest data. Statistical analysis (descriptive) was then used to analyse quantitative data. Thematic approach used to analyse qualitative data. The study shows that urban farming plays an important role in the livelihoods of urban dwellers. However, the sector still faces various challenges such as lack of recognition by authorities. The study also revealed that the city of East London has potential to establish agricultural urbanism as it has most of the essential aspects that are necessary to establish it. The study recommends strengthening of the partnership between University of Fort Hare, Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and small scale urban farmers in East London.

Smallholder pig farming is an important livestock activity in Mpumalanga. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether variation in agro-ecological climatic conditions differently impacts on the small-scale pig production systems in Mpumalanga province and to identify factors that influence production positively or negatively in the various agro-ecological zones. The study was conducted in Mpumalanga province of South Africa in three agro-ecological zones namely the highveld, the lowveld and the midveld. The study followed mixed methods approach, using qualitative and quantitative data. In total, 220 randomly selected smallholder pig farmers were interviewed face to face using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Data was entered into Microsoft Excel2007® spreadsheet, filtered and analysed using Stata v9 (Statacorp., Texas, USA) and Microsoft Excel2007® for frequency, herd-related variables; in addition, some hypothesis were tested using appropriate analytical methods (descriptive and correlation analyses). Associations between agricultural training, government assistance (material or financial) and thirteen herd and farmer-related variables were analysed using multivariable logistic regression model. A pairwise correlation was used where necessary and outputs were generated to associate certain variables and preferred methods including markets, market determinants, treatment methods for sick pigs, feed preference, body conditions of the sows and age at weaning. To integrate economic analyses, a partial budgeting combined with other turn on investment (ROI) model has developed in Microsoft Excel 2007® spreadsheet. The outcomes from the field data obtained including details from published materials were utilized to develop and validate the model. Economic feasibility and viability of a 10-sow unit were tested for a three-year farm operation. The results indicated that smallholder pig farming was predominated by males (64%), age group 51 years and above (54%), black Africans (98.6%) and approximately three-quarters of the smallholder farmers were classified as being poor to just below average. The majority (80%) of respondents had no prior pig husbandry training while few had (33%) received assistance from Department of Agriculture. In terms of stock, mixed breeds (89%) from exotic pigs were mostly kept and the majority (87%) of the farmers kept between 1 – 10 ws in their herds. Many farmers (75%) engaged in bio-security risky behaviour of buying auctioned-sourced boars, free-range boars and untested boars from neighbours and relatives. Few (17%) farmers practiced vaccination and only (10%) kept records of the pigs. The majority of the responses on pre-weaning mortality (50%) and post-weaning mortality (90%) were within acceptable range of 1-10% and 1-5% mortality rates respectively. The lead causes of mortality were weak piglets and crushing (46%), diarrhea (27%), poor management knowledge (19%) and malnutrition (16%). Fifty-eight percent farrowed ≤10 piglets/born/sow/litter, 44.2% practiced no weaning method, many fed leftovers alone (41.6%), 47% was using self-medication and 41% of the sows were in poor body conditions. It was also discovered that only 27% sold the porkers in less than 6 months of age and local slaughter/sold live (64.4%) was the most preferred market source. A pair-wise correlation showed links that between the feeding of commercial feeds and pigs in relatively good to very good body conditions. Poor body conditioned pigs were positively correlated with the feeding of swill alone. The economic models for a 10-sow unit proved that pig farming at that scale is unprofitable by feeding commercial feed. However, only through a combination of cooperative systems, benefits of economic of scale, reduction of pre-weaning mortalities, and structured government inputs can improve pig production profitable at this scale of production. In addition, agricultural training and government incentives will facilitate improved productivity in smallholder pig farms within the province / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Communication with an organisation’s customers has become one of the most important factors that play a role in doing business today. Organisations that supply their customers with correct and different kinds of information create customer loyalty. Dairy farmers are no exception to the rule, because of the ongoing planning that dairy farmers need to do on a daily basis. Dairy farming in South Africa is extremely price sensitive and therefore information that can help in decision making plays an important role in making the right decision at the right time. The Internet has become an essential environment where information is readily available to anyone who has access to the technologies, such as smartphones, computers and tablets. Thus, it will be beneficial for both the organisation and the dairy farmer to have relevant information available on the organisation’s website. The information that is made available to the dairy farmers on these websites needs to be updated on a daily basis. The information must be relevant to dairy farming and must provide additional information besides the information that the specific organisation specialises in. Information as a Service (IaaS) for Dairy Farmers in South Africa is the focus of this research. The purpose of the investigation is to provide a means of providing the information needed by dairy farmers in South Africa, to enable them to make the right decisions on an operational level. The empirical data were collected, analysed and interpreted. From these findings a proposed communications framework is created to assist organisations to better communicate with dairy farmers in South Africa. The purpose of this research study is to design a framework which will provide IaaS to dairy farmers in South Africa. The research determined the different ways in which organisations can communicate with dairy farmers and the best time period in which that communication should take place for each specific communication strategy. Therefore, the aim of the research study was to determine the best ways to communicate with dairy farmers. A clear knowledge of the technologies that dairy farmers use to manage information was determined by the research study. The required information that dairy farmers need to make the correct decisions suitable for the requirement of farming on a practical level was determined by the research study.The proposed framework on Information as a Service for Dairy Farmers could help organisations to supply dairy farmers with the right information at the right time. The proposed framework will assist organisations dealing with dairy farmers easier and will also assist farmers, because the information provided as a service will be relevant to dairy farming. The treatise is an exploratory, mixed method research study which consists of literature reviews, surveys and cross-sectional studies. Secondary resources was used to conduct literature studies to determine the information needed by dairy farmers. A questionnaire was compiled from existing questionnaires as well as from literature studies and was completed by the respective respondents in the dairy farming community. The survey also consists of questions that determine what dairy farmers think about the service they receive from the organisations that they deal with. A cross-sectional study was used to compare the information needed specifically by pasture-based dairy farmers in relation to total mixed-ration-based dairy farmers. Both Descriptive and Inferential Statistical methods will be used for the analysis of the data. The communication systems can vary from Self-Help Groups to Mobile Technology. The type of communication system will depend on the systems that the organisation have available for their customers. The timing of communication with dairy farmers needs to be convenient and depends, according to literature, on the type of social networking that the organisation might use. An organisation that deals with dairy farmers needs to decide which Social Media site is most suitable when it needs to communicate with dairy farmers. The technology used to access information consist of Laptops, Smart Phones, Tablets and Desktops. Agricultural organisations provide information which dairy farmers need, to give them the correct guidance in performing good farming practices in order to produce safe, high-quality milk. The study will conclude with the development of a proposed communications framework where agricultural organisations can provide information as a service to dairy farmers.

The following dissertation sets out to investigate the decline of agriculture in Mission location at Butterworth, Transkei, using the Rehabilitation Scheme as a benchmark. The scheme was introduced in 1945 to combat soil erosion and improve agriculture in the African reserve areas, as the South African government claimed. The dissertation argues that this claim by the government served to mask the real intentions behind the scheme namely, to regiment the migrant labour system by depriving as many Africans as possible of productive land so that they were unable to fully subsist by means of agriculture. This is further shown by analysing the impact of the Rehabilitation scheme in Mission location in which a substantial number of people lost arable land as a result of the implementation of the scheme in 1945. These people were consequently denied the wherewithal to subsist by agriculture. Moreover, the efforts of the government resulted to a modernisation of agriculture by making it more cash-based- for example through the introduction of fencing, the need for tractors as a result of a decline in stock numbers (in part as a result of stock culling). Most people could hardly afford this type of agriculture and were consequently forced off the land. The dissertation concludes that indeed the decline of agriculture in Mission location can be linked to the changing agricultural and land-holding practices brought about by the government- especially the introduction of the Rehabilitation scheme.

This study examines the dynamics of agricultural change amongst traditional African smallholder farmers in Shixini location, Gatyana District, Transkei. This entailed an examination of the historical, regional and local causes of agricultural change and the response of the local community. What became evident was that there had been a gradual decline in agricultural output after the 1930s due to a combination of socio-economic and environmental constraints. Pressure on limited resources and land degradation, a consequence of socio-economic pressures on the African peasantry and agricultural expansion, reduced carrying capacities and soil fertility within the African reserves. Racially discriminatory policies also reduced African access to agricultural markets and forced peasants into migrant labour. The initial response to this agricultural decline was to maintain cultivation and pastoral practices, despite declining output, and rely more heavily on migrant labour. However, massive population ~owth from the mid 1950s onwards stimulated a rapid change in cultivation practices. Rural households found it increasingly difficult to gain access to arable land in river valleys and growing poverty undermined their ability to cultivate fields. In response to these conditions the rural population abandoned their fields and expanded garden cultivation. Garden cultivation was a more intensive method of cultivation which made more efficient use of household resources, maintained long-term yields and had a less detrimental impact on the soil. This study attempts to make a contribution to southern African historiography and historical geography. Since the rise of radical human geography in the 1970s there has been a growing number of political economy studies focusing on capitalist expansion, racially discriminatory state policies and associated class conflicts in South Africa. However, most of these studies have focused on urban communities. The political economy of African rural areas has been sorely neglected by human geographers despite the enormous growth of such studies amongst historians and other social scientists. This study of agricultural change in Shixini location, Transkei adds to the small collection of geographical research on the political economy of African rural areas. It also adds to the large body of historical research by focusing on the recent past, a much less well documented period. The most important component of the study was an examination of the response of the rural community to socio-economic and environmental changes. This brought the often neglected role of human agency within the world political economy into the study. Environmental factors, often neglected by'historians and human geographers, were also brought into the analysis. The examination of such a broad range of factors was facilitated through the use of a wide variety of source material including historical, anthropological and socio-economic literature, official statistics, archival records, aerial photographs and a sample survey