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)

This study assesses agricultural planning and production perspective on smallholder farms of Boschplaats 91 JR using an integration of a geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS). The main objective was to evaluate the use of agro-ecological zoning (AEZ) in planning and its role in promoting sustainable agricultural production on a smallholder farm. This was achieved through processing, analysis and interpretation of satellite images together with in situ spatial data for land suitability evaluation. SPOT-5 images, which were acquired from 2006 through to 2011 were used to detect change that took place in the study area. Agro-ecological parameters such as soil, climate and terrain are limiting factors that would have a negative impact on agricultural production. Soil degradation is also a major problem to food security in Thaba Ya Batho smallholder farms and presents environmental constraints to agricultural expansion. Suitable land that could increase food production was identified and mapped. This contributes to delineation of the suitability of the land and demarcating areas of high agricultural potential. The results show that a GIS and RS make it possible to plan and monitor the use of the environment on Thaba Ya Batho smallholdings. The analysis of climate, soil and terrain has shown that more than 80% of the study area is suitable for both irrigated and dryland production. A number of key constraints faced by smallholder farmers are presented. Lack of experience and poor agricultural planning were found to be among limiting factors to production. Despite the scale at which agro-ecological zones are generated, they still play significant role in planning of agricultural production / Department of Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)