Thesis--Ljubljana, 1962. / At head of title: Univerzitet u Nišu. Bibliography: p. 220-226.

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2006. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Vincent H. Smith. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-91).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2008. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on July 27, 2009) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (master's)--Thammasat University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-69).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2009. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Oct. 23, 2009). Thesis advisor: James A. Larson. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

[Truncated abstract] This thesis reviews the role that contract farming plays in the development process through an examination of the oil palm industry in Ghana and in the Philippines. It contributes to ongoing debates concerning agricultural liberalisation in developing economies. The general view is that while the private sector can provide access to capital, technology and markets, the transition to a market-led system will increase the financial vulnerability of farmers, particularly smallholder farmers, through unequal power relationships. Of particular concern is the capacity of the private sector to alleviate poverty and promote social equity amongst small rural landholders. At the heart of much of the debate is the issue of contract farming, which has increased rapidly in line with structural adjustment in the agricultural sector. One of the central difficulties in drawing any conclusion on whether contract farming should be encouraged or discouraged, is the lack of comparability between the large number of types of schemes, crops being contracted, the `actors' involved and the socio-economic, political and institutional environments in which contract farming schemes are nurtured. This study has focused on the role that contract farming plays in the pursuit of development through an analysis of the key socio-economic issues involved with the adaptation of contract farming in the oil palm industries in the Philippines and in Ghana. This analysis allowed for the identification of conditions under which the impacts of contract farming schemes can either be augmented or mitigated. The research found that cultivating oil palm has the propensity to reward outgrowers with increasing income and a better access to knowledge, information and technology, capital and credit, agricultural inputs, markets and other services. ... The two outgrower programs are presently successful and do not show signs of the major problems identified by researchers in other areas. However, both governments need to ensure that a comprehensive policy and regulatory framework for private sector agricultural development is put in place. A strong private sector could provide the vehicle for agricultural development and the reduction of poverty in the countryside, however, both governments and the various private sector companies engaged in oil palm production need to work in partnership with each other and the outgrower community towards the goal of a diversified and expanded agricultural production base.

Dissertation (LLM )--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / Copy not signed by author. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The use of co-operative pools in the South African Agricultural sector is a common phenomenon and an accepted commercial practice. Although it has seldom been at issue, the pool relationship between producers and the cooperative undoubtedly has certain legal consequences for the respective parties. Our courts have never addressed the aforementioned legal consequences authoritatively, probably because until now no disputes have arisen which could not be settled through negotiation between the parties concerned. Recently die legal nature of the pool relationship has became more of an issue primarily because of queries issued by the South African Revenue Service regarding the treatment of co-operative pools for purposes of income tax. Although this study is not aimed at addressing the income tax issues as regards the pool relationship, determining the legal nature of the pool relationship will be decisive for determining how co-operative pools should be treated for tax purposes. In addition to tax-related consequences, the legal nature of the pool relationship will necessarily also be decisive for issues such as insolvency and breach of contract. In this study the courts' approach to the classification of new types of contracts will be examined in order arrive at an underlying principle for evaluating the contractual nature of the pool relationship. After completion of the aforementioned examination, the functional characteristics of the pool relationship will be outlined and the implications thereof in respect of the law of things determined. The next stage involves the comparison of the functional characteristics of the pool relationship with the essential features of certain types of contracts to determine whether the pool relationship may be classified as one of these types of contract. From the aforementioned investigation it seems that the pool relationship does not satisfy the essential requirements of a contract of partnership, representation, the 'undisclosed principal' situation or mandate. The manner in which new types of contracts are classified in South African law is then revisited and proposals are made as to a possible methodology for classifying contracts that, in terms of the classical approach to the classification of contracts, would have been typified as sui generis. In accordance with this proposed approach to the classification of contracts, the conclusion is reached that the pool relationship is a new contract type that amalgamates elements of a contract of partnership, mandate and locatio conductio operis. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gebruik van koëperatiewe poele in die Suid-Afrikaanse landbou kom algemeen voor en is In aanvaarde kommersiële praktyk. Alhoewel dit al selde op die spits gedryf is, het die poelverhouding tussen die onderskeie produsente en die koëperasie ongetwyfeld regsgevolge vir die onderskeie partye. Voorgemelde regsgevolge is nog nooit deur In Suid-Afrikaanse hof aangespreek nie, waarskynlik omdat daar nog nie enige dispute was betreffende die die poelverhouding wat nie deur dialoog bygelê kon word nie. In die onlangse verlede het die regsaard van die poelverhouding egter meer relevant geword hoofsaaklik weens navrae van die Suid-Afrikaanse Inkomstediens betreffende die belastinghantering van kooperatiewe poele. Alhoewel hierdie verhandeling nie daarop gerig is om die belastinggevolge van die poelverhouding aan te spreek nie, sal die bepaling van die regsaard van die poelverhouding bepalend wees vir die hantering van die poelverhouding vir doeleindes van belasting. Afgesien van belastinggevolge sal die regsaard van die poelverhouding ook uiteraard bepalend wees betreffende kwessies soos insolvensie en kontrakbreuk. In hierdie studie sal die howe se benadering tot die klassifikasie van nuwe kontraksoorte ondersoek word ten einde In grondslag te lê waarvolgens die kontraktuele aard van die poelverhouding beoordeel kan word. Na voorgemelde ondersoek word die funksionele kenmerke van die poelverhouding uiteengesit en die sakeregtelike implikasies daarvan bepaal. Die funksionele kenmerke van die poelverhouding word daarna opgeweeg teen die wesenskenmerke van 'n aantal kontraksoorte ten einde vas te stelof die poelverhouding as sodanig geklassifiseer kan word. Uit hierdie ondersoek blyk dit dat die poelverhouding nie aan die wesenskenmerke van die vennootskapsverhouding, verteenwoordiging, die 'undisclosed principal' situasie of 'n lasgewingsverhouding voldoen nie. Die wyse waarop nuwe kontraktsoorte in die Suid-Afrikaanse reg hanteer word, word daarna weer oorweeg en voorstelle aan die hand gedoen waarop kontrakte wat, ingevolge die klassieke benadering tot die uitleg van kontrakte, as sui generis klassifiseer word, hanteer kan word. In ooreenstemming met hierdie voorgestelde metode van klassifikasie word daar dan tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die poelverhouding 'n mengvorm tussen 'n vennootskap, 'n lasgewingooreenkoms en 'n werkaanbestedingsooreenkoms is.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines the role of contracting in reducing transaction costs in smalIscale mussel farming in Saldanha Bay. Masiza Mussel Growers (Masiza), an initiative by the public and private sector to address the imbalances of the past through entrepreneurial development, are used as a case study hence a case study approach is followed. Two transactions were considered, one between Masiza and Blue Bay Aqua Farm (Blue Bay) and another between La Vie Sea Food Products (La Vie) and Masiza. These transactions form the basis for analysis. Market risks, uncertainties, environmental risks, information incompleteness, illiteracy, limited technical knowledge of farming, lack of appropriate infrastructure and lack of transport facilities are identified and examined as possible sources of transaction costs that constrain the existing supply chain relationship. The study shows that asset specificity, time specificity, and site specificity playa positive role in the supply chain as they result in relative dependency amongst parties. Opportunistic behavior within the existing supply chain is neutral, but appears to be relatively high on the spot or fresh live market. Characteristics of market transactions for mussels and associated transaction costs suggest that fresh-live spot market trading for Masiza is difficult to attain. This therefore motivates parties (Masiza) to contract or vertically integrate, as it is costly and risky to rely on spot live markets. Interviewees (Masiza) pointed out that the benefits associated with contract farming outweigh the transaction costs associated with this governance structure. Hence a market specification contract with the La Vie (a processing company), and a production management and resource provision contract with Blue Bay (a larger producer) were designed. They reduce transaction costs associated with fresh-live markets and ensure a more stable and reliable market for growers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie ondersoek die rol van kontraktering in die vermindering van transaksie koste vir klein skaal mossel produsente in Saldanha baai. Die Masiza Mussel Growers (Masiza) word as gevallestudie gebruik. Twee transaksies met o.a. Blue bay Aqua Farm (Blue Bay) en La Vie Sea Food Products (La Vie) was ter sprake en laasgenoemde het as basis vir die analise gedien. Mark risiko, onsekerheid, omgewings risiko, gebrekkige informasie, ongeletterdheid, beperkte tegniese kennis, beperkte infrastruktuur en beperkte verroer fasiliteite is geidentifiseer en ondersoek as moontlike oorsake van hoë transaksie koste wat die huidige aanbod ketting strem. Die studie toon aan dat interafhanklikheid tussen die betrokke partye deur bate, tyd en area spesifisiteite bevorder word en dus 'n positiewe rol in die aanbod ketting speel. Opportunistiese gedrag binne die bestaande aanbod ketting is neutraal, maar blyk hoog te wees in die vars mark. Transaksie kostes en eienskappe blyk beduidende beperkinge te wees vir kleinskaal mossel produsente om aktief deel te neem in die mark. Die opstel van kontrakte (of vertikale integrasie) blyk dus 'n uitkoms te wees. Respondente het aangetoon dat kontrak boerdery voordelig blyk te wees. Laasgoemde het tot die ontwikkeling van mark kontrakte met die La Vie ('n verwerkings maatskappy) asook produksie bestuur en hulpbron voorsiennings kontrakte met Blue Bay ('n groot kommersiële produsent) gelei. Die kontrakte beperk transaksie koste vir die vars mark en verseker 'n stabiele en betroubare mark vir produsente. 'n Transaksie koste analiese word gebruik om transaksie kostes te ondersoek en te verifieer binne die industrie.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / The welfare maximisation effect of contract farming is well documented (Minot, 1986) and the scheme is endorsed by the New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as a panacea for alleviating poverty in Africa and for the development of agriculture in general. In this research assignment an evaluation of contract farming arrangement in the Mazowe district of Zimbabwe sought to establish the effect of the arrangement using a comparative study of contract and non-contract farmers. Using data from the Tobacco Industries and Marketing Board (TIMB) an analysis of variance was undertaken to determine if there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of prices received for tobacco and production. A survey was conducted to test the characteristics of the two groups to help explain the findings. The results show that contract farmers performed better than non-contract farmers in terms of production, contract farmers had access to inputs, extension services and finance which could explain their better performance. However, there was no significant difference in the prices received by the farmers. The difference in performance can be explained by access to farming resources suggesting that provision of sound infrastructure and public goods could further improve the livelihoods of farmers, both contract and non-contract. Contract farmers only accessed operational finance without infrastructure and patient finance to back up their agricultural production. Government can improve agricultural production through better policies on land tenure, contract enforcement and risk management framework issues which were found lacking.

This study assesses the effects of an agribusiness collapse, on the contracted growers and their surrounding communities in Lusaka Province, Zambia. In 2004, Agriflora Limited, a Trans-Zambezi Industries Limited (TZI) agribusiness in Lusaka Zambia was sold off. Agriflora Limited was one ofthe largest fresh vegetable exporters in Africa. It had contracted almost 500 small-scale farmers with 1-4 hectares of land within 50 km radius of Lusaka to grow vegetables for export. Makeni Cooperative Society was one of the targeted groups of growers. It grew baby corn, mangetout peas, and sugar snap and fine beans for export. The case study relied on both primary and secondary data. I undertook two months of ethnographic fieldwork utilising observations, in-depth interviews and informal discussions with some community members in Makeni. I also reviewed the literature on contract farming schemes (documenting both the negative and positive effects for growers) in developing countries. The case study showed that the impact of the collapse of Agriflora on the growers has been severe indeed; there has been a significant reduction in production with only a few farmers producing for export. Those that are producing are limited to one crop, baby corn. The effect on the local labour market (farm workers) has been quite drastic with a drop in employment. A new agribusiness company, York Farm, was sourced by the government for the contract growers of Makeni. York Farm has signed a procurement contract under which only sale and purchase conditions are specified. This means that, services such as extension services are no longer provided. It was also found that despite the price for baby corn at York Farm being better than what Agriflora used to offer the farmers, farmers are not producing peas which have a higher turnover than baby corn because York farm does not buy peas from the farmers. However, the farmers are hopeful that they will soon start producing peas after they pass the Eurep gap requirements. Furthermore, the farmers are still interested in contract farming as they are convinced that it can lead to higher farm incomes. While the neoliberal critique of the pre- Structural Adjustment agricultural policies was based on the need to improve rural farming income and productivity, my study shows that the contract farmers are not the "traditional" peasant farmers but retired civil servants or former public sector employees who lost their jobs during the contraction of the sector. In conclusion, my field work revealed that the collapse of Agriflora has had negative effects on the growers of MCS in terms a significant decrease in crop production, decline in farmer income, lack of technical assistance such as extension services, transportation problems (to take produce to the new market-York Farm) and reduced contraction in employment opportunities for farm workers.