Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2013 / This research project unfolds within the Shigalo wa Muhunguti Communal Property Association farms at Tshitungulu, (Levubu) area, under Makhado Municipality in Vhembe District of the Limpopo Province, with the purposes to evaluating the sustainability of that Land Restituted farming project. This is a case study research project where both the qualitative and the quantitative research strategies were used. Data was collected through structured and semi-structured interviews. The analysis reveals that while the Land Reform programme has managed to restore land rights to the legitimate owners, the sustainability and continued productivity of such properties in the hands of the new owners remains a cause for major concern. The findings reveal among other things the low literacy level, lack of farming skills, low interest and passion for farming, and high level of dissatisfaction of employees. Poor marketing of produce is also a cause for great concern. Recommendations to address the above findings suggest that the Department of Agriculture should implement massive training programmes on beneficiaries, young farmers should be exposed to modern production system, regular meetings with employees could reduce their dissatisfaction, while the executive members could undergo vigorous training to get marketing skills to negotiate the sale of their produce.

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