Game ranching offers an economic alternative to conventional stock farming and is a means of supplementing income derived from agricultural activities. Competition is intensifying as ranchers continuously look for ways to improve and expand their businesses and gain a competitive advantage. Ranchers consequently have to find strategies that can ensure growth. Since a reciprocal relationship and dependency exists between a game ranch and the environment in which it operates, it is essential that ranchers take cognizance of aspects in the marketing environment that can either limit, and hence encumber the choice of growth strategy, or stimulate the growth potential of game ranches. As the objective of marketing is to offer customers superior value, it is pertinent for ranchers to know and understand the needs, requirements and motivations of visitors. Failure to do so will cause visitors to patronise other game ranches, or alternative tourism offerings that meet their expectations. A literature review was conducted to define strategy and assist in identifying growth strategies available to a game ranch. The literature review assisted in categorising elements in the external, internal and customer analysis phases of strategic marketing management. Surveys were conducted by means of self-completion questionnaires which were distributed throughout South Africa. Two sets of questionnaires were distributed - one to respondents with prior experience of a game ranch, and one to respondents with no-prior experience. A qualifying question directed the fieldworker to decide which questionnaire should be completed by the respondent. The surveys were constructed in such a way as to determine to what extent various factors would persuade respondents to visit a ranch or extend their stay. Based on a factor analysis, an eight factor structure emerged which represented the personal values of respondents and their levels of expectation for each of the factors. The eight factors were stimulation, universalism, tradition, security, hedonism, power, socialisation, and self-direction. The study revealed the following. - The majority of respondents with no-prior experience of a game ranch is either unaware of the offerings of game ranches, or perceives them as too expensive. - The sustainable use of natural resources is not only essential for the existence of a game ranch, but is also an important motivator for respondents to either visit a game ranch or extend their stay at a ranch. - Staff play a critical role in the overall experience of visitors and act as an important motivator to either visit/revisit a game ranch or extend their stay at the ranch. - Clean and comfortable overnight facilities are deemed important by all respondents. - Respondents have a strong desire to relax and spend time with family and friends. A decision-making framework from which game ranches can select applicable growth strategies resulted from the study. The decision-making framework comprises a three-phase process; phase 1 is the identification of a game ranch's target market; phase 2 is the use of a simplistic framework to determine a possible growth strategy for a game ranch; phase 3 is the identification of ways to implement the selected strategy. As the game ranch industry makes significant contributions to the economic, social and ecological welfare of South Africa, this study added to the body of knowledge of game ranching in South Africa, particularly with regard to the growth options available to game ranches. Recommendations for consideration of future research included the following. - As the current study investigated hunting and tourism, future research on growth strategies for game ranches could also include other aspects of game ranching such as the sale of live game and game products. - More focused empirical research into external and internal strategic analysis should be considered to supplement the empirical research into customer analysis resulting from the current study. - Finally, additional information obtained on the external and internal strategic analysis process could lead to expanding the decision-making framework developed in this study into a more holistic tool to be used in selecting a growth strategy, or combination of strategies for a game ranch3.

Thesis (M. Dev. ) --University of Limpopo, 2014 / The legacy of apartheid has left the current democratic government of South Africa grappling with vast challenges. Eighteen years of governance has not been enough for the state to address issues of land redistribution, and in particular redistribution of commercial farm and the improvement of their functionality after redistribution. The main aim of the study is to assess the general functionality, productivity and challenges of redistributed farms. Qualitative research methodology (descriptive research design) is used to diagnose historical and current issues impacting on the functionality, productivity and challenges facing LCPA. Probability random sampling, more especially stratified random sampling was used as a sampling method. The results indicated that the farm is experiencing a number of challenges, conflicting views regarding the farm path. Due to the lack of financial support, malfunctioning or aging infrastructure, and most importantly the lack of agricultural technical and farming knowledge. Challenges experienced among others include the following, consistent decline in production, lack of technical and strong agricultural farming knowledge, lack of persistent strong financial support; and lack of integrated support from agricultural stakeholders. To change the status quo, consistent training of beneficiaries in farming and farm management has to be tailor made for them, and a multidimensional support for beneficiaries has to be put in place.

Lack of access to agricultural extension and advisory services is one of the major challenges facing emerging farmers in South Africa. The purpose of the study was to determine the level of access to extension and advisory services by emerging livestock farmers in uThungulu district municipality of KwaZulu Natal province. A survey design of face-to-face interviews was used to collect data using a structured questionnaire. A sample of 1 437 was randomly selected from 4 792 emerging livestock farmers in the district. A sampling fraction of 30% was used. Stratified sampling was used to determine the number of participants from each local municipality. The survey was conducted with different groups of emerging livestock farmers representing different age groups ranging from 18 years of age and older. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 software. The results showed that more than 90% of emerging livestock farmers in the district had better access to public extension compared with 14% who had access to private extension. On average, 30% of the respondents indicated that they also had access to extension and advisory services from agricultural cooperatives. With regard to extension delivery approaches, advisory was the main (43.5%) extension approach practised in uThungulu district municipality followed by project approach (37.8%), participatory approach (36.4%) and technology transfer at 11.1%. In conclusion, the involvement of private sector and cooperatives in rendering agricultural extension and advisory services in the emerging livestock sector was an indication that various stakeholders collaborate in the improvement of agriculture in the province. The emergence of project approach showed that extension agents or officers have become more target oriented rather than technology transfer driven. The use of participatory extension approach indicated that in the 21st century, farmer’s opinions were also taken into consideration in the delivery of agricultural extension and advisory services in the emerging livestock sector. It was recommended that there should be a wider partnership of extension and advisory services involving various stakeholders such as farmers, municipalities, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to address and boost the efficiency of services to farmers in South Africa. Therefore, more work is required to increase access to extension and advisory services through cooperative associations by organizing emerging farmers in cooperative associations for the participatory approach to succeed / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

The game industry has become one of the fastest-growing industries in South Africa and consequently, during recent years, a growing number of stock farms have been converted to game farms. All forms of utilization within the game industry play a vital role with regards to sustainability and simultaneously contributing a significant boost to the national economy. It is therefore important to ensure that game ranchers are as well-informed as possible in their decision-making, as well as in assessing their outputs and endeavours. However, the information available on the game industry in the Eastern Cape is limited. This research study therefore focuses on the emerging trends in the game industry in the province. The objectives of the research are to examine various pertinent factors associated with the game industry, investigate the trends and discuss whether these trends have any implications for future purposes. The research commenced with a literature review, as well as information from earlier survey studies of the Eastern Cape game industry. For the current study, a replicate survey was conducted throughout the Eastern Cape, involving as many game ranchers as possible, and data were collected by means of self-administered questionnaires. The dilemma confronting the black wildebeest in the Eastern Cape was thoroughly investigated, together with farmers’ opinions and trends for the future of the species. It was important to include this particular aspect in the research, as at the time of the survey, widespread concerns were expressed with regards to new legislation which emerged during that time. The research cast light on several aspects associated with the industry which could positively assist game ranchers towards improved management and planning, as well as provide guidelines for future development purposes. Furthermore, the research identified crucial issues that should receive immediate attention from stakeholders across the industry as well as government.

Land use forms such as cultivation and livestock farming have become less productive and unsustainable in the Tyefu communal villages of Ngqushwa (Formerly Peddie) district, Eastern Cape, South Africa. This is manifest in abandoned and severely degraded cultivation fields as well as transformed vegetation, making it difficult to earn a land based livelihood. Against the backdrop of severe land degradation and poverty levels in these communal villages, game farming has been recommended as an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable form of land use. Tyefu Community Reserve is a project, recommended by the Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Project (STEP) backed by the Department of Environment Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), for hunting and venison selling. The proposed area has been fenced and animals to be stocked in the reserve have been requested on a loan basis. Such an undertaking requires an understanding of the abundance and condition of vegetation, terrain parameters, and an assessment of potential wildlife species, as well as the carrying capacity of the recommended reserve as a habitat. With the aid of orthophoto maps, Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Planning (STEP) shapefiles, ASTER satellite imagery and a High Resolution Digital Camera Image, vegetation types were mapped and their condition was assessed. A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the area was used to extract terrain parameters such as slope and aspect. The carrying capacity of the proposed reserve was determined using a model originally developed by Boshoff et al. (2001) for estimating potential wildlife and abundance. The proposed reserve is predominantly covered by dense thicket as compared to the adjacent Tyefu communal villages where thicket has been severely degraded. The prominent topographic characteristics such as slope reveal an escarpment ringing the proposed reserve with gentle slopes towards the centre. Slope direction has also influenced the distribution of vegetation in the proposed reserve, as the moist south facing slopes tend to have a greater proportion of dense thicket as opposed to the warm north facing slopes. Vegetation types and topography of the reserve can provide suitable habitat to a variety of wildlife species and are likely to influence the distribution of mammals in the proposed reserve. The carrying capacity model developed has been useful in determining potential species that can be supported by the reserve, and estimating their abundance. Given the small size of the proposed community reserve (about 1800ha), it has been recommended that it should be stretched to link up with the existing Great Fish River Game Complex. It will then fit within the framework as envisaged by STEP (2004), in the form of Fish River Biodiversity Initiative, a conservation corridor bordering the Great Fish River.

Family businesses are considered to be among the most important contributors to wealth and employment in virtually the world. This qualitative study looked at farming family businesses. Farming family businesses present certain unique features that discern them from other family businesses and are worthy of investigation. Two domains are identified in the literature and research about conflict in family business: The business and the family. The researcher postulated that the domain of the family is too broadly drawn and that farming family systems in the Sibling Partnership Stage, with their unique way of life and functioning, consist of several sub-systems which impact on the business. Conflict develops in and between the sub-systems. This study looked at conflict within farming family businesses from a systemic viewpoint, particularly focusing on the process aspects, the interactional dynamics in and between the sub-systems. Four active types of subsystems were identified in the case studies: Couples subsystems, parent child subsystems, sibling subsystems, in-law subsystems or subsystems of which at least one member is an in-law. The research aim was to explore the circular patterns in the two cases as systems and to uncover the function of the conflict in these systems. In both cases, circular conflict patterns came to the fore with the subsystems part of the feedback loops. The conflict escalation happened between the subsystems as elements and the conflict paths were circular, not linear. Sub-themes around family scripts, communication and perceptions about fairness were also uncovered in the research. Both cases were family businesses in the two-generational development stage. The function of the conflict in both systems could only be hypothesised due to the exploratory nature of the research. The researcher hypothesized that the function of the conflict in the systems centred around conflict as an attempt in the system to shake loose from entrenched restricting family scripts. The important themes that presented themselves in the research not envisaged in the planning stage. These themes are part of the systemic patterning in both the cases: Perceptions of fairness or rather unfairness feed into the conflict loop. Rewards and compensation are sensitive matters in all families. The more there are perceptions of unfairness in a subsystem, the more entrenched that belief becomes, the more the conflict in the system escalates and the bigger the emotional distance gets from the assumed beneficiaries of benefits.

No description available.

The objectives of this research, were to investigate the characteristics and develop a profile of the game and hunting industries of KwaZulu-Natal, and to undertake a comparison between the game and hunting industries in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. The comparative part of this study was completed using results obtained from a study done in 2002 in the Eastern Cape (van Niekerk, 2002). The main farming activities in KwaZulu-Natal are large livestock production and sugar cane production. In recent years, private landowners in KwaZulu-Natal have undergone a transition from livestock production to game ranching due to the problems faced and the cost implications of the HIV epidemic, stock theft, difficulties faced with changes in the labour laws and the increasing number of land claims against farmers. Although the game and hunting industries are relatively young industries in KwaZulu-Natal they contribute significantly to the economy of the province. Not only is greater conservation of the biodiversity more effective in game ranching but it is also proving to yield great economic returns. The increase in game ranching in recent years is namely due to the monetary value placed on wildlife, the increased value in ecotourism and its value as an earner of foreign exchange, less dependency on unskilled labour than that of livestock farming and lower rates of animal loss through theft compared to that of livestock farming. In KwaZulu-Natal game numbers indicate that impala have the greatest population amongst the respondents, followed by nyala, blesbok, common reedbuck, kudu and blue wildebeest, whilst other game species occur in smaller numbers. Respondents in KwaZulu-Natal indicate that nyala is the largest economic earner for them followed by buffalo, whereas in the Eastern Cape (2002), kudu and springbok provide the greatest income for the province. In KwaZulu-Natal income generated from hunting is second to that of live game sales compared to the Eastern Cape (2002) where hunting is the most important form of game utilisation in terms of income generated. At the time of this study, respondents in KwaZulu-Natal reported an income of R 15 382 397 generated from live sales and R 13 561 459 from hunting. These respondents also indicated that the total value of game utilised annually was in excess of R 30 million. Although game utilisation is occurring on a sustainable basis, there is room for greater utilisation of some game species which, if undertaken correctly, can increase the revenue for the province significantly and also contribute positively to further sustainability of the game populations. KwaZulu-Natal’s competitive advantage is derived from the fact that there is an abundance of game on the ranches, quality trophy animals are available, the number of game species available for hunting and quality of service rendered to hunters by the professional hunters and ranch owners. This study has clearly shown that there is a need for further investigation into the game and hunting industries in KwaZulu-Natal.

Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In South Africa the racial and agricultural policies aimed at national food self-sufficiency created an agricultural structure dominated by large, mechanised farms that are owned and operated by a small number of individuals or companies. New agricultural policy should therefore focus more on peasant farming in the subsistence sector in order to promote the development of sustainable small-scale farming units. The liberalisation of agricultural markets resulted in a fundamental change of political and economic framework conditions for the commercial agricultural sector. Failure to adapt has led to significant inefficiency and financial problems in commercial agriculture. This thesis initially focuses on the general question of the efficient organisational form of agriculture. With reference to the German agricultural structure, family farming will be identified as a superior organisational form and the utility optimal factor allocation of this organisational form is explained with the aid of the agricultural household theory. South Africa's agricultural structure is marked by extreme dualism, which was caused by political intervention in the labour and capital markets. The current liberal agricultural policy framework makes commercial agriculture in particular seem inefficient and gives reason to question the current organisational form of South African agriculture. Besides the basic socio-political objectives, the growth objective is one of the most important factors in the development of subsistence agriculture. The contribution of agriculture is not restricted to food production. In fact, the factor contribution is important in achieving economic growth, especially in developing countries. Future developments in the South African agricultural sector will be strongly influenced by the international market. In this respect South Africa, Germany and many other Western industrialised countries are undergoing a similar transformation process that corresponds with the spatial agricultural land use in location theory. Location rent implies differing costs for the use of land, and this is the case for the development of different agricultural systems depending on their distance from the market. The family farming model can be considered as having failed in the South African economy, except in some niche markets. The number of family farms is in fact growing, but there is also a tendency towards more large-scale industrialised agricultural units. The subsistence sector will remain dominated by family farming in the future, although the agricultural household represents a kind of survival institution in these areas. Despite all problems in the subsistence sector, there is no alternative to family farming, and development of subsistence farming is only foreseeable within the framework of family farming. Subsistence farming as a social security system could, however, decline in importance in the future. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In Suid-Afrika het die klem op voedselselfversorgenheid, wat voortgevloei het uit rasse- en landbou-beleidsrigtings, veroorsaak dat die landbou struktureel gedomineer is deur groot, hoogs gemeganiseerde plase wat besit en bedryf is deur 'n klein aantal individue of maatskappye. Die fokus van landboubeleid in die toekoms behoort dus te wees op kleinboere om te verseker dat 'n volhoubare struktuur van klein plase daargestel word. Hierdie verandering moet gepaard gaan met die proses van libelarisering van die landbousektor, wat fundamentele veranderings in die bedryomgewing van die sektor teweeg gebring het. Tot op datum het die gebrek aan vordering hiermee verskeie probleme in die kommersiële sektor tot gevolg gehad. Hierdie studie begin met die algemene vraag oor die struktuur van 'n doeltreffende landboustelsel, dus die doeltreffende organisasievorm. Die ondervinding van die Duitse landbou word gebruik om te wys op die relatiewe doeltreffendheid van die familieboerdery as kern vorm. Die teorie van die huishouding word gebruik om om te wys op die beter vermoë van familieboerdery om hulpbronne optimaal te allokeer. Politieke inmenging in die kapitaal en arbeidsmarkte het aanleiding gegee tot 'n hoë mate van dualisme in die Suid-Afrikaanse landbousektor. Die bestaande liberale beleid het ook verskeie ondoeltreffendhede in die kommersiële sektor ontbloot, en dus is daar 'n groter bevraagtekening van die huidige organisasievorms in die sektor. Die doelwit van groei blyeen van die belangrikste doelwitte in die landbou, ten spyte van die heersende klem op basiese sosio-politieke doelstellings. Die bydrae van die landbou strek verder as bloot voedselverskaffing, en sluit ook in verskeie ander faktorbydraes, veral in ontwikkelende lande. Verdere ontwikkelings in die Suid-Afrikaanse landbou sal sterk beinvloed word deur veranderings in die wêreldmark. In hierdie opsig is Suid-Afrika besig om dieselfde soort van transformasie te ondergaan as lande soos Duitsland en ander van die nywerheidslande. Die sterkste invloed sal na verwagting gevoel word in terme van die ligging van landbouproducksie. Die implikasie is dat afstand van die mark al hoe meer belangrik gaan word in besluite oor die optimale organisasievorm. In hierdie opsig het Suid-Afrika 'n agterstand as gevolg van die gebrek aan aandag vir die ontwikkeling van volhoubare familieboerderye. Ten spyte hiervan groei die aantal familiboerderye teselfdertyd as die groei in die aantal groot korporatiewe plase, hoofsaaklik as gevolg van die oor-aanbod van arbeid. Die verwagting is dat familiboerdery sal bly domineer in die bestaanssektor, al het dit meer die aard van 'n laaste uitweg aangeneem vir baie gesinne. Ten spyte van sy probleme, is daar geen alternatiewe organisasievorm in die ontwikkelende landbou wat ook kan bydra tot die sukses van die sektor nie. Die verwagting is egter ook dat familieboerdery as sosiale verskynsel sal afneem in belangrikheid.

Thesis (MBA) -- University of Limpopo, 2008 / Land reform is divided into three sub-programmes, which are redistribution programmes, restitution and tenure reform. The redistribution programme consists of Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development settlement and non-agricultural enterprises. Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development programme was established to redress the imbalances of land owners aroused from the previous government and its policies. A person who qualifies to purchase farms through the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development programme is a previously disadvantaged person, that is, an African, Coloured and Indian. If a person belongs to a previously disadvantaged group and that particular person works for the government he/she does not qualify to be funded by the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development programme. The National Department of Agriculture introduced a new programme called the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme. The primary aim of the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme is to make provision for agricultural support to targeted beneficiaries of the land reform and agrarian reform programme. This dissertation proposed an investigation of the success factors of Comprehensive agricultural Support programme on the farms allocated under the Land redistribution for Agricultural Development in the Waterberg District of the Limpopo Province. The objectives of study were: i. To determine factors influencing the success of the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme projects on farms allocated under the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development farms ii. To suggest recommendations for the improvement of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme. iv A case study approach was used to investigate the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme funded projects. Personal interview questions were posed to participants who were the farmers who receiving the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme grant and managers who were managing the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development farms. Open-ended questionnaires were used to collect data and four farms allocated under Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development funded by the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme and four municipal managers in the Waterberg District of the Limpopo Province were interviewed. The qualitative approach was used to process the data The chapter layouts of this research are as follows: Chapter 1: Problem Statement, Aims and Objectives of the Study, Chapter 2: Literature Survey, Chapter 3: Research Design, Chapter 4: Analysis of Data and Interpretation, and Chapter 5: Recommendations and Conclusion. The analysis of the data revealed that Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme is a success on the farms allocated under the Land redistribution for Agricultural Development in the Waterberg District of the Limpopo Province.