Thesis (MA (Political Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change is conclusive that climate change will lead to scarcity of the basic resources that sustain life for people around the world – fresh water supplies, food production and land for habitation and cultivation. It is argued that environmental scarcity leads to migration which in turn results in conflict in the receiving area as competition over resources develops. Based on the main theories relating to resource scarcity and conflict, the purpose of this study is to examine the link between climate change and human security. The relevance of this research is the fact that the Stern Review concludes that climate change poses a serious threat to the world and that Africa will be one of the hardest hit continents. Africa is already vulnerable to climate variability and has the least capacity to respond, and this study aims to establish the impacts of resource scarcity on human security in South Africa. The theoretical approach addresses the much debated concept of ‘human security’ as it has developed since the end of the Cold War and the analysis is based on the main conflict theories that maintain that competition over access to scarce resources is one of the root causes of violent conflict. The research design for this study is of an empirical nature with the units of analysis being states, physical events and processes and the resulting human actions. It is a descriptive analysis, interpreting the impact of climate change on scarce resources and the resulting propensity for conflict. Much of the violence against migrants has been the result of varying degrees of xenophobia amongst all racial groups in South Africa. This study proposes the hypothesis that migration results in increased competition over scarce resources in receiving areas, which as a result of xenophobia leads to conflict. Based on the theoretical arguments put forward, the paper aims to determine what policy options for adaptation, mitigation and governance would be most likely to reduce the harmful impacts of climate change on vulnerable regions and groups of people in South Africa and neighbouring countries in order to contain migration and lessen the likelihood of violent conflict. Having identified xenophobia as a spark that could ignite violent inter-group conflict it would be useful to gain some theoretical insight into reducing group prejudice and attaining group cooperation through inter-group contact. It is apparent that there is no single theoretical approach that can be applied to gain a better insight into the complex link between resource scarcity and conflict. The different theories are mutually compatible and each theoretical perspective contributes a partial elaboration to and additional insights into the climate change/conflict hypothesis. There is possibly room for a new theoretical approach to gain a better understanding of the complexity and the uncertainties that are inherent in the study of a mechanism as complex as climate change. South Africa has the responsibility to use its global political influence to promote a shared understanding of responsible behaviour across all societies. Active participation will enable South Africa to guide global negotiations towards outcomes that will lessen the impact of climate change on the most vulnerable countries and populations. In conclusion, possible policies and actions are identified that could support these objectives. Without urgent, appropriate intervention climate change will undermine any efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and a crippled African continent will be a threat to world security.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this thesis was to determine whether or not examples exist of commercial grain farmers in the Swartland region of South Africa moving away from high-external-input agricultural production systems towards production systems based on ecologically restorative partnerships with soils and other natural systems. The research also sought to understand why these farmers were changing their approach to farming, as well as investigating the specific technologies and practices they were implementing in order to achieve these changes. In addition, the thesis also considered the theoretical implications of these changes on food security in the Western Cape. Three research approaches were employed: qualitative case studies of seven progressive farmers in the region; a literature review; and an analysis of secondary data. Throughout these three approaches, Swilling and Annecke’s conceptualisation of a multifaceted global polycrisis was used as a conceptual reference point. This was done with the intention of providing an agricultural analysis which looks beyond the farm gate and takes cognisance of the broader socio-ecological issues which affect and are affected by agriculture. The research identified seven farmers who are shifting towards lower-external-input production methods, which focus on enhancing beneficial partnerships with natural systems. The on-site interviews and observations revealed that the degree to which these seven farmers were altering their practices varied significantly. However, four key technologies and practices were identified as being common to all seven farmers: the use of legume rotations, reduced tillage, new styles of planters and increasing farm size. With regard to food security, the research suggested that current changes in these farmers’ agricultural practices could assist in keeping food prices and food production levels more stable in future, compared to production using high-external-input practices previously employed by the farmers. The potential improvement in production stability was shown to result mainly from improvements in soil health, as these improvements give crops increased resilience to unfavourable weather conditions, greater disease-resistance and improved vitality. The potential improvement in price stability stemmed predominantly from increased input-use efficiency and the utilisation of natural fertility and pest-management practices which were less susceptible to monopolistic input sales structures, international shortages and the increasing cost of fossil fuels. Due to the small size of the case study sample and the fact that this research focussed specifically on farmers who were considered progressive, the findings presented in this thesis cannot be viewed as representative of the larger agricultural region. The intention was rather to establish the positive changes currently underway, in order to provide useful pointers for similarly beneficial changes to be implemented elsewhere. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie tesis was om vas te stel of voorbeelde bestaan van kommersiële graanboere in die Swartlandgebied van Suid Afrika wat wegbeweeg van hoë-eksterne-inset produksie sisteme na sisteme wat gebasseer is op vennootskappe met grond en ander natuurlike sisteme. Die doel van dié vennootskappe isom ekologiese herstellingte bewerkstellig. Die navorsing het ook gepoog om te verstaan hoekom hierdie boere hulle boerderytegniekeverander; spesifieke tegnologieë en praktyke wat gebruik word om verandering mee te bringis ondersoek. Daarenbowe oorweeg hierdie tesis ook die teoretiese implikasies van die veranderings op voedselsekuriteit in die Wes-Kaap. Drie navorsings benaderings is te werk gestel: kwalitatiewe gevallestudies van sewe vooruitstrewende boere in die area; ‘n literatuurstudie; en ‘n analise van sekondêre data. Swilling en Annecke se konsepsualisering van die veelvoudig-gefasetteerde globale polikrisis is deurlopend gebruik as ‘n konsepsuele verwysingspunt. Dit is gedoen om‘n boerdery analise daar te stel wat verby die plaashek kyk na wyer maatskaplike en ekologiese kwessies wat ‘n wederkerige verhouding met boerdery het. Die navorsing het sewe boere geidentifiseer wat na laer-eksterne-inset produksie metodes beweeg. Hierdie metodes fokus daarop om voordelige verhoudings met natuurlike sisteme te versterk. Onderhoude en waarnemings op die plase het vasgestel dat die graad van praktykverandering merkwaardig tussen die sewe boere verskil. Nietemin, vier gemeenskaplike sleuteltegnologieëenpraktyke is geidentifiseer: die rotasie van peulgewasse, verminderde grondbewerking, nuwe plantermodelle en die vergroting van plaasgroottes. Met betrekking tot voedselsekuriteit vind die navorsing dat huidige veranderings in die wyse waarop geboer word, in vergelyking met die voorafgaande hoe-eksterne-inset produksie praktyke, kospryse en produksievlakke kan stabiliseer. Die navorsing wys daarop dat ‘npotensiële verbetering in produksie stabiliteit ‘n uitkoms van gesonder grond is. Gesonder grond verhoog gewasse se vermoëom effektief op ongunstige weerkondisies te reageer, bevorder hulle pes-afweringvermoë en verbeter die lewenskragtigheid van gewasse. Die potensiele verbetering in die stabiliteit van pryse is ‘n nagevolg van meer effektiewe gebruik van insette en die gebruik van natuurlike vrugbaarheid en pesbestuurpraktyke wat minder vatbaar is vir monopolistiese inset-verkoopstrukture, internasionale tekorte en die prysverhoging van fossielbrandstowwe. Na aanleiding van die klein skaal van die gevallestudies en die feit dat die navorsing spesifiek gefokus het op vooruitstrewende boere, verteenwoordig die bevindings in hierdie tesis nie die omliggende landbou area nie. Die veronderstelling was eerder om die positiewe veranderings wat tans onderweg is vas te stel om sodoende bruikbare advies aan soortgelyke voordelige veranderings wat elders geimplementeer kan word te verskaf.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Poverty, which was traditionally a rural phenomenon, has become one of the main drivers behind people migrating to urban areas. It is estimated that more than 50 per cent of the global population lives in cities while the current annual growth rate of cities in sub-Saharan Africa is almost double the worldwide average. The provision of food for the growing number of poor urban citizens is a major challenge, which needs to be addressed by city authorities. As most of the urbanised poor are exposed to agriculture due to their rural backgrounds, agriculture should be viewed as a possible solution to the challenge of urban food security for the urban poor. Put differently, feeding a growing urban population living in poverty will be one of the major humanitarian and political challenges of the next century. This implies that increased pressure will be put on urban agriculture for food production inside or close to cities, especially in developing countries where poor transportation infrastructure between the cities and rural areas creates problems for food supply. This research explores the significance of urban agriculture as one of the solutions to urban poverty. The aim of this research report is to critically analyse the concept of urban agriculture and how it can contribute to urban renewal and the alleviation of poverty for the urban poor. It focuses particularly on the scope, problems and challenges of urban agriculture in the high density settlements of Khayelitsha-Mitchell’s Plain in Cape Town where widespread poverty and high unemployment intensifies the need for low cost food production for poor households. The research takes into account the lessons learned in the past and looks at the role government, individuals, community organisations, NGO’s and corporate South Africa can play in expanding urban agriculture. We look at the different types of urban agriculture and the various success factors and potential pitfalls in implementing strategies of urban agriculture. This research also takes a closer look at the various problems faced by those keen to utilise urban agriculture opportunities. This research indicates that urbanisation is inevitable and has a negative impact on the poverty levels of urban citizens due to the migration of the rural poor. This is relevant to the Western Cape and in particular, to the Cape Town townships of Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain, due to the accelerating migration from the rural Eastern Cape. The City of Cape Town is doing a fair amount of work in the field of urban agriculture through the Urban Agriculture Policy it adopted in 2007. However, this research concludes that urban agriculture in Africa, including South Africa, still does not receive the necessary recognition or support when compared to the developed world.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, School of Computational and Applied Mathematics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. 10 November 2014. / This MSc thesis is aimed at assessing the food security of people actively participating in urban agriculture. In addition, it aims to assess the role of community projects that are involved in urban agricultural activities in Soweto. The fieldwork took place in five suburbs of Soweto; Meadowlands, Chiawelo, Mzimhlophe, Motswaledi and Nancefield Hostel. The findings suggest that there is a link between urban agriculture and food security in Soweto. Field based research revealed that the participants who engage in urban agricultural activities are doing so to supplement their households’ daily dietary needs. The community projects that mainly engage in food gardening are doing so for the same reasons as the individuals. However there is a greater potential for the community projects to grow into more sustainable micro-economical entities that can supply the community and local retailers with locally grown cheap vegetables. Hampering this potential is the need for continuous skills development and training in agriculture and financial management. In addition, there is a problem pertaining to access to resources and funding than could assist both the community projects and individuals to grow good quality food. There is however a need for more data to assess the spatial distribution of the urban cultivators, livestock keepers and community projects. Nonetheless, it is important to note that urban agriculture is quite significant in the lives of those involved as it has helped reduce food insecurity in their households and encourages social

The study was conducted in Eastern Cape Province to 1) investigate local people’s knowledge and perceptions on Euryops floribundus and 2) landscape distribution and effect of Euryops floribundus on herbaceous vegetation and soil. A total of 90 households who own livestock were randomly selected from the three communal areas, namely; Tsengiwe, Upper Mnxe and Manzimdaka for household surveys and group discussions. For landscape study, a total of about 5 ha of land were selected at Upper Mnxe communal area. Selection criteria included the presence of E. floribundus and different landscape gradients. A total of four 50mx50 plots were marked along the landscape gradients: Bottom, Middle, and Upper Slope and upland positions. To study the effect of E. floribundus invasion on the herbaceous vegetation and soil, a total of 4 ha communal land was selected in an accessible area which had a largely flat terrain. The area was selected to have adjacent sites with no invasion (< 5% shrub cover), light (5-15% shrub cover), moderate (>15-35) and heavy invasions (>35% shrub cover) of E. floribundus. The average household size in the study area was 6.8± 0.7. All people in the three communal areas unanimously ranked sheep as the most important species for their livelihood, but the ranking of cattle and goat varied among the communal areas. All elder groups agreed that Europs floribundus decreases both the quantity and quality of herbaceous forage as well as livestock production. Moreover, invaded patches create more bare areas which are responsible for the loss of top fertile soils and the formation of rills and gullies. The result showed that the total density of E. floribundus significantly increased from the topland (2301 plants ha-1) moving to the bottomland (4888 plants ha-1). Canopy cover was significantly lowest in the topland (17.9%), but the remaining gradients had similar cover. Grass dry matter yield was higher in the bottomlands and sloppy gradients than the toplands. Soil organic carbon was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the flat than the sloppy terrain. Soils from higher elevations (toplands and upper sloppy) had significantly higher N than the lower elevations (bottomlands and Middle sloppy). The lowest dry matter was observed at low invasion and non-invaded sites. Soil chemical properties were generally different from all density levels. In conclusion, E. floribundus encroachment was found to be major cause of decline in the peoples’ livelihood because as this reduces the vegetation diversity and livestock production, both of which are the major of their livelihoods.

This study examines the impact of children’s grants on household access to food, education and health care. In the face of increased poverty and socio-economic inequalities, social grants are a critical poverty alleviation intervention implemented by the government of South Africa. The children’s grants are offered as part of the social security system which is provided for in the Republic of South Africa Constitution of 1996 and the Social Assistance Act of 2004. The basic needs conceptual framework is the lens informing the focus of the study. Among other major findings, the study reveals that (a) childrens grants play a critical role in improvement of access to food, health care and education, (b) childrens grants are used as collateral, to access short term loans, and (c) social networks and home gardens play a significant role in aiding children’s grants to ensure household access to food, education and health care.

South Africa ranks high among the developing countries with income inequality and household food insecurity is a major concern in the country. The overall objective of the study was to investigate access and practices, which lead to increasing household access to nutritious food by households. The students registered for the one-year course identified households in the Dysselsdorp settlement in the Western Cape, South Africa which they worked closely with in food gardening. Descriptive research methods were used to assess food access and identify the socio-economic and demographic variables for this study. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to gather data, following the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences of the University of South Africa’s ethical protocol and guidelines. Data were collected in the middle and at the end of the coursework (mid-term and end-term). A semi-structured baseline questionnaire was used to interview households and to conduct focus group discussions with the students. The baseline questionnaire consisted of five sections, namely the socio-demographic information, food utilization, food availability, food accessibility and the living standards measurement scores. A stratified random sampling strategy was used to select 30 students to participate in the focus group discussions. The students identified three or four households, which they worked closely with and those households were purposively selected for the baseline interviews. vi Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences programme (IBM SPSS 24). Descriptive statistics (mean, frequencies and standard deviation) were used to compare the data. The 24-hour recall and 7 days food frequency recall was used to assess the household food consumption patterns. Qualitative data were recorded, transcribed, then themes and connections were used to explain the data and correlated with the objectives of the study. The socio-demographic data showed that most of the respondents were above 50 years old and they had an average number of 5.2 members. Thirty-one percent (31%) of the household heads had reached grade 8 to 12 in school, while 69% were those who had not gone to school and completed up to grade 7. Majority of the households relied on social grants as a source of income. The amount of money spent on food by the households in a month was between 0-R500 (63%) and 37% spent above R500 on food. Women participated more in food-related activities than men and the gardening activities were shared by the members of the households. The HDDS is a qualitative method for food consumption, which reflects household access to a variety of foods. The HDDS consists of food groups that the household has consumed over the past 24-hours and it is calculated based on the 12 food groups from the food consumed which are summed up; the mean score is used to determine diet diversity (Swindale & Bilinsky, 2006). The findings in this study is that the average HDDS increased from 5.6 to 6.4, which is above the recommended cut-off point for dietary quality (Steyn et al., 2006). Both the 24-hour recall and 7 days food frequency reported a high consumption of carbohydrates and meat, and less consumption of other food groups such as milk, vii eggs, fruits and vegetables were noted. The households relied on a variety of coping strategies such as asking for food from family or neighbours, depending on charity/grants, finding other sources of food and collecting wild food. All the households grew their own fruits, vegetables and crops. However, livestock production was practiced by 10% of the participating households. The households used preservation methods such as keeping food in a dry place (26), sun drying (38), canning (6), freezing (53) and refrigeration (11) to keep and store vegetables. The Living Standard Measurement (LSM) is a tool which focuses on household access to services and facilities (Faber et al., 2017). Household characteristics range from level 1 up to level 10, and a score from 1 to 4 are considered to be poor and lack access to services, while scores above 5 have improved access to resources and services. The LSM results of the households indicates that they have improved access to services as all the households scored above five. All the households, had access to land with water, electricity and toilet facilities in the yard. The major constraints experienced by the households were insufficient water, theft, pests, plant diseases and livestock which destroyed the crops. It is recommended that the government provide programmes aimed at developing communities, promoting healthy eating and food production. Workshops on nutrition education should be continuous and focus on basic sanitation, food hygiene. Income generation small-scale businesses, crop production, and livestock rearing will assist in alleviating hunger and unemployment. These initiatives could be extended to other areas of the country as a way to improve food security. / Life and Consumer Sciences / M.C.S.

Despite phenomenal success of the commercial agricultural sector in South Africa and significant progress in integrating smallholders since democratic reforms, food security concerns remain. Recent global increases in food prices have further exacerbated vulnerabilities and made it imperative to examine alternative food production questions in the country. Organic agriculture is identified as one of the sustainable approaches to farming and offers insights towards a paradigm shift in food and nutritional security. Notwithstanding, consumer awareness, knowledge and consumption of organic foods are significantly lower in developing than developed countries. Risks associated with adoption of organic practices need to be explored to address the supply and demand constraints. Similarly, while consumer awareness of organic foods is the first step in developing demand for organic products, it does not necessarily translate to consumption. Therefore it is important to investigate these issues. The objectives of this study were to: (i) describe the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of organic farmers and consumers; (ii) establish the determinants of farmers‘ decision to participate in organic farming distinguishing between the fully-certified organic, partially-certified organic and non-organic farmers; (iii) elicit farmers risk preferences and empirically analyse farmers sources of risk and risk management strategies; (iv) explore consumer awareness, perceptions and attitudes regarding organic products; and (v) identify the factors that influence consumer‘s preference and consumption of organic products. A total of 400 respondents were surveyed, consisting of 200 smallholder farmers in KwaZulu-Natal and 200 consumers in the Eastern Cape. The KwaZulu-Natal study was conducted earlier and identified the following as major sources of risk, lack of consumer awareness of organic products and lack of information among producers about consumer preferences for organic products. This informed the need to undertake a consumer awareness and preference study, in order to inform producers. The Eastern Cape is a bordering province to KwaZulu-Natal with similar socio economic conditions and a major consumer of produce from KwaZulu-Natal. It was also expected that in the intervening period there could have been awareness about the product. An vii indication of its appeal would not be in the consumption of the product by the people who grow it, but by consumers who reside in bordering regions. Producer and household questionnaires were used to record household activities, socio-economic and institutional data as well as household demographics through personal interviews. The Arrow Pratt Absolute Risk Aversion (APARA) coefficient was used to measure the farmer‘s degree of risk aversion and the experimental gambling approach to establish the risk classification. Consumers were also asked about their awareness and knowledge about organics, attitudes and perceptions towards organics, preference and consumption patterns. The ordered probit results indicate that older farmers, who are less risk averse and reside in the sub-ward Ogagwini, Ezigani, and Hwayi were more likely to be certified organic farmers. Similarly, the propensity to adopt organic farming is positively correlated to household size, livestock ownership, asset base and tenure security. The risk analysis indicates that at higher pay-offs most farmers are intermediate to moderately risk-averse, with little variation according to personal characteristics, and that non-organic farmers tend to be more risk averse than fully-certified and partially-certified farmers. In general, price, production and financial risks were perceived as the most important sources of risk. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), seven principal components (PCs) explaining 66.13% of the variation were extracted. Socio economic factors having a significant effect on the various sources of risk are age, gender, education, location, information access and risk taking ability. The most important traditional risk management strategies used by the surveyed farmers are crop diversification, precautionary savings and participating in social networks. There was general awareness of what constituted organic foods with many consumers associating organic foods with health and nutrition, chemical free and produced using indigenous methods of production. However, there was low awareness of organic products among consumers with little or no knowledge of organic certification and standards. According to the logit model the major factors influencing consumer awareness of organic products are: gender, education, employment status, and location of the respondents, person/household member responsible for shopping and the price perception of the decision maker. The discriminant analysis showed that the consumption of organic products is significantly affected by age of the consumer, viii location, person/household member responsible for shopping, consumer awareness of organics, price perception and label trust. The findings from this study provides useful practical insights for policy makers, farm advisers and researchers in the design of effective and efficient policies, programmes and projects which can affect the adoption of organic practices, increase smallholder farmers capacity to manage risk and drive growth in the organic food market.

The world is becoming more complex due to the increasing occurrence of social-ecological change. This is particularly evident in the developing world, especially on the African continent, where existing vulnerabilities (i.e. endemic poverty, weak governance, overpopulation and HIV/AIDS) are being exacerbated by the impact of climate change. Climate change poses a very real threat to millions of Africans, especially those who rely on the natural world for their livelihoods. The increasing variability of climate and rainfall patterns are said to have dire consequences on agricultural production which is the main livelihood activity of rural dwellers across the continent. The impacts of such change and variability include, changes in the frequency and intensity of droughts, flooding and heavy storms, leading to worsening soil conditions, desertification as well as disease and pest out-breaks which will likely result in reduced crop and livestock yields. A reduction in agricultural production will likely have a negative effect on the food security of millions of people. This study was conducted in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, in two rural villages, Fairbairn and Ntloko located in the former Ciskei homeland, with the purpose of exploring the nexus between climate change, cultivation and food security. This study combined social-ecological thinking with that of political ecology to create a robust lens, in which to analyse the complex interactions between humans and the environment. A mixed methods approach was used to gather the data which consisted of a household survey, using a structured questionnaire as well as semi-structured interviews with various respondents. Quantitative data were analysed using Excel and Statistica 13, whilst coding was used for qualitative data. The main aim of the study was to explore the extent and characteristics of cultivation in the two study sites, the role of household food production in food security as well as the challenges that local cultivator’s face with regards to climate change. In recent decades, there has been a decline in rural agricultural production with many fields that were previously cultivated, lying vacant and unused. However, as this study found, cultivation is still important as over 50% of sampled households cultivated a small area within the homestead. This was mainly done to supplement household food expenditure in order to save cash incomes. The results also found that although participants had perceived negative changes in climate and rainfall (amount, onset, duration), it was not considered the most important challenge for own production. Rather, lack of fencing and capital were seen as major hindrances to efficient own production. Understanding the complexity of own production and food security under a changing climate can help form better and more resilient policies and strategies for rural development, in addition to strengthening future livelihoods of rural people in an ever changing world.

The challenges of food insecurity and the manner in which it can be addressed is a global concern. Governments throughout the world have strived for means to address global food security either through development of Millennium Development Goals or United Nations protocols. It is a major concern that the South African Government has made it its centre focus to address the challenge of food security. In the Eastern Cape, the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform has embarked on numerous food production programmes in an attempt to address this challenge. It is however noticeable that these attempts somehow did not manage to address their intended purpose. A study of literature with the aim of identifying critical success factors was done. The critical success factors identified and explored were, project management, establishing a clear mission and project objectives, addressing challenges and opportunities of social, environmental and economical sustainability, addressing physiological needs of the beneficiaries, involving the youth and community, role of extension services, training and capacity development, create local partnership and on-going monitoring and evaluation. The factors were then explored through a study of projects from the food production programme in Amahlathi Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province. A multiple case study wherein a purposive selection of four food security projects selected from two food security programmes was conducted. A structured questionnaire was used to source the information from all members of the selected projects to evaluate the existence of the critical factors. The main aim was to test whether these factors, if they existed in these projects, contributed to their existence. The findings reveal that none of the identified factors existed in the selected projects and though not proven, the non-existence of these factors has resulted in these projects being in survival mode instead of a sustainable state. A recommendation is made of a further study focusing on a bigger sample wherein these factors could be tested. The study could assist in developing a formal model for the running of these projects successfully.