This study sought to investigate the purchasing determinants of food insecurity conditions in Klipplaat, in the Eastern Cape. The study comprised a pilot study and main study (n=459) making use of an adapted version of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. It was found that food insecurity conditions in Klipplaat were high, with most households experiencing food insecurity conditions between three and ten times per month. Income level was found to have a significant effect on food insecurity conditions in Klipplaat. The availability of efficient transport and refrigeration was also found to significantly influence the experience of food insecurity conditions.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis investigates practical approaches to growing sustainable food systems. It first establishes the condition of the global environment within which food systems function and critically assesses previous efforts to grow sustainable food systems. After applying these findings to a set of case studies on local-food distribution in Stellenbosch, I recommend ways for the local-food distribution network to encourage the growth of a sustainable Stellenbosch food system. The literature review provides an overview of the global environment in relation to food systems and lists certain contextual challenges that food systems must address to become sustainable. These challenges are social inequality, an urban future, degraded ecosystems, climate change, energy constraints, a growing global population and food insecurity. The literature review also describes how commercialisation has disembedded food systems from their contexts. This disembeddedness loosens the feedback loops food systems require to effectively respond to contextual challenges and consequently hinders their sustainability. The critical overview of previous attempts to re-embed food systems provides insight into practical ways of growing sustainable food systems. The overview demonstrates that while localisation and the building of social capital should not be seen as the ultimate goals of sustainable food systems, they can be useful mechanisms for nurturing sustainability if applied carefully. The case studies describe ten local-food distribution initiatives in Stellenbosch, and are informed by numerous in-depth semi-structured interviews. My conceptual framework contrasts each initiative’s self-reported vision, perceived reality, and realised actions; this highlights the conceptual and physical network connections between various local-food distribution initiatives, as well as the factors preventing and promoting their sustainability. The case studies show that although a local-food distribution network exists in Stellenbosch, it is fragile and lacks defined conceptual connections. This in turn constrains the formation of physical connections and thus the food system’s progress toward sustainability. The local-food distribution network in Stellenbosch can catalyse the growth of a sustainable food system because its initiatives focus on localisation but do not see it as a final objective. This shared focus indicates that localisation already constitutes a practical tool in the growth of a sustainable food system; however, the network’s lack of social capital still needs to be addressed. Inclusive projects designed to create and protect intellectual, political and economic spaces for reflection within the food system can generate the social capital necessary to grow a sustainable food system. The realisation of a sustainable Stellenbosch food system therefore depends on those with the capacity and resources to initiate the necessary changes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek praktiese benaderings waarmee volhoubare kossisteme bevorder kan word. Dit stel eerstens die toestand van die globale omgewing waarin kossisteme funksioneer vas en oorweeg krities vorige pogings wat volhoubare kossisteme probeer bevorder het. Na ek hierdie bevindings toepas op ’n stel gevallestudies van inisiatiewe wat plaaslik-geproduseerde kos in Stellenbosch versprei, kom ek met voorstelle vorendag vir dié verspreidingsnetwerk om die groei van ’n volhoubare Stellenbosch-kossisteem aan te moedig. Die literatuurstudie omskryf ’n oorsig van die globale omgewing met betrekking tot kossisteme en lys sekere kontekstuele uitdagings wat kossisteme moet aanspreek om volhoubaar te wees. Die uitdagings is maatskaplike ongelykheid, ’n verstedelikte toekoms, verswakte ekosisteme, klimaatsverandering, energiebeperkings, ’n groeiende globale bevolking en voedselonsekerheid. Die literatuurstudie bepaal ook dat kommersialisering kossisteme uit hulle omgewings ontwortel. Hierdie ontwortelling verswak die terugvoerbane wat kossisteme benodig om effektief op kontekstuele uitdagings te reageer en verhoed hulle volhoubaarheid. Die kritiese oorsig van vorige pogings om kossisteme nuwe wortels te laat skiet gee insig tot praktiese maniere om volhoubare kossisteme te bevorder. Die oorsig wys daarop dat terwyl lokalisering en die bou van maatskaplike kapitaal nie as die slotsom van volhoubare kossisteme beskou moet word nie, albei nuttige tegnieke kan wees vir die aankweek van volhoubaarheid indien hulle met sorg aangewend word. Die gevallestudies beskryf tien verspreidings-inisiatiewe van plaaslik-geproduseerde kos in Stellenbosch en is ingelig deur verskeie in-diepte, semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude. My konsepsuele raamwerk kontrasteer elke gevallestudie se self-verklaarde visie, veronderstelde realiteit en gerealiseerde aksies. Dit lig die begrips- en fisiesenetwerkkonneksies tussen die inisiatiewe uit en stel ’n aantal faktore bloot wat die netwerk se volhoubare groei positief en negatief beïnvloed. Die gevallestudies wys daarop dat alhoewel ’n verspreingsnetwerk van plaaslik-geproduseerde kos in Stellenbosch bestaan, dié netwerk swak is en omskrewe begripskonneksies kort. Om die beurt verhinder dit die formasie van fisiese konneksies en weerhou die kossisteem se vordering na volhoubaarheid. Die verspreidingsnetwerk van plaaslik-geproduseerde kos in Stellenbosch kan die groei van ‘n volhoubare kossisteem kataliseer omdat die inisiatiewe waaruit dit bestaan deur ’n gemeenskaplike fokus op lokalisering verbind word, maar dit nie as hulle einddoel beskou nie. Hierdie gedeelde fokus wys daarop dat lokalisering reeds ’n bruikbare tegniek vir die groei van ‘n volhoubare kossisteem is, maar die tekort aan maatskaplike kapitaal binne die netwerk moet steeds aangespreek word. Inklusiewe projekte wat saamgestel word om intellektuele, politiese en ekonomiese ruimtes vir besinning binne die kossisteem te bevorder en te bewaar, kan die nodige maatskaplike kapitaal kweek om ’n volhoubare kossisteem te vestig. Die verwesenliking van ’n volhoubare Stellenbosch-kossisteem hang dus van diegene af wat die kapasiteit en hulpbronne het om die nodige veranderings in te lei.

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional) to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / A consumable seed bank, market and food theatre that challenges the relationships between formal and informal and creates a solution to the need for food and encourages a healthier lifestyle through digesting architecture and walking urbanism in Johannesburg’s in between space. From the watershed above the river of gold, the Braamfontein Spruit flows towards the suburbs. Natural meanders and formal canals move with the winding bends of avenues, through golf courses and out into bird sanctuaries and parks to join the Jukskei river on its journey. This 50 km of between unbuilt space is the landscape in which this exploration takes place. At the beginning and end of this connection sits Dale Lace Park, divided by Barry Hertzog and united by the topography and spruit. The three-part theoretical essay focuses on natural processes and their relationship to people and architecture. By creating a compact theory for walking in public space, we can begin to understand how people react to space both positive and negative. This metaphor can be analysed through DNA and gene editing to create the desired space. Identifying DNA is achieved through a process called electrophoresis. Current moves through the gel in which DNA is injected. Certain strands move faster while others move slower. Is this not the same as the movement of people through public space? As we move up the plant through the stem, it becomes clear that the plant’s core is its roots. The permanence of this and the temporary nature of the leaves can link to the above and below ground of programmatic design. The second part focuses on nutrition and food in architecture. Modernism and its functional programmatic approach to design are used to emphasise the importance of functional planting in architecture. And as the plant escapes the soil, the light causes the adapting nature and evolution of the plant in its circle of life. Life and light and the purity of life will be used to analysis light and research space in buildings along with adapting to seasonal change. This third and final part will explore the combination of planting and people in space and architecture’s role in the human and social interaction. The deconstructed landscape will be explored. Through Architecture, the thesis aims to unearth the importance of seedling cultivation for consumption in an urban farm and research centre. Akin to the market it is a space of engagement and public identity. / GR2017

Thesis (MDev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / Smallholder subsistence agriculture is regarded as an approach that can be adopted by poor rural households to meet their food and nutritional requirements. The practice of smallholder subsistence agriculture is a basis upon which poor households can enhance their household food security through increased incomes and food supply, ultimately generating extra income for other household needs. The present study discusses and analyses the importance of smallholder subsistence agriculture as an effective method easily available to households residing in rural areas to access food and incomes for household purposes. Hence, the study seeks to explore and analyses the role of smallholder subsistence agriculture in contributing to household food security in rural areas. Both primary and secondary data have been used to analyze the factors for the purpose of the study. The primary data were collected through a designed survey questionnaire administered to sampled smallholder subsistence farmers in the study area. This study used purposive sampling technique, through a transect walk, to draw households involved in smallholder subsistence agriculture in Maroteng Village. From the total population in the study area, only 100 households were selected for the purposes of the study. Both descriptive and qualitative techniques were used to analyze salient variables of the practice in order to give an insight of the important role the sector can play in addressing poverty, enhancing incomes and creating employment, consequently contributing to household food security in rural areas. The study shows that the participation on smallholder subsistence farming by households in rural areas could have positive impact on food security situations.

Thesis (M.A. Admin. (Development)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014. / Smallholder subsistence agriculture is regarded as an approach that can be adopted by poor rural households to meet their food and nutritional requirements. The practice of smallholder subsistence agriculture is a basis upon which poor households can enhance their household food security through increased incomes and food supply, ultimately generating extra income for other household needs. The present study discusses and analyses the importance of smallholder subsistence agriculture as an effective method easily available to households residing in rural areas to access food and incomes for household purposes. Hence, the study seeks to explore and analyses the role of smallholder subsistence agriculture in contributing to household food security in rural areas. Both primary and secondary data have been used to analyze the factors for the purpose of the study. The primary data were collected through a designed survey questionnaire administered to sampled smallholder subsistence farmers in the study area. This study used purposive sampling technique, through a transect walk, to draw households involved in smallholder subsistence agriculture in Maroteng Village. From the total population in the study area, only 100 households were selected for the purposes of the study. Both descriptive and qualitative techniques were used to analyze salient variables of the practice in order to give an insight of the important role the sector can play in addressing poverty, enhancing incomes and creating employment, consequently contributing to household food security in rural areas. The study shows that the participation on smallholder subsistence farming by households in rural areas could have positive impact on food security situations.

An intervention on food security is sustainable when it begins to address issues of development that are the priority to the beneficiaries rather than those of the benefactor. Food security in this study is regarded as the priority that is interwoven in social, economical and ecological aspect of development. Therefore, it can only be solved through processes of sustainable development. This study is concerned about the current approaches and processes of food security programmes that do not capture the elements of sustainable development. Therefore, the aim of the study was to establish how the elements of sustainable development are practiced in the programmes of food security in South Africa. Most importantly how the programme goes beyond food and market availability to social change. In order to achieve this aim, a qualitative research process was applied using a case study. The study examined one of the food security programmes in uMsinga area. north of KwaZulu Natal. This programme is funded by the National Development Agency (NDA) and administered by the Non-Governmental Organisation called uMsinga Peace and Development Committee (MPDC). The study found that the programme still reflects the common and the short-sighted understanding of food security. It still emphasises the market-led methods of food security which have undermined the environment and social development of the community. Hence the programme comes short in ensuring sustainable food security in the area of uMsinga where years of factions fights has destroyed the social fabric of the community. The study recommended a deliberate intervention strategy of community building for uMsinga community. This calls for a strategy where a process of community conscientization becomes one of the main objectives of the programme. It is through community building that those available resources such as financial, natural, human, infrastructure and institutions call be identified within the community. Conscientization process can be able to equip tlte community with skills and knowledge of how to access and control those resources to satisfy both short term and long- term needs. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.

Thesis (MScEng)-- Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Food security is a national priority, according to Section 27 of the South African Constitution. It states: “Every citizen has the right to have access to sufficient food and water, and that the state must by legislation and other measures, within its available resources, avail to progressive realisation of the right to sufficient food.” Nevertheless, while food security is clearly a government priority and regardless of the country being considered as self-sufficient in respect of food production, food insecurity remains a dire South African challenge. This study presents the improvement of smallholder pig farmers to a commercial standard with funding from the government as a potential means to address poverty and food insecurity in South Africa. Commercial standard pig farms as opposed to smallholder pig farms provide increased employment, food production, biosecurity and food safety. This investigative study evaluates the economic feasibility of a smallholder commercial pig farm in the Mamre area. The Empolweni community’s pig farmers serve as the case study and as an example of a typical smallholder pig farming community. Their current operations are studied, the requirements for a conversion to a commercial standard are assessed and the profitability and sustainability of the proposed commercial model is judged. The study’s findings indicate that specific scenarios (high production performance, large pig farm unit sizes, pork price increases or feed costs reductions) a commercial smallholder pig farm can achieve economic feasibility. However, trends indicate that there is low likelihood of the required conditions to achieve economic feasibility will be able to occur. The thesis judges only the potential economic feasibility of the case study, as opposed to the economic feasibility of commercial smallholder pig farmers on a national or regional level. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Voedsel sekuriteit is ‘n nasionale prioriteit en vorm deel van die Artikel 27 Grondwetlike regte in Suid-Afrika. Die Grondwet stel dat elke landsburger die reg op toegang tot voldoende voedsel en water het en dat die staat deur middel van wetgewing en ander maatreëls, binne sy beskikbare middele, progressiewe verwesenliking van die reg op voldoende voedsel moet laat geskied. Nietemin, alhoewel voedsel sekuriteit ongetwyfeld ‘n prioriteit van die regering is en ten spyte daarvan dat Suid-Afrika as selfonderhoudend ten opsigte van voedselproduksie gesien word, heers onvoldoende voedsel sekuriteit steeds. Hierdie studie stel die volgende moontlike oplossing voor: Suid-Afrikaanse kleinskaalse varkboere moet hul bedrywighede opgradeer na 'n kommersiële standaard. Verskeie redes kan gegee word waarom hierdie oplossing 'n gangbare opsie bied om armoede en voedselsekuriteit in Suid-Afrika teë te werk. Kommersiële varkboere, in teenstelling met kleinskaalse varkboere, bied verhoogde vlakke van voedselproduksie, werkskepping, biosekuriteit en veiliger voedingsbronne. Hierdie studie poog om die ekonomiese gangbaarheid van ‘n kleinskaalse kommersiële varkplaas in die Mamre omgewing te bepaal. Die Empolweni gemeenskap se varkboere dien as 'n gevallestudie van ‘n tipiese kleinskaalse varkboerdery gemeenskap. Hul huidige bedrywighede is ondersoek, die benodighede vir ‘n opgradering is bepaal en die winsgewendheid en volhoubaarheid van die kommersiële model is beoordeel. Bevindings toon dat vir spesifieke gevalle (hoë produksievlakke, groot varkplaaseenhede, varkprys verhogings en voerkoste verlagings) ‘n kommersiële kleinskaalse varkplaas ekonomiese gangbaarheid kan behaal. Alhoewel, tendense toon dat daar ‘n lae waarskynlikheid is dat die nodige kondisie om ekonomiese gangbaarheid te behaal sal kan plaasvind. Die tesis oorweeg slegs die ekonomiese gangbaarheid van die gevallestudie. Die ekonomiese gangbaarheid van kleinskaalse varkboere op ‘n nasionale of streeksvlak word dus nie ingesluit nie.

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.

Institute for Rural Development / PhDRDV

Thesis (M. Sc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Food security is a broad concept especially as far as rural food security in countries is concerned. In essence, it is a phenomenon with the goal of ensuring that all individuals have at all times, an adequate level of food and which they will be able to utilize to meet their increasing consumption demand. Studies have shown that like other countries, South Africa is food secure at the national level but very food insecure at the household level. It is also shown that food insecurity is not fuelled by a lack of food but a lack of food insecurity tackling strategies. The aim of the study is to examine the determinants of food security among rural households in Magong, North West Province, South Africa where the main prevalent economic activity is farming supported with other formal and informal types of employment. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents that were interviewed. The first stage involved selecting districts and the second stage was the selection of municipalities. Farm and non-farming households were selected. Structured questionnaire were administered to 108 households. The third stage involved a selection Magong village using purposive sampling based on high concentration of both farming and non-farming activities were selected, which in our case is Magong. The fourth stage involved the selection of respondents based on simple random sampling proportionate to size. The study employed logit model for as data analysis. Of the variables modelled, only income and land size had a significant influence on food security. As far as age is concerned, it was evident that the youth participation in agriculture lacks. This is because most young people are still after white collar jobs. Some were still in the academic world awaiting their certificates which they hope to use a ticket to their first job. The participation in agriculture increases steadily between ages 31 and 50 which could be because the persons in this age brackets were looking for ways to store their wealth as they approach their retirement age. Some of the respondents have inherited the farms from family members and are therefore “forced” to keep the family business running for the sake of sustainability. With regards to the marital status, there is a high number of single/ never married respondents compared to the other groups. This could be people co-habiting and choosing not to marry as a result of the economic conditions making marriage costs unaffordable. Divorce was at its lowest amongst the respondents.v In terms of the gender of the respondents, there was a high participation of women in agriculture. This may be a result of women-based agricultural programmes implemented in the past in the study area. All the variables had a positive relationship with food security. Age had a positive effect of food security, with a positive parameter (β=0.013) which indicated that contrary to what other researchers found, an increase in age when all other factors are held constant, resulted in an increase in food security. The marital status of the household head also positively affected food security. This indicated that compared to their unmarried counterparts, married household heads were food secure (β=0.049). The findings also indicated that married couples and people living with partner had a higher chance of being food secure than those who were single, divorced or widowed. According to the results, male headship of households increases food security by 0.398. It was found that the larger the household size, the more food secure it is. This may be because as the number of members in the household increase, they find more ways of making money and combating food insecurity. A unit increase in household size increases food security by .093 while an increase in land size, increases food security by 0.394. This is expected because as the land size increases, there are chances that the productivity will also increase. From the results of the survey household income had a positive effect on food security. Income is very important as it determines the household’s affordability and its ability to meet its needs