Thesis (M.Sc. (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / The role of agriculture in poverty alleviation in the rural areas has been acknowledged and supported in South Africa. In former homelands, households generate livelihoods from agriculture and agricultural related activities. However, in some areas, the role of agriculture in alleviating poverty has not been appreciated but instead households participate in off-farm activities more frequently. Bushbuckridge area in the Mpumalanga province is such an area with few households engaging in agriculture. The study aims to investigate the determinants of household participation in agricultural production in Shatale region of Bushbuckridge Local Municipality (BLM). The study had three objectives; the first objective was determine socio-economic factors influencing household labour participation in agricultural production, the second was to analyse socio-economic factors influencing the amount of time allocated to agricultural production and the third objective was to analyse household income diversification in Shatale region of BLM. Multi-stage sampling and stratified sampling approaches were used to collect primary data from 86 households in ward 7 and ward 13 in Shatale region of Bushbuckridge Local Municipality (BLM). The double-hurdle model which comprises a probit model and a truncated regression model was used to analyse the data on assumption that the decision to participate in agricultural production and the amount of time allocated are influenced by different factors. Income diversity was analysed using the Number of Income Sources (NIS) method. The results of the first hurdle showed that gender of the household head, highest level of education, occupation of the household head, access to irrigation water, access to extension service and farming experience negatively influenced household participation in agricultural production and age of the household head and land size positively influenced household participation in agricultural production. The results of the second hurdle showed marital status of the household head, infants and irrigation water negatively influenced the amount of time allocated in agricultural production. Land size and farming experience positively influenced the amount of time allocated in agricultural production. About 49% of the households’ diversified income into four sources and 18.6 percent diversified into on five sources on incomes which included farming, old age pension, child support grant, trading and remittances. There is a need of government intervention in Shatale region to encourage household participation in agricultural production. Government can intervene through provision of land for farming, capacitating farming households, infrastructural development, increasing extension support services to farming households and expansion of canal networks.

In the U.S., states vary in the way they link the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). State practices that have come to be known as "Heat and Eat" (HandE) exploit a SNAP energy expense deduction in order to increase SNAP benefits. Sixteen states have used the practice at some point, with the earliest starting in 1995 and latest in 2013. This study uses variation in the timing of adoption of HandE across states to estimate the HandE's effect on SNAP participation. SNAP-LIHEAP participation links are also examined in relation to alternative state policies that bundle application costs. Using SIPP 2008 Panel data, the study employs a household fixed effects model to examine the impact of LIHEAP participation and the three SNAP-LIHEAP bundling policies on SNAP participation propensities. The results indicate that HandE policies cause a small increase in household SNAP participation, which is likely due to the fact that HandE provides additional benefits for SNAP participants. Categorical eligibility that links applications for both programs also generates higher differential probabilities of being on SNAP. These results are consistent with previous findings in the multiple program participation literature. / Master of Science

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing household awareness and participation in domestic waste disposal and recycling, focusing on environmental educational (EE), wealth and location of suburb. The study was carried out in four suburbs in the Tshwane Metropolitan Area (TMA), namely Waterkloof, Lynnwood, Sunnyside and Mamelodi. A literature review was conducted, covering concepts of domestic waste management - waste prevention, collection, recycling and reuse, followed by household analysis using empirical data. The analysis shows that there is a low level of household awareness about the environmental implications of domestic waste management in TMA, and hence low level of participation in domestic waste sorting, disposal and recycling. Among relevant factors are the level of EE and income of the households across all suburbs. This calls attention to the need for strengthening EE not only in schools, but also in suburbs using both formal and informal outreach programmes. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Environmental Education)

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing household awareness and participation in domestic waste disposal and recycling, focusing on environmental educational (EE), wealth and location of suburb. The study was carried out in four suburbs in the Tshwane Metropolitan Area (TMA), namely Waterkloof, Lynnwood, Sunnyside and Mamelodi. A literature review was conducted, covering concepts of domestic waste management - waste prevention, collection, recycling and reuse, followed by household analysis using empirical data. The analysis shows that there is a low level of household awareness about the environmental implications of domestic waste management in TMA, and hence low level of participation in domestic waste sorting, disposal and recycling. Among relevant factors are the level of EE and income of the households across all suburbs. This calls attention to the need for strengthening EE not only in schools, but also in suburbs using both formal and informal outreach programmes. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Environmental Education)