Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word gekyk na die gevolge van die totale oorheersing van ‘n baie suksesvolle landboubedryf in ‘n afgebakende gebied, wat as gevolg van verskeie faktore in duie gestort het. In die Klein Karoo was so ‘n bedryf die volstruisboerdery, waar ongekende hoë pryse vir volstruisvere tot 1914 behaal is waarna die prys geval het en die boerdery –gemeenskap in ellende gedompel is. Die studie konsentreer op die herbopbou van die landbou in die Oudtshoorn-distrik en op die maniere waarop die boere gedwing is om innoverend te dink om te oorleef. Die fokus van die boere het weggeskuif van die produksie van volstruisvere en hulle het teruggekeer na die produksie van beproefde landbougewasse. Daar is nuut gedink oor hoe om hierdie gewasse meer effektief en meer lewensvatbaar te produseer. Nuwe produkte is beproef en met die terugkeer van die volstruis as bemarkbare kommoditeit is op die verwerking van die hele volstruis gekonsentreer en nie net op die vere nie. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study the effects of the total domination of a very successful agricultural industry in a defined area, which has collapsed as a result of various factors, will be looked at. In the Klein Karoo unprecedented high prices were obtained for ostrich feathers up till 1914 and when the price fell, the farming community was plunged into misery. The study focuses on the redevelopment of the agriculture in the Oudtshoorn district and the ways in which farmers were forced to think innovatively to survive. The focus of the farmers had to move away from the production of ostrich feathers and they had to return to the production of proven agricultural crops. There had to be some new thinking on how to make the production of these crops efficiently and economically more viable. New products were tried and tested and with the return of the ostrich as a marketable commodity the farmers concentrated on the processing of the whole ostrich and not just the feathers.