Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2018-05-03T18:54:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2004 - Milton Bernardes Ferreira.pdf: 767754 bytes, checksum: c565d8573fb6892203caedee6ace78ae (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-03T18:54:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2004 - Milton Bernardes Ferreira.pdf: 767754 bytes, checksum: c565d8573fb6892203caedee6ace78ae (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004-07-28 / The end of the XX century will be reminded as a period of a lot of transformations in the world. This has increased the uncertainties on the world order in which we live. As a consequence, the complexity of the generated transformations points out to taking innovative actions, which nature is not so clear, considering its need. Then, the search for alternatives, and in this study, the cooperativism is seen as an example, if not to solve, at least to soften problems of the agricultural productive sector, giving more safety and peacefulness to the producer. The investigated situation concerns the socioeconomic relevance of Cooperativa Mista dos Produtores Rurais do Sudoeste Goiano - COMIGO - in the area of its performance and it has as main objective to investigate in which measure the managers entrepreneurship actions could be considered a differential, face to the administration complexities. For that, a bibliographical study was carried out about some aspects that involve the theories of administration; some of the principal determinants of the entrepreneurship behavior, as being the personality, perception, attitude, learning and motivation; and the evolution and development of COMIGO. Following, a fieldwork research was done, by means of a questionnaire, to the people who have decision power inside the Cooperative, with the objective of tracing their behavioral aspect. In the research, it is emphasized the importance of the study of the factors and the managers' behavioral actions, face to the transformations that happened, in function of the technological development and the economical - politician changes, in the atmosphere that they're inserted. / O cooperativismo ? visto como um exemplo, se n?o para solucionar, pelo menos amenizar problemas do setor produtivo agropecu?rio, dando mais seguran?a e tranquilidade ao produtor. A partir desta constata??o, esta pesquisa visa responder ?s seguintes quest?es: Quais as habilidades que devem compor o perfil dos administradores das cooperativas agropecu?rias e industriais? Os gestores de cooperativas devem ter as mesmas habilidades que os demais administradores? e Como uma cooperativa espec?fica se torna respons?vel pelas transforma??es na produ??o e no desenvolvimento de uma regi?o? Portanto, este estudo visa analisar as habilidades que comp?em o perfil dos administradores de cooperativas frente ? complexidade de gest?o destas institui??es. Mais especificamente, busca descrever o perfil dos administradores da Cooperativa Mista dos Produtores Rurais do Sudoeste Goiano; identificar as habilidades mais valorizadas pelos administradores; avaliar os elementos significativos na explica??o do ?xito, at? o presente, da Cooperativa Mista dos Produtores Rurais do Sudoeste Goiano; e comparar as habilidades dos gestores de cooperativas com as habilidades dos administradores apontadas pelo Conselho Federal de Administra??o. Para realiza??o desta pesquisa foi realizado um levantamento bibliogr?fico acerca dos aspectos que envolvem as teorias da administra??o e alguns dos principais determinantes do comportamento empreendedor, como, por exemplo, a personalidade, percep??o, atitude, aprendizagem e motiva??o. Em seguida foi realizada uma pesquisa de campo, atrav?s da aplica??o de um question?rio junto aos administradores da Cooperativa Mista dos Produtores Rurais do Sudoeste Goiano Ltda ? COMIGO, no segundo semestre de 2003. As habilidades que os administradores da COMIGO valorizam s?o quase uma repeti??o daquelas levantadas pelo Conselho Federal de Administra??o. As mais importantes s?o Habilidade de Tomada de Decis?es, Honestidade, Motiva??o Pessoal, Capacidade de Negocia??o, Relacionamento Pessoal, Responsabilidade e Capacidade de Assumir Riscos. Comparando o perfil do Administrador apurado pelo Conselho Federal de Administra??o (CFA) e pela presente pesquisa, conclui-se que o diferencial b?sico existente entre estes profissionais ? que os administradores da COMIGO apresentam uma vantagem adicional em rela??o aos do CFA, pois al?m de administrador ? propriet?rio da empresa que administra. Al?m disso, observou-se que a COMIGO ? a pioneira na regi?o sudoeste e devido ao seu car?ter empreendedor, possui maior relev?ncia e est? ? frente das demais cooperativas.

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2010 / The Kruger National Park is a world renowned organization and is rated as one of the best nature reserves in nature conservation in the world. Despite all the efforts made to control and protect nature in the Park, there is a need for the involvement of the community around the Park. Community-based conservation in particular has been subjected to a series of scathing criticisms, and it has become increasingly acceptable to advocate a return to more coercive forms of conservation. The establishment of the Park forum consisting of the neighbouring communities and the Park requires new strategies for better integration of conservation and rural development. The interest of conservation can be threatened by various factors, mainly poverty, poaching and wildlife conflicts. The interests of the population residing in the immediate neighbourhood of Kruger National Park can be threatened by proposed wildlife management options, other neighbouring conservation areas, and new tourist development activities. Effective conflict prevention mechanisms need to be developed together with the communities and especially in the implementation process. The study presents a critical analysis of the impact of the development made by the Park to the local communities. The available policies need to be implemented in order to assess their developmental impact they are making on the communities. The community has developed a negative attitude towards the park because they think the park is not doing enough in terms of development and training and skills development. The issue of a budget is a concern because it is not clear whether the park has a budget or not for the community. In as far as the community is concerned, there is no budget available and in as far as the park is concerned, the budget is available for community development. There is no cooperation between the park and the community. It seems the park is operating parallel to the community. There are a lot of uncertainties on the side of the community which has developed into mistrust. Communities like Makuleke are involved in farming such that some of the community members have got some subsistence farming skills. If training may be given to these people, most of them may begin to engage in commercial farming. There is also a strong feeling that the Hlanganani forum which represents the community is not recognized by the KNP management. It is there to fulfill the requirement of the policy. It became clearly that Kruger National Park does not involve the forum which has been formed to function as a link between the Park and the community. The negotiated partnership between the park and the community in terms of nature conservation is now at stake. The community is now more concerned about their safety and that of their livestock because of the wild animals roaming around day and night. This is a very serious problem which exists between the park and the community which in a way may hamper the progress in terms of sustaining the relationship currently being nurtured. It is recommended that the park management as the main active role player should put in place a good, viable and effective communication strategy which will form the basis of communication between the park and the community. This will assist both the park and the community to communicate the available developmental policies to the community. And if that is well communicated it is going to eliminate unnecessary conflict in terms of not knowing what the park has for the community and the policies available to address such developmental issues.

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2008 / Rural sanitation researchers, particularly in the Limpopo Province, have not offered theories in relation to the patterns of the development of rural sanitation. Several researchers have concerned themselves with the need for the solution of water supply but not sanitation services. The present study seeks to enhance the understanding of the dynamics of the patterns of the development of rural sanitation in the Capricorn District Municipality, in particular at the Eisleben Village. This research paper applied an evaluative methodology to assess the impact of VIP sanitation technology at Eisleben Village at Ramokgopa under Capricorn District Municipality in Limpopo Province in comparison to dry sanitation. Supportive cases studies on sanitation delivery in South Africa have also been cited to where both technologies have been applied to assess their impact to the health and dignity of the communities, the environmental impacts. Examples of such case studies included examples of the Mosvold Hospital Sanitation Programme, the Northern Cape Household Sanitation Programme, the eThekwini Water and Sanitation Programme and the Dry sanitation in an urban environment at Weiler’s Farm in Johannesburg. The following five major findings emerged from the study: 1. Sanitation development should be community driven in terms of information, knowledge and decision making. 2. There is need for the vision of health, hygiene and education strategy for water and sanitation. Efficient and effective hygiene education is urgently needed. 3. There is resounding evidence from previous sanitation projects done in various places in South Africa that dry or waterless sanitation has been found to be an adequate sanitation technology that best suits urban, peri-urban and rural areas. 4. There is need to replace VIP with a better technology such as dry sanitation as a matter of urgency to avoid unhygienic and unhealthy conditions due to inadequate VIP sanitation technology. 5. Sanitation solution and technology should comply with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) policies of adequate sustainable water and adequate sustainable sanitation solution, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the German Helmhotz Association HFG’s “concept of integrated sustainable development”. In the main, the study suggests possible strategies and mechanisms to overcome the challenges that are identified in the research, with the idea in mind of contributing in improving sanitation, not only in the Eisleben Village, but rather to all rural communities in the Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Agriculture and commerce activities make up a significant part of Paraguay’s economy. The success of these sectors is important for Paraguay’s continued development in rural areas where agriculture activities are most prevalent and nonagriculture activities are increasing in demand. Current literature indicates many factors that contribute to success in both business and farming operations; however, little information is available regarding the perception of young entrepreneurs and farmers. Paraguay’s young population will need more employment opportunities, many of which may come from new start-up operations. The purpose of this study was to identify attributes and perceptions that affect perceived barriers to business and farming operations in rural areas of Paraguay. This study examined young would-be entrepreneurs and agricultural producers participating in entrepreneurial courses and agribusiness leadership workshops, respectively. Two surveys (small-business and small-farm) were administered to the respective groups. Respondents were asked to share their perceptions of common business factors that might or might not contribute to small-enterprise success, along with demographic and characteristic questions. Results of mean test-statistic comparison show that some significant differences exist between the two groups. Some of the most notable differences were larger average family size in the small-farm group, more female participation in the small-business group, a greater average of secondary and postsecondary education in the small-business group, and more respondents reporting more past-experience in the small-farm group. Combining both survey observations and analyzing them with ordered logit models, results suggest that education, training, and past-experience hold a negative correlation with perceived barriers-to-entry to business and farm operations. As education and experience increase, perceptions of barrier factors decrease. This analysis also finds that people who are employed in the private sector are more likely to perceive capital as a barrier-to-entry; whereas land and access to property is more likely to be viewed as a larger hurdle in the agriculture sector. Educating, training and providing experience to young would-be entrepreneurs and farm operators will improve perceptions of business entry. Future research might include perceptions of current government and nonprofit organization programs and initiatives, to better analyze the effectiveness of such rural development efforts.

This thesis examines economic restructuring and changing governmental regulation in the Central Wheatbelt of Western Australia. It argues that, for much of this century, Australian governments were committed to the development and maintenance of export orientated agriculture and stable rural communities. While the agricultural industry, and the rural society that it supported, were periodically affected by economic downturns, wars, and technological changes, the full socio-economic impacts were often tempered by interventionist agricultural, social and regional development government policies. Since the early 1970s, however, the Central Wheatbelt, and rural Australia more generally, have experienced profound economic, social and political changes. During this period, the rapid transformation of the global economy has contributed to a series of problems in the Australian economy, such as low levels of economic growth, rising interest rates, and increasing unemployment. In the case of agriculture, the upheaval in the global economy contributed to world surpluses of agricultural commodities, declining returns for food and fibre production, and the rising cost of farm inputs.Since the early 1980s, the response of Federal and State governments to the turmoil in the Australian economy has been to argue that the only workable solution to globalisation was the adoption of policies based on the principles of economic rationalism. However, this thesis argues that, in the Central Wheatbelt, the combination of global restructuring and policies based on economic rationalism have contributed to: the declining viability of family farming; farm amalgamation; labour force adjustments; the contraction of local economies; depopulation; public service rationalisation and withdrawal; and uneven economic and social development. It is contended that policies based on the principles of ++ / economic rationalism have increased levels of uncertainty and socio-economic disadvantage in a region already adversely affected by the economic pressures associated with restructuring. The thesis concludes by arguing that a more integrated policy framework, based to a greater extent on the principles of social equity, is critical to ensuring the social and economic welfare of rural people.

This thesis is motivated by my felt connection with the unnecessarily hungry peasants of the Majority World. The odyssey that results is portrayed as one of epistemic learning in which the meaning of participation is central. The first part (Chapters 1-4) introduces the philosophical understandings gained at the end of the research in order to assist the reader’s orientation at the beginning of the thesis. This explanation depends upon understanding the paradigmatic implications of Classical and Quantum Physics along with an autooethnographic approach. Using these concepts, I portray my experiences in agricultural development with peasants in the Solomon Islands and Mozambique as naïve systemic practice. This practice arises in response to the continual failure of contemporary development which I refer to as expat-centric development. I systemically reframe the categories of “expert” and “blueprint project” which become “expert and project with peasant.” The development that results I find to be easy and successful, yet it is ignored and undermined. This leads me to a watershed experience, which becomes Part 2 (Chapter 5) of the thesis.Within Part 3 I see the role of society’s institutions to replicate the mechanistic paradigm. Thus, in order to avoid the institutional entrapment that results from this, I see the need post-thesis, to participate in evolving new social structures that can replicate the paradigm of systemic participation. This will largely depend upon the willingness of society to engage with a cosmology of connectedness. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This thesis is about exploring possibilities for improving the situation of a rural community in the Philippines. The philosophy. theories and assumptions underlying are discussed. This research which fulfilled its primary intent of fostering change through action also served as a verification of the value and usefulness of a Participatory Systemic Action Research. The role of participation in an emancipatory process is highlighted. The research process, following the methodological framework of Soft Systems Methodology, is described. Based upon the experience of a participative research, a critique of the Soft Systems Methodology is forwarded. The emergent outcomes of the research are also discussed / University of Western Sydney

This thesis is a documentation of the author's learning journey with the farmers, researchers and development agents in the eastern hills of Nepal.The purpose of the study was to find a solution to the problem of food security faced by the farmers in this area. The basic assumptions underpinning agricultural development in Nepal are that food security can be improved through the application of agricultural technologies and increasing production. The findings of this research question these assumptions.The study demonstrated that external changes which take place in the real world are connected to the internal changes which occur within the individuals and groups involved.An action research methodology was chosen to find alternative strategies to examine the current approaches to addressing the food security situation. The findings revealed three dimensions needing to be addressed to deal with food security at the farming household level. The fact that a collaborative partnership must be established between all the stakeholders involved in order to bring about improvements in the situation was revealed.This called for the conversion of 'experts' into 'co-partners' in the learning process. The learning journey showed that it is possible to initiate change, and the changes achieved indicate a huge potential for researchers and those interested in food security to make a real and lasting difference / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This dissertation is the documentation of a participative learning project with the purpose of facilitating improvement in farming and agricultural development work in the Hohoe district of Ghana. This study was done in a context in which (a)agricultural production is carried out by small scale farmers who depend on social networking at the village level, for the distribution and management of agricultural resources, and on local knowledge for productive purposes; (b)government efforts at agricultural development is implemented through the activitiesof its agricultural development agencies - Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MIST).Participative learning, based on the logic and concepts of action research, experiential learning and critical systems learning, was used as a methodological framework. The conclusion drawn from this inquiry is that participative learning is a legitimate and an effective way of facilitating the development of food and other agricultual production. The challenge is therefore for individuals and organizations involved in the development of agricultural production to establish suitable processes and relationships to support participative learning. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This thesis is motivated by my felt connection with the unnecessarily hungry peasants of the Majority World. The odyssey that results is portrayed as one of epistemic learning in which the meaning of participation is central. The first part (Chapters 1-4) introduces the philosophical understandings gained at the end of the research in order to assist the reader’s orientation at the beginning of the thesis. This explanation depends upon understanding the paradigmatic implications of Classical and Quantum Physics along with an autooethnographic approach. Using these concepts, I portray my experiences in agricultural development with peasants in the Solomon Islands and Mozambique as naïve systemic practice. This practice arises in response to the continual failure of contemporary development which I refer to as expat-centric development. I systemically reframe the categories of “expert” and “blueprint project” which become “expert and project with peasant.” The development that results I find to be easy and successful, yet it is ignored and undermined. This leads me to a watershed experience, which becomes Part 2 (Chapter 5) of the thesis.Within Part 3 I see the role of society’s institutions to replicate the mechanistic paradigm. Thus, in order to avoid the institutional entrapment that results from this, I see the need post-thesis, to participate in evolving new social structures that can replicate the paradigm of systemic participation. This will largely depend upon the willingness of society to engage with a cosmology of connectedness. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)