Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Agriculture has long been argued to be the dominant sector of the South African economy. Despite the huge agricultural potential of the country, the agricultural sector is underperforming in Less Developing Countries (LDCs) to some extent because female small-scale farmers, who play a vital role in agriculture, encounter credit constraints because of their gender and this in turn reduce their productivity. Therefore, the gender gap in terms of access to credit indicates that there is a need to reassess the problem of credit access by small-scale farmers on the basis of gender. This study was carried out in the Greater Letaba Municipality (GLM) which is situated in the Mopani District of Limpopo Province, with the aim of analysing factors that influence formal credit access by both female and male small-scale farmers. Structured questionnaires were employed to collect the data for the analyses from 140 sampled small-scale farmers (70 males and 70 females) selected using stratified random sampling technique. The findings of the probit regression model discovered that gender, extension services, land ownership, age, collateral and farm size had a significant positive influence on small-scale farmers` access to formal credit in the GLM. Additionally, the findings further revealed that household size, farming experience, farm-income, marital status had an insignificant negative influence on the small-scale farmers` access to formal credit whereas education level had an insignificant positive influence on the small-scale farmers` access to formal credit. On average, male and female small-scale farmers with access to formal credit were 71 % and 29 %, respectively whereas the male and female small-scale farmers without access to formal credit were 35% and 65%, respectively. The female small-scale farmers` perceptions towards the credit system that were derived from the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) are as follows: (i) male smallscale farmers effortlessly get credit from banks contrasted with their female counterparts, (ii) small-scale farmers with more education and collateral tend to access formal credit than their counterparts and (iii) small-scale farmers who are nearest to iii the banks are more likely to access credit than small-scale farmers who are far away. Based on the study findings, a set of recommendations for achieving equitable formal credit access by male and female small-scale farmers were put forward. / National Research Fund (NRF)

Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Agriculture plays a significant role also serves as a critical economic sector in Limpopo province in terms of its contribution to the economy, and the number of employment opportunities it produces within local communities. The majority of people involved in agricultural practices are emerging farmers and smallholder/small scale farmers. These farmers try to earn a living from the production of livestock, broilers, fruits & vegetables, and cereals. Cowpea is a drought-tolerant legume that also serves as a staple food for the majority of Africans alongside maize and other typical staple foods consumed by most Africans. The crop is regarded as a key protein source for urban and rural poor, and plays an important role as a cash crop. Despite several nutritional benefits, economic importance and welfare enhancing potential of cowpea, farmers still do not have sufficient information on knowledge about the value that can be added to their cowpea production also the potential and competitiveness of this traditional leafy vegetable. The aim of the study was to map the value chain and determine the marketing efficiency of smallholder cowpea farmers in Capricorn and Waterberg districts of Limpopo province. The specific objectives were to: identify and describe socioeconomic characteristics of smallholder cowpea farmers in Capricorn and Waterberg districts of Limpopo province, identify and define the participants along the cowpea value chain and identify marketing constraints among smallholder cowpea farmers. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 80 smallholder cowpea farmers in Ga-Molepo of Capricorn district and Bela-Bela of Waterberg district using purposive sampling technique. Value chain mapping, descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model were used in addressing the objectives. In identifying and defining the participants along the cowpea value chain, a value chain map was constructed to show the different stages cowpea goes through before reaching the final consumer. Two null hypotheses were formulated. The first hypothesis that stated smallholder cowpea farmers were inefficient in marketing cowpea was rejected. Marketing efficiency measure used to determine each farmer’s marketing efficiency revealed that 66% of smallholder cowpea farmers were efficient. The determinants of marketing efficiency were examined using binary logistic regression model. The second hypothesis stated that socioeconomic characteristics of smallholder cowpea farmers have no effect on the marketing efficiency. The v hypothesis was also rejected based on binary logistic results that revealed that age, household size, years in schooling, years in farming cowpea, income generated from selling cowpea, quantities of cowpea sold and occupation of the farmers were found to be significant in determining marketing efficiency of smallholder cowpea farmers. Pests, lack of access to formal markets and lack of information on how to process cowpea were major constraints farmers were faced with. It was recommended that value chain analysts, policy makers and extension workers together with other stakeholders assist in ensuring that food value chain relationships are established so that market opportunities can be created for smallholder cowpea farmers. In addition, farmer schools need to be introduced in rural areas were agricultural practices are dominant. At these schools, farmers can be taught about basic knowledge relating to agricultural production. Training should also be given to farmers on adopting technology as it can potentially assist in making production more efficient. / Water Research Commission (WRC)

Agricultural policies worldwide are giving an increased focus to the goal of sustainable agriculture, but there are still uncertainties around how this is performed and achieved. As small-scale farmers are a fundamental part of agricultural production worldwide, earlier scholars request deeper understanding of how these farmers perceive sustainable agriculture and how they perceive the pathway towards sustainability. In Tanzania, many small-scale farmers choose to participate in initiatives and organizations under the Organic Farming Movement. By focusing on small-scale farmers that have joined an organic initiative in the Manyara region in Tanzania, this study aims to interpret how these farmers perceive that joining the Organic initiative of a local seed trading system could contribute to sustainable agriculture for them. The study's theoretical approach was a framework where agricultural sustainability consists of an ecological, economic, and social dimension and that normative assumptions of sustainability can be divided into either an Environmentalist or Ecologist approach. Through an open-ended question survey, ten local farmers' perceptions of agricultural sustainability were collected. The result indicates that the farmers perceive that the local seed trading system to some extent will contribute to parts of all three dimensions of agricultural sustainability, and that normative assumptions in both Environmentalism and Ecologism can be identified within the farmer's answers.

<p>The main objective of this study was to identify ways in which transaction costs can be lowered to improve small-scale farmers&rsquo / participation in and returns from agricultural output markets, with specific reference to small-scale mango farmers in Limpopo province. This study hypothesizes that transaction costs are lower in informal spot markets and increase when small-scale farmers sell in more structured markets (formal markets). This study builds on transaction cost economics (TCE) to demonstrate how to overcome transaction cost barriers that small-scale mango farmers face in the agro-food markets. The approach to collect primary information was sequenced in two steps: first, key informant and focus group interviews were conducted and, secondly, a structured survey instrument was administered in two districts of Limpopo. A total of 235 smallscale mango farmers were interviewed. A binary logistic regression model was used to estimate the impact of transaction costs on the likelihood of households&rsquo / participation in formal (=1) and informal (=0) agro-food markets. STATA Version 10 was used to analyse the data. This study found that a larger proportion of male than female farming households reported participation in the formal markets, suggesting deep-seated gender differentiation in market participation. The average age of small farmers participating in formal markets is 52, compared to 44 for those in informal markets, implying that older farmers might have established stronger networks and acquired experience over a longer period. Farmers staying very far from the densely populated towns (more than 50 km) participate less in the formal markets than those staying closer (0 &ndash / 25 km and 26 &ndash / 49 km), which implies that the further they are from the towns, the less the likelihood of farmers selling in the formal markets. Farmers who own storage facilities and a bakkie (transportation means) participate more in formal markets compared to those who do not own these assets, which suggests that these farmers are able to store mangoes, retaining their freshness and subsequently delivering them to various agro-food markets on time. Households that participate in formal markets have high mean values of income and social grants. However, this study found that the likelihood of a household&rsquo / s participation in the markets is less as income and social grants increase. This suggests that households do not invest their financial assets in order to overcome market access barriers. A large proportion of households that own larger pieces of arable land participate in the formal markets, which implies that they are able to produce marketable surplus. Households that have a high mean value (in Rand) of cattle participate more in formal markets than in informal markets. However, this study found that the likelihood of a household&rsquo / s participation in the markets does not change with an increase in the value of its livestock. These findings suggest that households do not sell their cattle in order to overcome market access barriers. Reduced transaction costs for small-scale mango farmers in Limpopo should improve their participation in and returns from the agro-food markets. Policy interventions to support this need to focus on: access to storage and transportation facilities, enforcement of gender equity requirements in existing policies, and better access to information about markets.</p>

<p>The main objective of this study was to identify ways in which transaction costs can be lowered to improve small-scale farmers&rsquo / participation in and returns from agricultural output markets, with specific reference to small-scale mango farmers in Limpopo province. This study hypothesizes that transaction costs are lower in informal spot markets and increase when small-scale farmers sell in more structured markets (formal markets). This study builds on transaction cost economics (TCE) to demonstrate how to overcome transaction cost barriers that small-scale mango farmers face in the agro-food markets. The approach to collect primary information was sequenced in two steps: first, key informant and focus group interviews were conducted and, secondly, a structured survey instrument was administered in two districts of Limpopo. A total of 235 smallscale mango farmers were interviewed. A binary logistic regression model was used to estimate the impact of transaction costs on the likelihood of households&rsquo / participation in formal (=1) and informal (=0) agro-food markets. STATA Version 10 was used to analyse the data. This study found that a larger proportion of male than female farming households reported participation in the formal markets, suggesting deep-seated gender differentiation in market participation. The average age of small farmers participating in formal markets is 52, compared to 44 for those in informal markets, implying that older farmers might have established stronger networks and acquired experience over a longer period. Farmers staying very far from the densely populated towns (more than 50 km) participate less in the formal markets than those staying closer (0 &ndash / 25 km and 26 &ndash / 49 km), which implies that the further they are from the towns, the less the likelihood of farmers selling in the formal markets. Farmers who own storage facilities and a bakkie (transportation means) participate more in formal markets compared to those who do not own these assets, which suggests that these farmers are able to store mangoes, retaining their freshness and subsequently delivering them to various agro-food markets on time. Households that participate in formal markets have high mean values of income and social grants. However, this study found that the likelihood of a household&rsquo / s participation in the markets is less as income and social grants increase. This suggests that households do not invest their financial assets in order to overcome market access barriers. A large proportion of households that own larger pieces of arable land participate in the formal markets, which implies that they are able to produce marketable surplus. Households that have a high mean value (in Rand) of cattle participate more in formal markets than in informal markets. However, this study found that the likelihood of a household&rsquo / s participation in the markets does not change with an increase in the value of its livestock. These findings suggest that households do not sell their cattle in order to overcome market access barriers. Reduced transaction costs for small-scale mango farmers in Limpopo should improve their participation in and returns from the agro-food markets. Policy interventions to support this need to focus on: access to storage and transportation facilities, enforcement of gender equity requirements in existing policies, and better access to information about markets.</p>

Submitted by Luanna Matias (lua_matias@yahoo.com.br) on 2015-03-31T15:41:07Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Isaias Mutombo Mafavisse - 2014.pdf: 1283135 bytes, checksum: 0575b3956bc7e5bf3649a978a7079709 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-03-31T15:52:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Isaias Mutombo Mafavisse - 2014.pdf: 1283135 bytes, checksum: 0575b3956bc7e5bf3649a978a7079709 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-31T15:52:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Isaias Mutombo Mafavisse - 2014.pdf: 1283135 bytes, checksum: 0575b3956bc7e5bf3649a978a7079709 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-21 / This study has the main purpose of appraising the role of public policies on rural development assistance in Mozambique. It intends to identify bottleneck that hindrance improvements, in productivity and income generation, for small-scale farmers in Malema district throughout National Agrarian Development Program. This program was originated in the context of the Agrarian Policy and Implementation Strategy (PAEI). Through PAEI document, the Mozambique government intends to promote the growth of agriculture in the country. That policy focuses on improvements of productivity, increasing of production, reduction of unemployment and poverty. Mozambique economy is strongly dependent on agriculture. The agricultural activity is the main source of income for families in a rural area. These people represent 70% of the Mozambique population. Since national independence, in 1975, to the current days, the country history was marked by politics and economics reforms, which shifted from a planned economy (socialist) to a trading economy (capitalist). During this shift, the institutional framework in a rural area suffered reorganization under orientation of Bretton Woods’ institutions regarding socioeconomic and political reform through the Program of Structural Adjustment (PAE). In Malema district, agriculture is facing difficulties such as structural, economic and political; where the government did not consolidate state institutions and private sectors. The small-scale farmers lack policies and programs suitable to their socioeconomic progress. These situations stick those farmers in the subsistence and rudimentary productive system. The implementation of PROAGRI in its first and second stage did not entirely imply the bottom-up perspective, although in the document for phase two it already comprises a horizontal approach; which prioritizes the participation of everyone and the baseline consultation. However, small-scale farmers who would be the main target of the program did not feel involved in the process, and many did not know the program. At the end of PROAGRI, small scale farmers became individually and collectively inefficient and unsustainable; they face structural difficulties such as lack of funding, agriculture loan, farming equipment, material, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, accessibility, trading chain, technical support, etc... In conclusion, PROAGRI contribution that the government thought to be beneficial to improve a quality of life of small scale farmers, in contrary, brought many hindrances for small-scale farmers when manage their activities. The trial to increase productivity does not find any support whatsoever. / Esse trabalho tem como objetivo principal analisar o papel das políticas públicas na promoção do desenvolvimento rural em Moçambique, procurando identificar os entraves (bloqueios) que dificultam a inserção de melhorias (na produtividade e na geração de renda) aos pequenos agricultores do Distrito de Malema e, como objetivos específicos, caracterizar o estágio atual de desenvolvimento da atividade agrícola no distrito de Malema; analisar as ações do Estado por meio de políticas públicas (PROAGRI I e PROAGRI II) para viabilizar o desenvolvimento da agricultura familiar e sua inserção no mercado interno; verificar a questão da necessidade de irrigação na agricultura de Malema e, como esse assunto vem sendo tratado, no que refere à viabilização de tecnologias de irrigação para os pequenos agricultores; investigar como tem se formado as organizações coletivas dos agricultores locais, procurando apreender quais são os seus anseios e necessidades para garantir o desenvolvimento e analisar as influências e interferências das Agências Multilaterais nas políticas públicas direcionadas para o campo em Moçambique. O PROAGRI surgiu no contexto da Política Agrária e Estratégia de Implementação (PAEI). Com o PAEI, o primeiro documento de políticas da agricultura, o Governo de Moçambique pretendia impulsionar o crescimento do setor agrícola no país, melhorando a produtividade e aumento da produção, objetivando promover a segurança alimentar, o crescimento econômico sustentável, a redução da taxa de desemprego e da miséria. Moçambique é um país que tem sua economia fortemente dependente da agricultura, de modo que este setor é responsável por gerar a maior parcela da renda da população rural, representando 70% da população moçambicana. Desde a independência nacional ocorrida em 1975 aos dias atuais, a história do país foi marcada por reformas políticas e econômicas, passando recentemente por uma transição de uma economia planificada (socialista) para uma economia de mercado (capitalista). Na transição para o capitalismo, a estrutura institucional e fundiária nas zonas rurais sofreram transformações sob as “orientações” das instituições de Bretton Woods no âmbito das reformas políticas, econômicas e sociais através de Programa de Ajustamento Estrutural (PAE). No Distrito de Malema, a agricultura ainda vem atravessando dificuldades caracterizadas por aspetos de âmbito político, econômico e estrutural, em que as instituições públicas e o setor privado ainda não estão consolidados. Os pequenos agricultores ressentem-se de políticas e programas favoráveis ao seu progresso econômico e social, mantendo-os ainda na situação de subsistência e com sistemas produtivos rudimentares. A implementação do PROAGRI em sua primeira e segunda fase não contemplou plenamente as perspectiva bottom – up, embora no documento para a fase dois já previa a abordagem horizontal, priorizando a participação de todos os intervenientes e consultas de base. Porém, os pequenos agricultores que seriam os principais alvos do programa, não se sentiram incluídos no processo e muitos, inclusive, desconhecem o programa. Ao fim do PROAGRI, assistiu-se a insustentabilidade individual ou coletiva dos pequenos agricultores nas atividades agrícolas, ressentido se da falta de créditos agrícolas, de implementos agrícolas, de sementes, de insumos, problemas de vias de acessos, falta de canais de comercialização, fraco apoio técnico de extensão rural, entre outros. Portanto, a contribuição do PROAGRI que se pensava que seria mais valia para melhorar a qualidade de vida dos pequenos agricultores, paradoxalmente despontam-se estas limitações a que os pequenos agricultores estão sujeitos para fazer crescer e melhorar a produção agrícola quando já não encontram algum tipo de apoio.

Magister Economicae - MEcon / The main objective of this study was to identify ways in which transaction costs can be lowered to improve small-scale farmers’ participation in and returns from agricultural output markets, with specific reference to small-scale mango farmers in Limpopo province. This study hypothesizes that transaction costs are lower in informal spot markets and increase when small-scale farmers sell in more structured markets (formal markets). This study builds on transaction cost economics (TCE) to demonstrate how to overcome transaction cost barriers that small-scale mango farmers face in the agro-food markets. The approach to collect primary information was sequenced in two steps: first, key informant and focus group interviews were conducted and, secondly, a structured survey instrument was administered in two districts of Limpopo. A total of 235 smallscale mango farmers were interviewed. A binary logistic regression model was used to estimate the impact of transaction costs on the likelihood of households’ participation in formal (=1) and informal (=0) agro-food markets. STATA Version 10 was used to analyse the data. This study found that a larger proportion of male than female farming households reported participation in the formal markets, suggesting deep-seated gender differentiation in market participation. The average age of small farmers participating in formal markets is 52, compared to 44 for those in informal markets, implying that older farmers might have established stronger networks and acquired experience over a longer period. Farmers staying very far from the densely populated towns (more than 50 km) participate less in the formal markets than those staying closer (0 – 25 km and 26 – 49 km), which implies that the further they are from the towns, the less the likelihood of farmers selling in the formal markets. Farmers who own storage facilities and a bakkie (transportation means) participate more in formal markets compared to those who do not own these assets, which suggests that these farmers are able to store mangoes, retaining their freshness and subsequently delivering them to various agro-food markets on time. Households that participate in formal markets have high mean values of income and social grants. However, this study found that the likelihood of a household’s participation in the markets is less as income and social grants increase. This suggests that households do not invest their financial assets in order to overcome market access barriers. A large proportion of households that own larger pieces of arable land participate in the formal markets, which implies that they are able to produce marketable surplus. Households that have a high mean value (in Rand) of cattle participate more in formal markets than in informal markets. However, this study found that the likelihood of a household’s participation in the markets does not change with an increase in the value of its livestock. These findings suggest that households do not sell their cattle in order to overcome market access barriers. Reduced transaction costs for small-scale mango farmers in Limpopo should improve their participation in and returns from the agro-food markets. Policy interventions to support this need to focus on: access to storage and transportation facilities, enforcement of gender equity requirements in existing policies, and better access to information about markets. / South Africa

Magister Economicae - MEcon / Pre-democratic South Africa was highly regulated by the apartheid government with the black small-scale farming community actively marginalised. Following the deregulation of the South African agricultural market came the opening up of the market to accommodate these small-scale farmers and also the introduction of South African Futures Exchange. South Africa has done well in terms of development of ICT over the past years, making it a country with characteristics of both first and third world countries. This study aims to assess the agricultural commodity exchange market and how small-scale farmers may participate more actively in the market. This study finds that though South Africa has world class ICT infrastructure this has not made it easier for small-scale farmers to enter the agricultural market and value chain. The study finds that there is little or no participation by small-scale farmers in South African Futures Exchange. It finds that mobile phones and applications may be the way forward in the efforts to ensure their participation in the commodity exchange market through provision of services such as price discovery and price risk management as is the function of South African Futures Exchange. It is also found that there is need to invest in high value agricultural products in order to benefit more from commodity exchanges.

This dissertation presents an analysis of small-scale farmers’ experiences of and responses to the Fast Track Land Reform Programme in Zimbabwe. It is argued that this topic has been understudied, especially in the geographical areas of Mushandike and Mvurwi. The study employs both qualitative and quantitative research designs. Data collection techniques include questionnaires, participant observation, life histories, interviews and focus group discussions. Theories and debates on land reform and poverty alleviation that inform this study are discussed. It was evident from the field research that small-scale farmers experienced an improvement in their quality of life as was witnessed in improved levels of income, diets, types of housing and acquired assets. Land distribution according to gender is a particular concern. Very few women own land despite the fact that they till the land. The study concludes that land reform is essential for the improvement of the lives of the landless and the rural poor. Support systems are however necessary to achieve improved livelihoods. / Dissertation (MSoSci (Development Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2014. / Anthropology and Archaeology / MSc / Unrestricted

There has been a surge in demand for arable land as a resource for agricultural production for food and energy purposes. This surge can be attributed to increases in global food prices, climate change, population pressure, and escalating energy prices. The search for land has given rise to the practice of large-scale land acquisitions (LSLA). Due to misconceptions and old colonial views of land in Africa, the continent has become the most targeted region for these land acquisitions. The establishment of these projects in Africa is justified in the name of development. Paradoxically, LSLA has left local communities, especially women, in a more disadvantageous position than before. This qualitative study explores and relates LSLA to the right to food and participation. The thesis also critically engages with SDG – 2 to examine if large-scale projects comply with the goal’s purpose. This thesis aims to investigate the phenomenon of LSLA and how they impact women’s right to food and participation. The author has used qualitative content analysis as a method and relied on peer-reviewed studies on women and land-grabbing in three different countries. Compared to the previous research, the thesis results showed that the impacts of LSLA are gendered and have had severe consequences on women and their access and right to food. The support for business interests that are permeated in SDG – 2 has, based on the cases examined, also exacerbated rather than alleviated hunger which does not comply with the purpose of the goal.