Thesis (PhD(Agric) (Agricultural Economics))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / The planning processes involved in the design and development of strategic land information systems in a semantic context require a logical approach. An array of efficacy problems associated with the relevance of the information required and the data to be provided must be dealt with in terms of this logical approach so that wise decisions can be made about future land resource use options. This study applies the aforementioned statement to strategic decision-making regarding information management in the provision of accurate and relevant information about the characteristics of the land resource for use by both the public and private sectors in South Africa. With ever evolving human needs that increase pressure on the limited land resource, the need for accurate and relevant information for strategic purposes is increasing. However, even at the present time, land information systems design and development is characterised by a technical design orientation and a narrow cost-efficiency focus, with a lack of strategic envisioning. Strategic decisions require effective choices regarding what data should be collected and how this should be stored and processed to support landresource- use decisions in the future. Information systems can, however, not cater for too many variables due to cost implications. Hence, strategic choices in generating only the required information and data for storage and processing become necessary.

Thesis (MAgricAdmin (Agricultural Economics)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / HIV/AIDS has become a major concern globally as it affects different facets of a country’s economy as well as household economics. This study aimed to determine the impact of the disease on household food security. This was done by investigating the impact of the disease on household livelihoods, agricultural production for subsistence purposes and household consumption patterns. The study followed a case study approach, and Bokaa village in Kgatleng district, Botswana was selected as the study area. Data collection was done with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire in multiple households as well as by gathering information from secondary sources. The study focused on the concept of food security as a theoretical base for the analysis, which was mainly a cross-case analysis. The analysis of individual cases is not presented in this thesis; nonetheless, individual cases are presented as illustrations and as backup for the synthesis. Furthermore, the analysis of food security only focused on calorie availability and not on nutritional quality. The study revealed that the impact of HIV/AIDS varied according to the status in which the household was before the onset of the disease or the subsequent death. Coping strategies also varied, depending on household status and the level of contribution the sick family member made to the household’s food budget. Inter-household effects and gender differentials have been observed during the time of caring for the sick family member. Inter-household effects have also been observed during times of food shortages. A high dependence on government safety nets has also been observed among these households, which contributed to some extent to lack of livelihood diversification. The results of this study reveal the need for empowering households through training for income-generating skills and practise of small-scale home gardening in a more sustainable way. The need for nutrition education was also revealed, in order that traditional and nutritious options can be included in the household food consumption patterns and not only be regarded as an option when preferred foods such as meat are not available.

Thesis (MScAgric) -- Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In South Africa more than 80 percent of the total land area is used for agriculture and subsistence livelihoods. A land transaction is generally not a recurring action for most buyers and sellers, their experience and knowledge are limited, for this reason the services of property agents and valuers are sometimes used, just to get more information available. The condition of insufficient information and the inability to observe differences in land productivity gives rise to the undervaluation of good land and overvaluation of poor land. The value of a property plays an important role in the acquisition of a bond, in this context farm valuations are essential and therefore commercial banks make more use of specialist businesses that have professional valuers available. The advent of the Internet made access to comprehensive information sources easier for property agents and valuers whose critical time and resources can now be effectively managed through Geographic Information System (GIS) integrated workflow processes. This study aims to develop the blueprint for a farm valuation support system (FVSS) that assists valuers in their application of the comparable sales method by enabling them to do the following: (1) Rapid identification of the location of the subject property and transaction properties on an electronic map. (2) Comparison of the subject property with the transaction properties in terms of value contributing attributes that can be expressed in a spatial format, mainly a) location and b) land resource quality factors not considered in existing valuation systems that primarily focus on residential property. Interpretation of soil characteristics to determine the suitability of a soil for annual or perennial crops requires specialized knowledge of soil scientists, knowledge not normally found among property valuers or estate agents. For this reason an algorithm, that generates an index value, was developed to allow easy comparison of the land of a subject property and that of transaction properties. Whether this index value reflects the soil suitability of different areas sufficiently accurate was confirmed by soil suitability data of the Breede and Berg River areas, which were obtained by soil scientists by means of a reconnaissance soil survey. This index value distinguishes the proposed FVSS from other existing property valuation systems and can therefore be used by valuers as a first approximation of a property’s soil suitability, before doing further field work. A nationwide survey was done among valuers and estate agents that provided information for the design of the proposed FVSS and proved that the need for such a system does exist and that it will be used by valuers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Meer as 80 persent van die totale grondoppervlakte in Suid-Afrika word gebruik vir landbou en bestaansboerdery. 'n Grondtransaksie is oor die algemeen nie 'n herhalende aksie vir die meeste kopers en verkopers nie, hul ervaring en kennis is beperk, om hierdie rede word die dienste van eiendomsagente en waardeerders soms gebruik om meer inligting beskikbaar te kry. Die toestand van onvoldoende inligting en die onvermoë om verskille in grondproduktiwiteit te identifiseer gee aanleiding tot die onderwaardering van goeie grond en oorwaardering van swak grond. Die waarde van 'n eiendom speel 'n belangrike rol in die verkryging van 'n verband. In hierdie konteks is plaaswaardasies noodsaaklik en daarom maak kommersiële banke meer gebruik van gespesialiseerde maatskappye wat oor professionele waardeerders beskik. Die koms van die Internet het toegang tot omvattende inligtingsbronne makliker gemaak vir eiendomsagente en waardeerders wie se kritiese tyd en hulpbronne nou effektief bestuur kan word deur middel van Geografiese Inligtingstelsel (GIS) geïntegreerde werksprosesse. Hierdie studie poog om die bloudruk vir 'n plaaswaardasie ondersteuningstelsel te ontwikkel wat waardeerders sal help in hul toepassing van die vergelykbare verkope metode deur hul in staat te stel om die volgende te doen: (1) Vinnige identifisering van die ligging van die betrokke onderwerp eiendom en transaksie eiendomme op 'n elektroniese kaart. (2) Vergelyking van die onderwerp eiendom met transaksie eiendomme in terme van waardedraende eienskappe wat in 'n ruimtelike formaat uitgedruk word, hoofsaaklik a) ligging en b) bodem gehaltefaktore wat nie oorweeg word in bestaande residensieel georiënteerde waardasiestelsels nie. Interpretasie van grondeienskappe om die geskiktheid van grond vir eenjarige of meerjarige gewasse te bepaal vereis gespesialiseerde kennis van grondkundiges, kennis wat nie normaalweg gevind word onder eiendomswaardeerders of eiendomsagente nie. Om hierdie rede is 'n algoritme ontwikkel sodat die grond van ‘n onderwerp eiendom d.m.v. ‘n indekswaarde met transaksie eiendomme vergelyk kan word. Die indekswaarde is akkuraat genoeg bevestig toe dit vergelyk is met grond geskiktheidsdata wat deur grondkundiges in die Breede- en Bergrivier gebiede ingesamel is. Hierdie indekswaarde onderskei die voorgestelde plaaswaardasie ondersteuningstelsel van ander bestaande eiendom waardasiestelsels en kan dus deur waardeerders gebruik word as 'n eerste bepaling van 'n eiendom se grond geskiktheid, voordat verdere veldwerk gedoen word. 'n Landwye opname is gedoen onder waardeerders en eiendomsagente wat inligting voorsien het vir die ontwerp van die voorgestelde plaaswaardasie ondersteuningstelsel, asook bewys gelewer het dat daar ‘n behoefte aan so 'n stelsel bestaan en dat dit deur waardeerders gebruik sal word.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African deciduous fruit industry is influenced by a number of factors including increased globalisation of markets, trade liberalisation, advances in information technology and consumer preferences. These factors have a continuous effect on the competitiveness of the industry and force deciduous fruit producers and processors to position themselves as capable competitors in the global free-market environment. This study measures the competitiveness of the South African deciduous fruit supply chains relative to those of Chile in an attempt to address the following research question: What is the relative global competitive advantage of the South African deciduous fruit supply chains relative to those of Chile? To adequately address this research question, data from the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO, 2005) is used to examine the competitiveness of the supply chains. Three internationally recognised indexes are also used to calculate the comparative and competitive advantages of the deciduous fruit supply chains, namely, the Net Export index (NXi), Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA#) index and the Relative Revealed Comparative Trade Advantage (RTA) index. The results clearly show that South Africa’s deciduous fruit supply chains have a marginally relative competitive advantage, with most of the deciduous fruit products having RCA# and RTA index values situated around 0 to 10. The analysis shows that the South African deciduous fruit industry is struggling, with a marginal global comparative and competitive advantage in terms of its value added products. Chile, on the other hand, has a relatively better revealed comparative advantage as well as a higher relative global competitive advantage in most of the deciduous fruit supply chains. South Africa has a relatively better global comparative advantage and competitive advantage over Chile only in apple juice and dried apricots. Despite South Africa’s marginal competitiveness, most of the deciduous fruit supply chains are experiencing an upward competitiveness, which is not the case for Chile. The results also reveal that the competitiveness of most of the deciduous fruit supply chains in South Africa, except for the apple and apricot chains, decreases from primary to processed products which implies that value-adding opportunities are still limited or untapped. On the basis of these findings, this study makes an attempt to identify and discuss some of the factors that affect the competitiveness of the industry by using a framework of competitive advantage analysis proposed by Porter (1990, 1998). The most important factors that impact on the competitiveness of the South African deciduous fruit industry are availability of skilled labour; cost and quality of unskilled labour; availability and quality of capital; cost of technology; local market growth; threat of substitutes; land reform policy; labour legislation; current exchange rate (current strength of the rand); BEE policy; lack of timely and accurate information and the inaccuracy of some of the data of the Perishable Products Export Council Board (PPECB); continued agricultural subsidies received by growers in countries competing with South Africa in global markets; and the high incidence of HIV/AIDS and crime. In order for the industry to enhance its competitiveness, a number of strategies to be adopted by all participants in the supply chain are suggested at the end of this study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid Afrikaanse sagtevrugte bedryf word beïnvloed deur verskeie faktore insluitende groter wordende internasionale market, handels liberalisering, vooruitgang in inligtings tegnologie en verbruikers voorkeure. Hierdie faktore het ‘n voordurende effek op die mededingendheid van die bedryf en dwing die sagtevrugte produsente en produseerders om hulself te posisioneer as bekwame mededingers in die internasionale mark omgewing. Hierdie study meet die mededingendheid van die Suid Afrikaanse sagtevrugte voorsieningsketting relatief tot die van Chili in ‘n poging om die volgende navorsingsvraag te beantwoord: Wat is die relatiewe internasionale mededingende voordeel van die Suid Afrikaanse sagtevrugte voorsieningsketting relatief tot die van Chili. Om die navorsingsvraag na behore te beantwoord word inligting van die Voedsel en Landou Organisasie (Food and Agricultural Organization, FAO) van die Verenigde Nasies van 2005 gebruik om die mededingendheid van die voorsieningskettings te verduidelik. Drie internasionaal erkende indekse word gebruik om die vergelykende en mededingende voordele van die sagtevrugte bedryf voorsieningskettings te vergelyk naamlik die Netto Uitvoer indeks (NU), Openbare Vergelykende Voordeel (OVV) indeks en die Relatiewe Openbare Vergelykende Handels Voordeel (ROVHV) indeks. Die resultate wys duidelik dat Soud Afrika se sagtevrugte voorsieningsketting ‘n relatief marginale kompeteerdende voordeel het, met meestse van die sagtevrugte produkte met OVV en ROVHV indeks waardes van tussen 0 en 10 het. Die ontleedings toon aan dat die Suid Afrikaanse sagtevrugte bedryf dit moeilik vind met om internasionall mededingend te wees met slegs ‘n maginale internasionale vergelykende en mededingende voordeel in terme van waarde toegevoegde produkte. Anders as Suid Afrika het Chili ‘n relatief beter openbare vergelykende voordeel as ook ‘n beter relatiewe internasionale vergelykende voordeel in meeste van die sagtevrugte voordieningskettings as Suid Afrika. Suid Afrika het slegs relatiewe beter internasionale en mededingende voordele in appelsap en gedroogde appelkose as Chili. Ongeag Suid Afrika se marginale mededingendheid ondervind meeste van die voordieningskettings opwaartse mededinging wat die die geval is met Chili nie. Die resultate het ook gewys dat die mededingendheid van meeste van die sagtevrugte voorsieningskettings in Suid Afrika afneem van primere na vervaardigde produkte, behalwe vir die appel en appelkoos waardekettings, wat impliseer dat waardetoevoeging moontlikhede steeds baie beperk is of nog nooit ontgin is nie. Op basis van die bevindinge is ‘n poging aangewend om sommige van die faktore wat die mededingendheid van die bedryf affekteer te identifiseer en te bespreek deur gebruik te maak van die raamwerk van mededingende voordeel ontleedings soos voorgestel deur Porter (1990, 1998). Die mees belangrike faktore wat ‘n inpak het op die mededingendheid van die van die bedryf is die beskikbaarheid van opgeleide arbeid; die koste en kwaliteit van onopgeleide aerbeid; beskikbaarheid en kwaliteit van kapitaal; koste van tegnologie; groei in plaaslike mark; gevaar van substitute; grondhervormings beleid; arbeids wetsgewing; huidige wisselkoers (huidige sterkte van die Rand); swart bemagtigings beleid; tekort aan tydige en akkurate inligting en die onakkuraatheid van sommige data van die Bederfbare Produkte Uitvoer Raad; landbou subsidies aan produsente in lande waarmee Suid Afrika internasionaal meeding en die hoë voorvalle van HIV/AIDS en misdaad. Om mededingendheid binne die berdyf te verbeter word verskeie strategie voorgestel wat rolspelers in die bedryf kan implementer.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACR: Approximately 10 years ago South Africa, and specifically the Oudtshoorn region was the only place in the world that supplied ostrich products for the international market. Today, South Africa is only one of several countries with commercial ostrich farming. The largest concentration of ostrich farmers in the world is, however, still in the Oudtshoorn region. Increasing competition, limited possibilities to diversify and the so-called price cost squeeze put the emphasis on aspects such as higher productivity and lower production costs. The profitability of ostrich farming, especially in the Oudtshoorn region, should urgently be determined and evaluated as farmers rely heavily on this venture as an only source of income. Decreases in slaughter realisations and slaughtering numbers have necessarily negative financial implications for the farmers, as well as for the community as a whole. Diversification is often considered strategic to avoiding or minimising risk. However, the possibilities to diversify especially to existing alternatives, have proven limited. One sure solution is to increase productivity of ostrich farming. Production parameters like the number of day-old chicks per female, chick mortality and slaughtering realisations were found to vary considerable providing scope for improvement. It is evident that several factors that determine the generated income lie outside the sphere of influence of the individual ostrich farmer. The large variation in production performances renders the industry risky, especially for farmers with liquidity problems. Two questionnaires as well as group discussion techniques were used to evaluate the economics of ostrich farming. Income and costing budget models were constructed on Microsoft Excel to be able to do calculations to the level of gross margin. A complete representative ostrich-farming unit was constructed to do calculations to the level of net farm income. The budget models were applied to (1) representative ostrich production practices for each of the three phases in the production process of ostrich farming, and (2) the representative ostrich-farming unit. The effect of different critical factors on the gross margin and net farm income of ostrich farming were thereafter evaluated. Different scenarios were also evaluated. The results of these analyses are representative of ostrich farming in the Oudtshoorn region. A computer model was developed whereby ostrich farming can be evaluated economically. This model can also be applied to assist individual farmers with their planning.As no research results exist on the economics of ostrich farming at micro level, several questions regarding the economics of ostrich farming prompted this study. These questions were answered using the above-mentioned computer models. The survival of the ostrich industry in the Oudtshoom region with its limited resources depends on a secure lead in technology which will enable farmers to produce products of higher quality, but also at lower costs than the rest of the world. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sowat 10 jaar gelede was Suid-Afrika, en spesifiek die Oudtshoom-omgewing, die enigste gebied in die wereld wat volstruisprodukte aan die wereldmark verskaf het. Vandag is Suid-Afrika egter een van vele lande waar kommersiele volstruisboerdery voorkom. Die grootste konsentrasie van volstruisboere in die wereld word egter steeds in die Oudtshoom-omgewing aangetref. Toenemende mededinging, beperkte moontlikhede om te diversifiseer en die sogenaamde pryskoste-knyptang impliseer dat aspekte soos hoer produktiwiteit en laer produksiekoste aandag moet geniet. 'n Behoefte bestaan om die winsgewendheid van die volstruisvertakking, spesifiek in die Oudtshoomomgewing, nie net te bepaal nie, maar ook te evalueer. Voistruisboere in die Oudtshoom-omgewing steun swaar op die volstruisvertakking vir die generering van inkomste. 'n Verlaging in slagrealisasies en 'n inkorting van slaggetalle het dus noodwendig negatiewe finansiele implikasies tot gevolg, nie net vir die volstruisboere nie, maar ook vir die hele gemeenskap. 'n Strategie om risiko te vermy, mag wees om te diversifiseer, maar die moontlikhede om te diversifiseer, veral na die bestaande vertakkings wat reeds verbou word, blyk egter beperk te wees. 'n Oplossing kan wees om die produktiwiteit van volstruisboerdery te verhoog, met ander woorde om bestaande dinge beter te doen. Groot variasies kom onder andere voor in die getal dagoudkuikens per wyfie, vrektesyfer onder kuikens en ook slagresultate. Groot ruimte vir verbetering bestaan dus. Dit blyk dan ook dat daar heelwat faktore is wat buite die invloedsfeer van die indiwiduele volstruisboer val wat bepalend is vir die inkomste wat 'n slagvolstruis realiseer. Die groot variasies, soos genoem, impliseer verder dat die risiko van volstruisboerdery hoog kan wees, veral vir volstruisboere met likiditeitsprobleme. Twee vraelysopnames en die groepbesprekingstegniek is gebruik om volstruisboerdery ekonomies te kon evalueer. Inkomste- en kostebegrotingsmodelle is op Microsoft Excel gekonstrueer ten einde berekeninge tot op die vlak van bruto marge te kon doen. 'n Volledige verteenwoordigende volstruisboerdery-eenheid is vervolgens gekonstrueer om berekeninge ook tot op die vlak van netto boerdery-inkomste te kon doen. Die begrotingsmodelle is toegepas op (0 verteenwoordigende volstruisproduksiepraktyke vir elk van die drie fases in die produksieproses van volstruisboerdery en (2) die verteenwoordigende volstruisboerdery-eenheid. Die effek van verskillende kritieke faktore op die bruto marge en netto boerdery-inkomste van volstruisboerdery is vervolgens geevalueer. Verskillende scenarios is ook aan die hand van die verteenwoordigende boerderyeenheid beoordeel. Die resultate van hierdie ontledings is verteenwoordigend van volstruisboerdery in die Oudtshoom-omgewing. 'n Rekenaarmodel is in die proses ontwikkel om volstruisboerdery ekonomies te kan evalueer. Hierdie model kan ook aangewend word om indiwiduele volstruisboere met beplanning te help. Heelwat vrae oor die ekonomie van volstruisboerdery het aanleiding gegee tot die aanvang van hierdie studie. Navorsingsresultate oor die ekonomie van volstruisboerdery op mikrovlak bestaan dan ook nie. Deur gebruik te maak van die genoemde rekenaarmodelle is vrae oor die ekonomie van volstruisboerdery beantwoord. Die enigste behoud van die volstruisbedryf in die Oudtshoom-omgewing, met sy beperkte hulpbronne, is 'n stewige voorsprong in tegnologie om nie net beter nie, maar ook goedkoper as die res van die wereld te produseer.

Thesis (MAgricAdmin)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Crop rotation present a possible alternative to wheat mono culture production in the Middle Swartland region where farming circumstances became increasingly more difficult since 1996 due to decreasing profit margins. Crop rotation as such presents a number of advantages like higher yield for wheat within the system and reduced inputs costs mainly due to cuts in fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. Crop rotation trials are currently undertaken at the Langgewens experimental farm in which canola and lupines are used in rotation with wheat while medics and medic/clover mixtures are used as pasture crops in rotation with wheat. The trials is scheduled to run over a period of 20 years, a study of the possible financial effect crop rotation might have on the typical farm can be of some importance to decision makers in the wheat industry. Due to a lack in reliable information the knowledge of a multi disciplinary panel of experts were use to obtain information concerning certain aspects of crop rotation. The expected profitability could thus be determined. To be able to determine the expected financial implications on farm level a typical farm model was developed with the help of the panel of experts. The typical farm of 630 ha was used for the model. The expected profitability and financial implications of the implementation of the eight different crop rotation systems on such a typical farm were estimated making use of long term budgets. The dispersion of rainfall over time was identified as the single most influential factor on the yields of the different crops in the region and was taken into account determining the profitability of the systems over time. The period used for the calculations were thus divided into good, average or poor rainfall years. The IRR (internal rate of return) was used as financial criteria in calculating the expected profitability of the different / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wisselbou bied 'n moontlike alternatief vir koringmonokultuurverbouing in die Middel Swartland waar boerdery omstandighede sedert 1996 toenemend moeiliker word weens dalende winsmarges. Wisselbou as sulks bied verskeie voordele ten opsigte van verhoogde opbrengste vir veral koring wat in die wisselboustelsel voorkom, sowel as insetbesparings ten opsigte van hoofsaaklik bemesting en spuitprogramme. Wisselbouproewe word tans op Langgewens Proefplaas onderneem om wisselboustelsels waarin kanola en lupien as wisselbougraangewasse en medies en medics/klawer kombinasies as wisselbouweidingsgewasse saam met koring ondersoek word. Die proef is geskeduleer om oor 'n 20 jaar tydperk uitgevoer te word, maar 'n voortydige finansiële ontleding van die verwagte effek wat wisselbou vir die tipiese plaas kan inhou, kan waardevol wees vir besluitnemers in die betrokke bedryf Weens 'n tekort aan toepaslike betroubare inligting is van 'n multidissiplinêre span van kundiges gebruik gemaak om inligting ten opsigte van sekere aspekte van wisselbou te genereer. So kan die verwagte winsgewendheid van die geïdentifiseerde wisselboustelsels bepaal word. Ten einde die finansiële implikasies van gewaswisselbou relatief tot koringmonokultuurverbouing op plaasvlak te ondersoek, is van 'n tipiese plaasmodel gebruik gemaak wat met behulp van die paneel kundiges ontwikkel is. 'n Tipiese plaas van 630 ha is gebruik as ontledingsmodel. Die verwagte winsgewendheid en finansiële implikasies van die implementering van eik van agt verskillende wisselboustelsels is beraam deur middel van langtermyn begrotings. Reënval en reënvalverspreiding is geïdentifiseer as die faktore wat die grootste invloed op die opbrengs prestasie van gewasse in die betrokke omgewing uitoefen en is in ag geneem met die beraming van die finansiële prestasie van die stelsels oor die langtermyn. Die berekeningstermyn is gevolglik ingedeel in goeie, gemiddelde en swak reënvaljare ten einde die invloed van reënval op die opbrengste van die verskillende gewasse in ag te neem. Die lOK (interne opbrengskoers van kapitaal) is gebruik as finansiële maatstaf vir die meet van die winsgewendheid van eike wisselboustelsel, soos geïmplementeer op die tipiese plaas. Wisselboustelsels met kanola en lupien saam met koring toon goeie finansiële resultate, terwyl stelsels met weidingsgewasse en koring oor die algemeen meer winsgewend vertoon as koringmonokultuur.Na verwagting behoort die stelsel waar koring en medics/klawennengsel afgewissel word, die beste te vaar ten opsigte van winsgewendheid.

Thesis (MComm (Agricultural Economics)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Small‐scale agriculture is one of the few tools available to support improved rural livelihoods on a significant scale in South Africa. Access to output markets is a key obstacle for small farmers in generating higher incomes. Thus, the rise of modern markets (supermarkets in particular) is generally viewed as positive for the rural poor, although most commentators accede that there are challenges to be overcome in obtaining access to such markets. A literature survey indicates a mainstream point of view about the reasons for modern market exclusion, as well as the most appropriate policy responses. This viewpoint is characterized by an assessment that the “fault” for market exclusion lies largely with small producers – their personal characteristics, their production methods, and their location – rather than with these markets themselves. The corresponding logic is that if these issues are addressed small farmers will almost certainly be included in modern market supply chains. It is this study’s assertion that much of the research that has been undertaken to date is in fact incomplete, because it has excluded two key issues: The dominant supermarket business model; and the actual position of small farmers in those countries with high levels of supermarket concentration. An examination of the supermarket model suggests it is inherently hostile towards most producers, and that modern supermarket supply chain management strategies aim to maximize the extraction of value from other chain participants. Smaller producers are particularly hard hit by this strategy. The South African food retail market structure resembles that of industrialised countries rather than developing countries, and the largest local supermarkets probably have sufficient market share to exercise significant market power. Therefore, we should expect that the position of South African small farmers is similar to that of small farmers in industrialised countries, who are increasingly excluded by modern supermarket‐led supply chains. In light of this analysis, most of the current policy initiatives responses to address market exclusion seem woefully inadequate. Improving the quality of production, and small farmers’ access to skills and assets is important and necessary, but this study proposes that these actions on their own are not sufficient to guarantee access into modern supply chains. Insufficient research attention has been given to understanding how markets themselves become barriers to entry. This is a vital gap in local rural development policy: A market system that favours large over small farmers has the potential to exacerbate rural inequality and to neutralize policy aimed at supporting small farmers. Government needs to take the development of marketing opportunities specifically for small farmers more seriously, understanding that they face a very different set of market access challenges than do large farmers. They need to encourage and support the type of food networks and marketing structures that will have the greatest positive benefit on small farmers and the communities that they live in. This requires a different view of the workings of market networks, and a more critical assessment of how these impact on rural livelihoods. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kleinskaalse landbou is een van die min hulpmiddels beskikbaar vir ondersteuning op beduidende skaal van ’n beter bestaan in landelike Suid‐Afrika. Toegang tot produksiemarkte is een van die struikelblokke wat kleinboere in die gesig staar wanneer hulle meer produseer. Die opkoms van moderne markte word algemeen beskou as positief vir armes op die platteland, alhoewel kommentaar meestal daarop dui dat daar uitdagings is wat te bowe gekom moet word ten einde toegang te verkry. ʼn Literatuurstudie dui op ʼn hoofstroomstandpunt ten opsigte van die redes vir markuitsluiting, asook die mees gepaste beleidsreaksies. Hierdie standpunt word gekenmerk deur ʼn mening dat die “fout” vir markuitsluiting hoofsaaklik by die produsente lê – hulle persoonlike eienskappe, hulle produksiemetodes, en hulle ligging – eerder as by hierdie markte self. Die ooreenstemmende logika is dat, as kleinboere die gehalte en standvastigheid van hulle produksie verbeter, dan sal hulle feitlik verseker by moderne markte ingesluit word. Hierdie studie voer aan dat baie van die navorsing wat tot dusver onderneem is, in werklikheid onvolledig is, weens die feit dat twee belangrike aangeleenthede: die dominante supermark‐sakemodel, en die posisie van kleinboere in daardie lande met hoë vlakke van supermarkkonsentrasie buite rekening gelaat word. ʼn Ondersoek van die supermarkmodel dui daarop dat dit inherent vyandig is teenoor die meeste landbouprodusente. In teenstelling met die siening van gelyke vennote wat in die rigting van ʼn gemeenskaplike doelstelling saamwerk, is die moderne supermarkvoorraadketting daarop ingestel om soveel moontlik waarde uit ander deelnemers aan die ketting te trek. Kleiner produsente kry veral swaar as gevolg van hierdie strategie. Die struktuur van die Suid‐Afrikaanse voedselkleinhandelmark toon ooreenkomste met dié van geïndustrialiseerde lande eerder as met dié van ontwikkelende lande, en die grootste plaaslike supermarkte het waarskynlik voldoende markaandele om aansienlike markkrag uit te oefen. Ons moet dus verwag dat die posisie van Suid‐Afrikaanse kleinboere soortgelyk is aan dié van kleinboere in geïndustrialiseerde lande, wat toenemend uitgesluit word as gevolg van voorraadkettings wat deur moderne supermarkte gelei word. In die lig van hierdie analise skyn die meeste van die reaksies van die huidige beleidsinisiatiewe in ’n poging om markuitsluiting die hoof te bied, bedroewend ontoereikend. Verbetering van die gehalte van produksie en kleinboere se toegang tot vaardighede en bates is belangrik en nodig, maar is op sigself nie voldoende om toegang tot moderne voorraadkettings te waarborg nie. Onvoldoende aandag is tot dusver in navorsing gegee aan begrip van hoe markte self hindernisse op die pad na toegang word. Dit is ʼn kardinale leemte in plaaslike landelike ontwikkelingsbeleid: ʼn markstelsel wat groot boere eerder as kleinboere bevoordeel, het die potensiaal om landelike ongelykheid te vererger en beleid gemik op steun aan kleinboere te neutraliseer. Die regering moet die ontwikkeling van bemarkingsgeleenthede – in die besonder vir kleinboere – ernstiger opneem, en begryp dat laasgenoemde voor baie andersoortige uitdagings ten opsigte van marktoegang te staan kom as groot boere. Hulle moet die soort voedselnetwerke en bemarkingstrukture wat die grootste positiewe voordele vir kleinboere en die gemeenskappe waarin hulle woon sal hê, aanmoedig en ondersteun. Dit vereis ʼn ander siening van die werking van marknetwerke, en ʼn meer kritiese waardebepaling van die invloed wat dit op landelike bestaan het.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Profit margins of typical farming systems in the Swartland have come under pressure because of international market forces decreasing milk and wheat prices as well as the deregulation of the agricultural marketing boards in South Africa after 1994. The profit margins of small grain production systems are specifically under pressure. It has therefore become necessary to evaluate different combinations of farming enterprises continuously. The profitability of changing farming enterprises can be examined by means of budgeting techniques. In this study the profitability of the inclusion of more home grown feed stuffs in the fodder flow program of dairies, currently run according to a zero feed lot grazing system, was investigated. The technique of Linear Programming (LP) was used in this regard. Grain production per hectare can vary to a large extent in the Swartland because of the large variation in soil forms and soil types. To accommodate these differences, a case study was conducted in each of the identified sub regions of the Swartland. The information gained from each case study was presented to a panel of producers and other experts during group discussions. Technical experts ensured that the latest available technology is applied, while the producers evaluated the practical implications of this. A further outcome of this method was that specialised subject related matters could be evaluated in group discussions focussing on the implications for the farming system as a whole. Thus, aspects related to the multidisciplinary nature of farming systems could be evaluated simultaneously. It is concluded that farm profitability can, under described circumstances be improved by including more home grown feed stuffs in the fodder flow program of the dairy production system. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dalende melk- en koringpryse weens nasionale sowel as internasionale markkragte, asook die deregulering van landboubemarkingsrade in Suid-Afrika na 1994, het die winsgrense van boerderystelsels in die Swartland onder druk geplaas. Die winsgewendheid van kleingraanproduksiestelsels is veralonder druk. Dit is gevolglik nodig om kombinasies van boerderyvertakkings deurlopend te evalueer. Die winsgewendheid van veranderinge in boerderybedryfstakkombinasies kan met behulp van begrotingstegnieke bepaal word. In hierdie studie is die winsgewendheid van die inskakeling van geproduseerde voere teen 'n hoër peil in die voervloeiprogram van die melkbedryfstak, wat volgens 'n voerkraal- of nulbeweidingstelsel bedryf word, by die kleingraanproduksiestelsel ondersoek. Die tegniek van Lineêre Progammering (LP) is hiervoor gebruik. Weens groot variasies in grondvorm en grondtipe in die Swartland kan graanproduksie baie varieer. Ten einde hierdie verskille te kan akkommodeer, is 'n gevallestudie winsgewendheidsontleding in elk van die geïdentifiseerde substreke van die Swartland gedoen. Die inligting verkry uit hierdie gevallestudies is aan 'n paneel van produsente en ander kundiges tydens groepbesprekings in debat geplaas. Tegniese kundiges het verseker dat die nuutste tegnologie toegepas word, terwyl produsente die praktiese implikasies hiervan kon evalueer. 'n Verdere uitvloeisel van hierdie werkswyse is dat vakspesifieke gespesialiseerde aangeleenthede in die groepbespreking beoordeel word tesame met die implikasies wat dit vir die boerderystelsel in sy geheel inhou. Sodoende word aspekte wat verband hou met die multidissiplinêre geaardheid van boerderystelsels gelyktydig ondersoek. Daar word tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die winsgewendheid van boerderye met kombinasies van kleingraan en melk in die Swartland, onder bepaalde omstandighede, deur die gebruik van selfgeproduseerde voergrondstowwe vir die melkproduksiestelsel, aansienlik verhoog kan word.

Proefskrif (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 1972. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: no abstract available / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: geen opsomming

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 1969. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: no abstract available / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: geen opsomming