Thesis (M.Sc.)(Agricultural Extension)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Title from opening screen (March 27, 2005). Includes summary. Includes bibliographical references.

This study seeks to evaluate economic development in the Eastern Cape Province, with a special focus on the agricultural sector. It focuses on the role that Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) play in stimulating economic development. To achieve this, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) was considered as a case study in assessing DFI’s support to the agricultural sector in the province. The study will also look into the corporation’s adherence to the Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP) and its strategic programmes. The study examines how the agricultural initiatives financed by ECDC contribute to economic development in the province. It will also assess whether those agricultural projects may impact the local communities through poverty alleviation. In order to address the research problem and to achieve the research objectives, available literature and empirical work related to the relationship between financial system development and economic development was reviewed. The research revealed that the role played by the ECDC with regard to Agricultural Projects has not been entirely effective to add value to economic development in the province, mainly caused by the lack of non – financial support by skilled people from the corporation, after limited funding was made available. From the investigation, the findings indicate that the effective mplementation of these projects require strengthened capacity, which requires more skilled officials from the corporation to assist the agricultural enterprises in managing the projects; and more funding that will assist the projects to reach sustainability.

<p>This dissertation challenges dominant food security discourses and practices that seek to address food insecurity through technoscientific approaches to agricultural production. Situated in Vietnam’s An Giang province in the Mekong River Delta, this work ethnographically explores and historically grounds global, national, and household scalar implications of these same discourses and practices on rice farmers’ livelihoods. The central research question that guided this project asks: if farmers are producing security for the nation, then why do they remain food insecure? Through a 16-month ethnographic study utilizing a mixed-methods approach I combined participant observation, household surveys, semi-structured interviews, and participatory mapping with rice farmers, farm laborers, and local and national government officials in order to address this question from a historically and ethnographically ground perspective. I show how Vietnam’s history of hunger and famine, experienced most recently in the late 1970’s, colors the nation’s current and future agricultural development. Focused on a future of rural development, economic growth, and values of modernity, new models of agricultural production are implemented across the Mekong River Delta to ensure the nation’s self-sufficiency in producing “enough” rice and food. Amongst these strategies, intensive triple cropping rice practices, food safety certifications and practices, and an increased reliance on agro-chemicals has resulted in differing farming practices and mixed impacts on farming livelihoods. I leverage a feminist political ecology and science and technology studies framework to foreground the rice farmers’ perspectives and differed experiences, while tracking the rooted inequalities within government policies, market logics, and social relationships. In three articles, I (1) examine differential experiences of state-based agricultural models and their impact on farmers’ livelihood security (2) trace how dominant discourses raise questions about individual and state responsibility; and (3) explore emergent farming livelihood opportunities and challenges within late socialist agricultural development. Drawing on ethnographic accounts and experiences, particularly from farmers, results showed that these dominant discourses that narrows food security to only be governable through techno-scientific approaches and agricultural practices are insufficient to address farmers’ insecurity.</p>

<p>The Grand River and its tributaries drain an area of over 2,000 square miles, in south-western Ontario between Lakes Huron, Erie, and Ontario. The area includes the present-day counties of Brant and Waterloo, and the adjoining parts of Wellington, Oxford, Wentworth, Haldimand, and Halton. It is one of the most fertile regions in Ontario, with a variety of soil types, mostly clay loams and a relatively mild climate. In Brant county, about 11 miles south of the town of Brantford, lies the township of Tuscarora, the Reserve of the Six Nations Indians, and all that remains of their original land grant, which extended almost the whole length of the Grand River. The type of agriculture and land use in Tuscarora presents a striking contrast to the conditions in the surrounding townships, which have been settled by non-Indian people. Large areas of the Reserve lie unused and are under either rough grass, scrub, or woodland, and little land is being used for agriculture. This study is an enquiry into the poverty of the Reserve, as reflected in the land use. The enquiry has three aims. First, the history of settlement and land use on the Reserve since the end of the eighteenth century is considered, to discover whether the present day poverty has its roots in the past. Secondly, a comparison is made between the trends in agricultural development in Tuscarora and those in the neighbouring townships of Oneida, to see whether these conditions have persisted since the Reserve was first established. Thirdly, an investigation is made of soil conditions as a contributing factor to the present day poverty of the Reserve.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

Thesis (MBA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2011 / The South African economic system is reliant to a greater extend on the availability of resources within this economy. Agricultural business opportunities should be properly explored to contribute significantly towards LED and the S.A economy at large. The aim of this study is to determine the situation of agricultural businesses, analyse the situation and give recommendations as input to the strategy that will assist to effectively improve the performance of agricultural businesses in Aganang municipality and their contribution to economic growth of the municipality. A general census of all these agricultural businesses within Aganang municipality as registered in the municipal LED database was considered for the research. Two different questionnaires were distributed to the two categories in the population, one for the officials and the other for business owners/managers. The results indicated that agricultural businesses in Aganang municipality are not aware of agricultural business opportunities and support programmes offered by government. They therefore do not participate in such programmes, remain survivalist and thus do not contribute to the economic growth of the municipality. The study recommends that: The younger generation should be involved in the agricultural sector. An active learning and entrepreneurship skill development programme at secondary school level should be considered. More farmers should be encouraged to engage in goat and cattle farming as the climate and soil structure dictates. There should be coordination of SMME including agricultural business development activities, within the municipality.

Thesis (M.Agric.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, PIetermaritzburg, 2007. / Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität zu Münster, 1983. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. [333-335]).

The premise of this study is the assumption that the IMF policy of structural adjustment has led to the decline of the social and economic welfare of the rural sector in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria. With this basic research theme in mind: (i) colonial agricultural development policy in Nigeria before the period of independence was evaluated; (ii) various development plans that have been instrumental in the development of the agricultural sector since independence were analyzed; (iii) the economic management policy of both civilian and military governments in Nigeria were examined; (iv) how SAP led to the proliferation of multinational corporations in the Nigerian agribusiness and the impact it had on domestic manufacturers engaged in farming for other reasons than farming was shown; and (v) quantitative method was used in an attempt to measure the impact of SAP in Nigeria's Middle Belt region. However, various perceptions exist regarding the policy of structural adjustment. Some observers argue that the policy was necessary in order for developing countries to attain sustainable growth in their economies. Other observers saw structural adjustment as a policy that has further perpetuated the economic hardship in developing states. This paper's position is that certain aspects of structural adjustment have clearly led to the continuous economic hardship and neglect of the rural sector, as shown in this case study of Plateau State. In order to substantiate this thesis, qualitative and quantitative data was assessed regarding the impact of SAP in four communities in the Middle Belt of Nigeria. Primary and secondary data regarding the policy objectives of structural adjustment was reviewed. Findings revealed that clearly certain aspects of SAP had effects on the socio and economic welfare of the rural people in this case study. However, other factors such as the lack of representation at the level of national leadership and ethnicity have contributed to the neglect of the rural sector in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria. In conclusion the recommendation is made that the Nigerian leadership need to reprioritize their commitment to the agricultural sector and that rural farmers should be given adequate social and economic assistance.

Desde que se iniciaram no Brasil há cerca de quatro décadas, os estudos dedicados à demografia histórica, mormente caracterizados por trabalhos monográficos, têm avançado de maneira significativa em seus aspectos quantitativos e qualitativos, especialmente no que tange à interdisciplinaridade. Paralelamente à continuidade desses estudos, o trabalho desenvolvido nessa tese analisa o processo de ocupação agrícola e o evolver demográfico-econômico das localidades paulistas de Jundiaí, Atibaia, Bragança Paulista, Nazaré, Jacareí e Mogi das Cruzes, que compunham o que denominamos de cinturão paulistano, contempladas para o período c.1798 a c.1830. O caminho seguido em nosso trabalho envolveu a busca de padrões e regularidades para referidas localidades, área que ao longo de todo o período estudado esteve vinculada à produção de gêneros de subsistência, em maior ou menor intensidade distanciando-as em alguns de seus caracteres, mas as aproximando em outros, levando aos padrões encontrados para as características demográficas de sua população, para a produção levada a cabo e para as estruturas fundiárias ali existentes. / Since it began in Brazil almost four decades ago, studies devoted to historical demographics, especially characterized by monographs, have advanced significantly in their quantitative and qualitative aspects, especially with respect to the interdisciplinarity. Parallel to the continuity of such work, we analyze the process of agricultural occupation and the demographic-economic development in São Paulo sites of Jundiaí, Atibaia, Bragança Paulista, Nazaré, Jacareí and Mogi das Cruzes, who comprised what we call \"paulistano belt\", referred to the period c.1798 to c.1830. We search for patterns and regularities to those localities, area that throughout the period studied was linked to the production of genres of subsistence, to a greater or lesser intensity - distancing them in some of their characters, but approaching them in other ones, leading to the patterns found for the demographic characteristics of its population, to the production carried out and to the land use structure existing there.

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / Neste trabalho investiga-se a relaÃÃo existente entre a comunidade de Araticum e o Parque Nacional de Ubajara (PNU), como tambÃm as mudanÃas acontecidas na vida dos moradores desde sua implantaÃÃo, em 1959. A investigaÃÃo foi desenvolvida atravÃs de pesquisa bibliogrÃfica e empÃrica. Os depoimentos orais foram coletados no perÃodo julho de 2002 a janeiro de 2003 e envolveram representantes de diversos segmentos da populaÃÃo de Araticum fornecendo elementos para a compreensÃo da problemÃtica e dos conflitos gerados no Distrito. Com a criaÃÃo do PNU, a maior parte das 133 famÃlias que moravam na Ãrea mudaram-se para Araticum. Algumas delas receberam indenizaÃÃo, compraram terrenos e construÃram suas casas, enquanto outras passaram a viver e trabalhar nas terras de terceiros. Parte considerÃvel dos moradores do Distrito vive da agricultura de subsistÃncia e da aposentadoria dos mais velhos. Dessa forma, a falta de alternativas econÃmicas adequadas à realidade local contribuiu para o empobrecimento da populaÃÃo, pois as atividades extrativas vegetais e minerais, sÃo consideradas ilegais ou irregulares, se nÃo estiverem devidamente licenciadas. A pesquisa verifica que mesmo apÃs 45 anos de criaÃÃo dessa unidade de conservaÃÃo, ainda nÃo hà integraÃÃo entre os processos humanos e naturais, e isso contribui para aumentar a degradaÃÃo e empobrecimento das terras no seu entorno. Assim, em funÃÃo do conhecimento e percepÃÃes da populaÃÃo de Araticum, conclui-se que, apesar do PNU ser considerado um centro de referencia nacional em termos de infra-estrutura de apoio ao turismo e pesquisa, nÃo influenciou positivamente no desenvolvimento de Araticum. De acordo com depoimentos de habitantes da comunidade, durante o processo de instalaÃÃo do PNU nÃo foi dada atenÃÃo Ãs suas necessidades e aspiraÃÃes, à sua histÃria, sentimentos e condutas. Nessa perspectiva, a presente pesquisa vem discutir a forma como a natureza està sendo preservada no Parque Nacional de Ubajara, transformando-o em ilha, enquanto no seu redor observa-se uma subexploraÃÃo dos recursos naturais, principalmente pela populaÃÃo que antes habitava a Ãrea transformada em Parque. Desta forma fica claro que a criaÃÃo de unidades de conservaÃÃo à uma necessidade para a preservaÃÃo dos recursos naturais ainda existentes, mas tambÃm à um assunto complexo que nos estimula a discutir e avaliar sua forma de criaÃÃo. / The aim of this work is to investigate the relationship between the Araticum Town and the National Park of Ubajara (NPU), as well as the changes occurred on the local community way of life since its implantation, in 1959. The study was carried out by both bibliographic and empirical research. Oral interviews were made between July/2002 and January/2003 and included representative members from several levels of the Araticum people, which gave information about the problems and the conflicts generated in the district. As the NPU was created, most of the 133 families that lived in the area had to move to Araticum. Some of them received some money, bought a piece of land and built their houses, whilst others started to live and work as employees. A great part of the locals survives from familiar agriculture and economic resources from the retirement of the elders. The lack of economic alternatives adequate to the local reality has contributed for the impoverishment of the people, as both vegetal and mineral extractive activities are illegal or irregular if not properly licensed. This research also found out that, after 45 years of implantation, there is no integration between human and natural processes, being a factor that leads to an increase of the degradation and impoverishment of the surrounding lands. Based on the knowledge and on the perception taken from the people of Araticum, we conclude that, despite of the NPU be considered a national reference in terms of structure of tourism and research, this fact did not influence positively its development. According to interviews with local habitants, during the NPU installation process any attention was given in respect to their necessities and aspirations, to their history, to their feelings and to their way of life. From this perspective, the current research discuss the way by which nature is being preserved in the NPU, making an island of it, while in the surroundings one can observe a sub exploration of the natural resources, particularly by the population that used to live in the area. It is clear, then, that the creation of conservation units is a necessity for the preservation of natural resources, but is also a complex subject, which deserves a better discussion and evaluation.