There are more or less 900 000 farm workers in South Africa. Among these approximately 600 000 are permanently employed, while the rest are seasonal workers. It is estimated that six to seven million people are currently living on farms, which implies that up to seven people are dependent on the wages of a single farm worker. In order to improve the situation of farm workers, the Department of Labour implemented the minimum wage system for farm workers on 1 March 2003. The argument is posed, however, that many farm workers would lose their jobs because of the sectoral stipulations. Unemployment has far-reaching consequences. Farm workers who have lived on farms before, have to resettle and adapt to new social structures, such as community structures and new codes of conduct. In order to adapt to social change, it is argued that training agencies could use project management as a suitable management tool to launch empowering interventions. The analysis of the social conditions in which farm workers find themselves ought to be undertaken on the basis of a specific theory on changes. From this perspective certain theories of social change have been identified. Empowerment is discussed as a process of change. This means an increase in influence and control by acquiring knowledge and skills by means of the necessary training. While theorists on conflict view conflict as the main driving force in change, empowerment is considered to be the process by means of which change can be managed effectively. For the rest the principles of project management are discussed to show that the project cycle is based on project management principles. If project management principles and the project cycle are applied as yardsticks during an empowerment project, the chances of being successful will be much better than when launching an unstructured and unplanned project. The most important conclusion to be made from this research is that the management of change by means of empowerment projects is of decisive importance to unemployed farm workers. Empowerment projects for unemployed farm workers are the first steps in the direction of effective management of social change and sustainable development in South Africa. / Thesis (M. Ontwikkeling en Bestuur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

There are more or less 900 000 farm workers in South Africa. Among these approximately 600 000 are permanently employed, while the rest are seasonal workers. It is estimated that six to seven million people are currently living on farms, which implies that up to seven people are dependent on the wages of a single farm worker. In order to improve the situation of farm workers, the Department of Labour implemented the minimum wage system for farm workers on 1 March 2003. The argument is posed, however, that many farm workers would lose their jobs because of the sectoral stipulations. Unemployment has far-reaching consequences. Farm workers who have lived on farms before, have to resettle and adapt to new social structures, such as community structures and new codes of conduct. In order to adapt to social change, it is argued that training agencies could use project management as a suitable management tool to launch empowering interventions. The analysis of the social conditions in which farm workers find themselves ought to be undertaken on the basis of a specific theory on changes. From this perspective certain theories of social change have been identified. Empowerment is discussed as a process of change. This means an increase in influence and control by acquiring knowledge and skills by means of the necessary training. While theorists on conflict view conflict as the main driving force in change, empowerment is considered to be the process by means of which change can be managed effectively. For the rest the principles of project management are discussed to show that the project cycle is based on project management principles. If project management principles and the project cycle are applied as yardsticks during an empowerment project, the chances of being successful will be much better than when launching an unstructured and unplanned project. The most important conclusion to be made from this research is that the management of change by means of empowerment projects is of decisive importance to unemployed farm workers. Empowerment projects for unemployed farm workers are the first steps in the direction of effective management of social change and sustainable development in South Africa. / Thesis (M. Ontwikkeling en Bestuur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

While it is a presumably accepted fact that rural and farming communities represent an important sector in the life of every nation due to their contribution to food security and nutrition, there is limited available empirical knowledge on their lives. This study intended to explore the health profile of the rural and farming communities in South Africa, and to explore the relationships between the physical and psychological health, the needs and quality of life facets of a specific group of farm workers and to provide guidelines for intervention in the said areas. This objective was achieved through a literature review, empirical study and suggested guidelines for bio psychosocial health promotion. The end product of this study is presented in three separate, but related manuscripts or articles. A holistic conceptual framework was adopted in the literature review and is described in manuscript 1. This overview focused on life on farms and in rural areas through both the social and natural sciences lenses in a parallel and integrative manner. The needs domain was conceptualised in its broad and narrow uses, and health was broadly defined in terms of the World Health Organization's (WHO, 1999:6) conceptualisation. The term "rural" was narrowly described for the purposes of the current study, i.e. according to the typical descriptive aspects of population dynamics, geographic, economic and other social considerations. Although studies from elsewhere in the world were used to provide a clearer picture of rural contexts, the focus was on available local South African literature. The literature review suggested a situation of serious disparities in the lives of the rural communities in comparison to their counterparts living in urbanised settings in South Africa. They suffer poor socioeconomic status, poor access to services, physical infrastructure problems, food insecurity and nutritional problems, physical and mental health problems, and violence and violations of their human rights. Manuscript 2 reports on an empirical, mixed-methods investigation that was conducted on a convenience sample of 52 farm workers (18-60 years) from three farms near Potchefstroom, in the North West Province. All participants completed quantitative measures and interviews were conducted with a random sample of 25 participants. As a conceptual framework, health was defined comprehensively in terms of physical, psychological and social dimensions (World Health Organization, 1999). Psychological well-being was defined on a continuum from symptoms of stress to a focus on strengths, capacities, mental well-being or psychological health (Wissing & Van Eeden, 2002, 1997; Deci & Ryan, 2000; Ryan & Frederick, 1997) and measured with the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC) Scale (Antonovsky, 1987), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) (Diener, Emmons, Larsen & Griffin, 1985), the Affectometer 2 (AFM) (Kammann & Flett, 1983), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) (Goldberg & Hiller, 1979) the Need Satisfaction Scale (NSC) (La Guardia et al., 2000), and the Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS) (Ryan & Frederick, 1997). Quality of life was operationalised in terms of the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI) (Frisch, 1994). Physical health was operationalised in terms of standardised measures of blood pressure heart rate body mass index, waist-hip ratio and a nutritional intake measure, the Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (QFFQ) (Vorster et al. 2000). Participants reported relatively poor states of physical health nutritional deficiencies poor mental health and poor quality of life. In manuscript 3 specific guidelines for the promotion of the bio psychosocial health of farm workers were suggested to address the specific and identified problems in an integrated manner. The guidelines were grouped into operational and administrative/bureaucratic interventions. Recommendations were also made for further exploration of the relationship between the farm workers' context and the bio psychosocial health indicators. Farm workers suffer problems of physical and psychological distress as well as shortages of health care providers, lack of the necessary health infrastructure and other social and physical infrastructure amenities. For successful and sustainable interventions health professionals and health workers, policy makers and bureaucrats, human rights activists and rural/farm employee organisations as well as the broader social movement and other interested/affected parties need to jointly contribute to health programmes aimed at addressing the challenges facing rural communities in general, and farm workers in particular. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges faced by farm schools in exercising the right to basic education. In doing so, also to determine possible reasons behind learners' drop-out rate at farm schools. This stUdy was prompted by political changes, which took place after the democratic elections of April 1994, impacting on the provisioning of education in South Africa. The South African education system and its institutions were confronted by many laws and policies, including the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 (84/1996), the National Education Policy Act 27 of 1996 (27/1996) and specific obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Through literature and empirical studies it was found that the State's commitment to social justice, especially to education, remains unfulfilled for large numbers of children, youths and adults living in rural areas. Literature revealed that the South African government is failing to protect the right to a primary education for learners living on commercial farms by neither ensuring their access to farm school, nor maintaining the adequacy of learning conditions at these schools. The research findings revealed that poverty resulting from unemployment or low income on the farms increases the need for teenagers to be in paid employment in the evenings or at the weekend, increasing absenteeism and ultimately resulting in learners dropping out, and an increase in child-labour. The empirical method, using questionnaires, was successful in obtaining information about what challenges are faced by farm schools in exercising the right to basic education and the reasons behind farm school learners dropping-out. It also established how participants felt and thought about their experiences and perceptions on the challenges confronting the right to basic education as well as the reasons behind farm school learners dropping out. The study established that if the State could respect and fulfil economic and social rights of the farm sChool community, including the right to basic education, by eradicating measures that deny the enjoyment of the right to education as seen at the farm schools, great progress and sustainability as far as education is concerned could be achieved by these schools. A number or recommendations were made with regard to the research on findings for the Sedibeng-West District (08). / Thesis (M.Ed. (Education Law))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2008.

While it is a presumably accepted fact that rural and farming communities represent an important sector in the life of every nation due to their contribution to food security and nutrition, there is limited available empirical knowledge on their lives. This study intended to explore the health profile of the rural and farming communities in South Africa, and to explore the relationships between the physical and psychological health, the needs and quality of life facets of a specific group of farm workers and to provide guidelines for intervention in the said areas. This objective was achieved through a literature review, empirical study and suggested guidelines for bio psychosocial health promotion. The end product of this study is presented in three separate, but related manuscripts or articles. A holistic conceptual framework was adopted in the literature review and is described in manuscript 1. This overview focused on life on farms and in rural areas through both the social and natural sciences lenses in a parallel and integrative manner. The needs domain was conceptualised in its broad and narrow uses, and health was broadly defined in terms of the World Health Organization's (WHO, 1999:6) conceptualisation. The term "rural" was narrowly described for the purposes of the current study, i.e. according to the typical descriptive aspects of population dynamics, geographic, economic and other social considerations. Although studies from elsewhere in the world were used to provide a clearer picture of rural contexts, the focus was on available local South African literature. The literature review suggested a situation of serious disparities in the lives of the rural communities in comparison to their counterparts living in urbanised settings in South Africa. They suffer poor socioeconomic status, poor access to services, physical infrastructure problems, food insecurity and nutritional problems, physical and mental health problems, and violence and violations of their human rights. Manuscript 2 reports on an empirical, mixed-methods investigation that was conducted on a convenience sample of 52 farm workers (18-60 years) from three farms near Potchefstroom, in the North West Province. All participants completed quantitative measures and interviews were conducted with a random sample of 25 participants. As a conceptual framework, health was defined comprehensively in terms of physical, psychological and social dimensions (World Health Organization, 1999). Psychological well-being was defined on a continuum from symptoms of stress to a focus on strengths, capacities, mental well-being or psychological health (Wissing & Van Eeden, 2002, 1997; Deci & Ryan, 2000; Ryan & Frederick, 1997) and measured with the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC) Scale (Antonovsky, 1987), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) (Diener, Emmons, Larsen & Griffin, 1985), the Affectometer 2 (AFM) (Kammann & Flett, 1983), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) (Goldberg & Hiller, 1979) the Need Satisfaction Scale (NSC) (La Guardia et al., 2000), and the Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS) (Ryan & Frederick, 1997). Quality of life was operationalised in terms of the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI) (Frisch, 1994). Physical health was operationalised in terms of standardised measures of blood pressure heart rate body mass index, waist-hip ratio and a nutritional intake measure, the Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (QFFQ) (Vorster et al. 2000). Participants reported relatively poor states of physical health nutritional deficiencies poor mental health and poor quality of life. In manuscript 3 specific guidelines for the promotion of the bio psychosocial health of farm workers were suggested to address the specific and identified problems in an integrated manner. The guidelines were grouped into operational and administrative/bureaucratic interventions. Recommendations were also made for further exploration of the relationship between the farm workers' context and the bio psychosocial health indicators. Farm workers suffer problems of physical and psychological distress as well as shortages of health care providers, lack of the necessary health infrastructure and other social and physical infrastructure amenities. For successful and sustainable interventions health professionals and health workers, policy makers and bureaucrats, human rights activists and rural/farm employee organisations as well as the broader social movement and other interested/affected parties need to jointly contribute to health programmes aimed at addressing the challenges facing rural communities in general, and farm workers in particular. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Thesis--Cornell University. / Vita. Bibliography: p. 332-348.

abstract: Growers and the USDA showed increasing favor for agricultural chemicals over cultural and biological forms of pest control through the first half of the twentieth century. With the introduction of DDT and other synthetic chemicals to commercial markets in the post-World War II era, pesticides became entrenched as the primary form of pest control in the industrial agriculture production system. Despite accumulating evidence that some pesticides posed a threat to human and environmental health, growers and government exercised path-dependent behavior in the development and implementation of pest control strategies. As pests developed resistance to regimens of agricultural chemicals, growers applied pesticides with greater toxicity in higher volumes to their fields with little consideration for the unintended consequences of using the economic poisons. Consequently, pressure from non-governmental organizations proved a necessary predicate for pesticide reform. This dissertation uses a series of case studies to examine the role of non-governmental organizations, particularly environmental organizations and farmworker groups, in pesticide reform from 1962 to 2011. For nearly fifty years, these groups served as educators, communicating scientific and experiential information about the adverse effects of pesticides on human health and environment to the public, and built support for the amendment of pesticide policies and the alteration of pesticide use practices. Their efforts led to the passage of more stringent regulations to better protect farmworkers, the public, and the environment. Environmental organizations and farmworker groups also acted as watchdogs, monitoring the activity of regulatory agencies and bringing suit when necessary to ensure that they fulfilled their responsibilities to the public. This dissertation will build on previous scholarly work to show increasing collaboration between farmworker groups and environmental organizations. It argues that the organizations shared a common concern about the effects of pesticides on human health, which enabled bridge-builders within the disparate organizations to foster cooperative relationships. Bridge-building proved a mutually beneficial exercise. Variance in organizational strategies and the timing of different reform efforts limited, but did not eliminate, opportunities for collaboration. Coalitions formed when groups came together temporarily, and then drifted apart when a reform effort reached its terminus, leaving future collaboration still possible. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. History 2011

Introduction: Low Back Pain Syndrome is commonly classified as a set of signs and symptoms, of multifactorial origin. Rural work has been currently reported in the scientific literature as one of the most harmful labor practices to human health. Objective: Characterizing low back pain syndrome and associated factors in rural workers exposed to short- to long-term pesticides. Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional and analytical study in which 322 male rural workers aged 18-59 years old have been exposed to pesticides and the parameters evaluated were: anthropometric characteristics, socio-demographic (marital status, alcoholism and smoking) , acute and chronic pain index in the lumbar spine, hip, knee and ankle through Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Body Map, as well as functional parameters: body balance through the BERG Balance Scale (BBS), Risk of falls: Time Up and Go Test (TUG TEST) and functionality by OSWESTRY (ODI). The statistical approach was analytical descriptive. Results: Regarding the anthropometric parameters observed: age (34.9 ± 8.4 years), weight (72.9 ± 5.3 kg), height (1.69 ± 0.05) and BMI (24.7 ± 1,9 kg / m²). Most workers n=216 (67.1%) were in the age group of 18-39 years, adequate BMI n=179 (41.9%), time of exposure to pesticides =36 months n=202 (62,7%), predominantly single (n=225) (69.9%), low consumption of tobacco and alcohol respectively, n=193 (59.9%) n=183 (56.8%). It was evidenced that a sample presents acute low back pain n = 219 (66.1%), hip pain n =238 (73.9%) and moderate functional disability n=139 (43.2%). There was a strong correlation between TUG TEST vs. ODI (r= 0.8, p=0.01). Acute low back pain. Age (r=0.8, p=0.01), marital status (r=0.75, p=0.01). Conclusion: The data suggest that rural workers present a higher rate of mild acute low back pain and mild to moderate hip pain, low body imbalance, moderate risk of falls and moderate functional disability. / A Síndrome da dor lombar é comumente classificada como um conjunto de sinais e sintomas, de origem multifatorial. Atualmente o trabalho rural tem sido reportado na literatura cientifica como uma das práticas laborais mais lesivas à saúde humana. Objetivo: Caracterizar a Síndrome da dor lombar e fatores associados em trabalhadores rurais das cidades de Lagarto e Salgado, Sergipe expostos a agrotóxicos. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo observacional, transversal e analítico, no qual foram incluídos 322 trabalhadores rurais do gênero masculino com idade entre 18 e 59 anos expostos a agrotóxicos e os parâmetros avaliados foram: características antropométricas, sociodemográficas (estado civil, alcoolismo e tabagismo), índice álgico agudo e crônico em coluna lombar, quadril, joelho e tornozelo através da Escala Analógica da Dor (EVA) e Mapa Corporal, além de parâmetros funcionais: equilíbrio corporal através da escala de BERG (EEB), Risco de quedas: Time Up and Go teste (TUG TEST) e funcionalidade pelo OSWESTRY (ODI). A abordagem estatística foi do tipo descritiva analítica. Resultados: Em relação aos parâmetros antropométricos observou-se: idade, (34,9± 8,4 anos), peso (72,9± 5,3 Kg), altura (1,69± 0,05) e IMC (24,7±1,9 Kg/m²). A maioria dos trabalhadores n=216 (67,1%) encontravam-se na faixa etária de 18-39 anos, IMC adequado n=179 (41,9%), tempo de exposição a agrotóxicos =36 meses n=202 (62,7%), predominantemente solteiros n=225 (69,9 %), baixo consumo de tabaco e álcool, respectivamente n=193 (59,9%) n=183 (56,8%). Foi evidenciado que a amostra apresenta lombalgia aguda n=219 (66,1%), dor no quadril n= 238 (73,9%) e incapacidade funcional moderada n=139 (43,2%). Houve correlação forte entre TUG TEST Vs. ODI (r=0,8; p=0,01). Lombalgia aguda Vs. Idade (r=0,8; p=0,01), estado civil (r=0,75; p=0,01). Conclusão: Os dados sugerem que os trabalhadores rurais apresentam, maior índice de lombalgia aguda de forma leve e fatores associados, como do tipo dor no quadril de leve a moderada, baixo desequilíbrio corporal, médio risco de quedas e incapacidade funcional moderada. / Lagarto, SE

Orientador: Emilia Pietrafesa de Godoi / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Filosofia e Ciencias Humanas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T07:50:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lombardi_ThaisTartalhadoNascimento.pdf: 11625586 bytes, checksum: ce2df9862b5efe057298ff98d3395fbf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Essa dissertação fundamenta-se no trabalho de campo realizado em um trecho da Rodovia Transamazônica, no entorno das cidades de Altamira e Brasil Novo, no Estado do Pará. Esse trecho fez parte de um projeto de expansão da fronteira agrícola nos anos 70, e foi palco de um grande fluxo migratório de vários estados do país. A partir desses dois fatos nos propusemos a acompanhar, por meio das narrativas orais, as trajetórias desses migrantes, conhecidos localmente como colonos. Através do trabalho e da vida cotidiana pudemos acompanhar também as trajetórias dos lugares por eles constituídos. A partir dos dados colhidos uma paisagem e uma dinâmica local foram se desenhando. Tal paisagem e dinâmica mostraram que a categoria com a qual operávamos não era única. Naquele lugar outra categoria de moradores partilha o espaço com os colonos: os daqui. Ao acompanhar as trajetórias das pessoas através dessas duas categorias percebe-se a construção de uma relação com o lugar marcada pela relação com a terra e com a estrada, cuja dinâmica sofreu influência do projeto de colonização e de práticas trazidas do lugar de origem dos migrantes. O processo que se inicia com a chegada dos colonos até a emergência d'os daqui demonstra, principalmente, como um lugar e um modo de vida particulares se constituem naquela localidade. Por fim, esperamos que, ao entender as trajetórias dessas pessoas e dos lugares por elas constituídos, possamos ter contribuído para a compreensão dos resultados de uma política recente de colonização, e para o papel das pessoas na produção de lugares e de modos de vida. / Abstract: This thesis is grounded in a field work realized at the Tranzamazon road, especially in a piece of this road, nearby the cities of Altamira and Brasil Novo, at Pará state in Brazil. This piece of the road was part of agricultural frontier expansion project occurred in the 70's and was the stage to a huge migration flow from many states in the country. Looking to these two facts we proposed to follow the trajectories of those migrants locally known as colonos by focusing on the oral narratives. Looking forward the daily life and work we could also follow the trajectories of the places constituted by them. In that place another category of local residents share the space with the colonos: os daqui. By following those people trajectories through these two categories we can perceive the construction of a relation with the place that is given by the relation with the land and the road, whose dynamics was influenced by the colonization project and practices brought from the migrants original place of living. The process that has began with the arrival of the colonos and goes until the emergence of the os daqui shows, mainly, how a particular place and a particular way of living are constituted there. Finally, we hope that by understanding the trajectories of those people and the places built by them we have contributed to a comprehension of the results of recent colonization police and the role of the people in the production of places and ways of living. / Universidade Estadual de Campi / Antropologia Rural / Mestre em Antropologia Social

Magister Economicae - MEcon / Fairtrade is an international organisation aimed at creating empowerment, sustainable livelihoods and fair trading opportunities for small-scale producers and hired labourers in the Global South. The organisation Fairtrade International and its independent certification body FLO-CERT form part of the larger Fair Trade movement. As South Africa's wine industry is still characterized by oppression of its farm workers, the organisation urges for a profound transformation of the industry. Fairtrade's engagement in South Africa is unique as it emerged from an initiative of local producers seeking the certification in 2003. Since then, the number of Fairtrade grape and wine farms has steadily increased and expanded to other wine-producing countries. Thus, after more than ten years of Fairtrade operation in this industry, it is worthwhile evaluating the impact of this international initiative on local farm workers on wine estates. This study uses the capability approach as a theoretical platform from which to assess farm workers' quality of life. The investigation draws a comparison between conditions for workers on Fairtrade-certified farms and conditions for workers on non-certified wine estates. Quantitative research methods were used to gather relevant information. The findings prove the hypothesis of a positive impact of the Fairtrade intervention, but only in certain categories. Labourers on Fairtrade-certified farms were found to be better off concerning financial provision for retirement, contractual status and opportunities to participate in professional training and to join unions. The data furthermore supports the hypothesis that Fairtrade workers are more satisfied with their jobs on wine farms. For further research, longitudinal studies and participatory research approaches are recommended to obtain in depth-information about farm workers' views on Fairtrade.