This doctoral thesis explores the agrarian development in 20th Estonia and the role of family farming during three major agricultural transformations. It consists of four papers and an introductory chapter for which the common departure are the situation appearing in the Estonian farming landscape after the regained independence in 1991. The first three studies analyse comparative aspects on Estonia's interwar experiences with focus on land reform, agricultural co-operation, and agricultural export development. The fourth study focuses on the role of private plots during the Soviet period and the conversion of these into subsistence holdings after 1991. By merging the perspectives in these papers, the introductory chapter explores the impacts and legacies of previous transformations on the post-Soviet agricultural transformation up to 2004. The thesis specifically analyses the long-term effects of perceptions of markets and the role of agricultural production, changes in the agrarian property relations, organisation of agricultural production and co-operation. In analytical terms, this is discussed from the perspectives of continuity and discontinuity. Besides the several societal changes affecting the agrarian property relations in 20th century Estonia, the radical and decisive shifts have also affected markets, trade and economic integration. Since the end of the First World War, Estonia has been quickly thrown between different economic-political systems and legal environments. From the perspective of the small state’s dependence on trade and reliance on a few markets, the upheavals in the early 1920s, after World War II, and not least the fall of the Soviet Union, Estonia’s long-term economic development has been significantly affected. In this context the role of agriculture has changed. Most important, however, this dissertation shows how the idea of small-scale family farming survived throughout the planned economic period and became an indispensable production unit, even though it turned out to be a myth as soon as the Soviet system was dissolved and the exposure to international competition began after 1991.

This thesis is an implicit farmland value study which explores the possible effects of agricultural commodity prices, interest rate and land reform issues on farmland values. The study examines the impacts of these fundamental factors (interest rates and returns to farmland as determined by crop prices) on sugar cane farmland values, maize farmland values, on deciduous fruit (apples and pears) farmland values, and on aggregate South African farmland values. Expectations are that land reform influences the demand for farmland. Since farmland prices are demand driven, changes in the demand for farmland (as influenced by land reform issues) may result in changes in farmland prices. The study thus seeks to empirically examine, to a larger extent, the long-run influence of endogenous factors on farmland prices. Causes of cyclical behaviour in farmland prices are also examined. The study draws on cross-sectional and time series studies of previous research on farmland values. The maximum likelihood Johansen (1991) procedure of cointegration is used to estimate the relationship between fundamental factors and farmland values. The logit model is used to estimate the influence of land reform on the demand for farmland, hence farmland prices. Unit root and the Johansen cointegration test results proved that long-run relationships exist between farmland values and returns to farmland; the use of cointegration methods was thus recommended. Long-run changes in farmland prices are caused by fundamental factors. Short-run variations in farmland prices are caused by exogenous factors that affect net farm income and this lead to boom-bust cycles in farmland values. / Thesis (M.Comm.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

Magistrantūros studijų baigiamasis darbas, 48 puslapiai, 13 paveikslų, 5 lentelės, 61 literatūros šaltinių, 3 priedai, lietuvių kalba. PRASMINIAI ŽODŽIAI: smulkieji ūkiai, pusiau natūriniai ūkiai, ekonominė atskirtis, ES finansinė parama. Tyrimo objektas – smulkių ūkių ekonominė atskirtis. Tyrimo tikslas – išanalizuoti smulkių ūkių ekonominę atskirtį ir ją įtakojančius veiksnius bei įvertinti ES finansinės paramos poveikį šios atskirties mažinimui. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1) pateikti ekonominės atskirties sampratą bei identifikuoti smulkiuosius ūkius; 2) apibrėžti ekonominės atskirties veiksnius; 3) nustatyti finansinės paramos būtinumą smulkiems ūkiams; 4) įvertinti smulkių ūkių ekonominę atskirtį ir paramos įtaką šios atskirties mažinimui Šilalės rajone. Tyrimo metodai: mokslinės ir publicistinės literatūros, statistinių duomenų, dokumentų ir teisinių aktų analizės bei sintezės metodai; statistinių duomenų rinkimo ir analizės, grupavimo, grafinio modeliavimo metodai; lyginamasis metodas; loginis ir apibendrinimo metodai; detalesnei analizei panaudotas analizuojamas duomenų rinkimas apklausos metodu – anketinė apklausa nukreipta į smulkiesiems ūkininkams suteiktos finansinės paramos poveikio ekonominės atskirties veiksnių mažinimui išaiškinimą. Tyrimo rezultatai: • pirmojoje darbo dalyje teoriniame lygmenyje užsienio ir lietuvių literatūros autorių išnagrinėta ekonominės atskirties samprata, smulkių ūkių tipologija, ūkių dydžio kriterijai bei pateikta tyrimo metodika; •... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Final work of University Master studies: 48 pages, 13 figures, 5 tables, 61 references, 3 appendices, in Lithuanian. KEY WORDS: small farms, semi–subsistence farms, economic exclusion, the EU financial support. Research object – the economic exclusion of small farms. Research aim – to explore the economic exclusion of small farms and its determinants, to assess the impact of financial support on the reduction of this exclusion. Objectives: 1) to define the concept of economic exclusion and identify small farms; 2) to explore the determinants of economic exclusion of small farms; 3) to assess the need of financial support for small farms; 4) to examine the impact of financial support on the reduction of the determinants of economic exclusion of small farms in Šilalė district. Research methods: analysis and synthesis of scientific and publicist literature, documents and legislation; statistical data collection and analysis, comparison and graphical representation; logical simulation and summation; questionnaire survey. Research results: • The first part defines the concept of economic exclusion, analizes typology of small farms, criteria of farm size and determines the methods to be used for evaluation of the economic exclusion; • The second part defines the determinants of economic exclusion, reveals the need of financial support for small farms; • The third part evaluates the impact of financial support on the reduction of determinants of economical exclusion of small... [to full text]

Au Sénégal, depuis les années 2000, différentes politiques et programmes publics ont été menés sur le plan agricole par le régime d’Abdoulaye WADE (2000-2012) puis de Macky SALL (2012 à nos jours) dans le but, entre autres, de mieux ouvrir ce secteur au libéralisme dont ils se réclament. Cette volonté d’ouverture intervient dans un contexte national caractérisé par l’octroi de l’autonomie de gestion des ressources foncières aux collectivités locales depuis les réformes de 1996 et dans un contexte international marqué par une incitation des institutions financières internationales, la Banque mondiale notamment, à cette libéralisation dans un but affiché de modernisation du secteur agricole et d’accroissement de la production. En s’appuyant sur l’installation de deux entreprises agro-industrielles, Senhuile et West Africa Farms, dans la commune de Ngnith (région de Saint Louis), cette recherche analyse l’exercice de la gestion foncière décentralisée au sein de cette commune. Elle retrace les différentes étapes d’acquisition des terres par ces entreprises et le rôle des parties prenantes (Etat, entreprises agro-industrielles, communauté rurale puis commune de Ngnith, populations). Elle examine également les systèmes de production de ces entreprises ainsi que les impacts et risques multiformes de leur implantation. Les résultats obtenus, principalement par le biais d’entretiens semi-directifs et d’enquêtes sur les différents sites de localisation de ces entreprises, démontrent que la pratique actuelle de la décentralisation dans cette commune ne suffit pas à elle seule pour expliquer l’installation de ces entreprises. L’étude de ces processus révèle essentiellement la forte implication de l’Etat, malgré le transfert de cette compétence, le rôle déterminant d’une partie des populations dans ces processus ainsi que la complexité des stratégies d’acquisition foncière de ces entreprises à Ngnith. / In Senegal since the 2000s, different agricultural policies and public programs have been enacted by the regimes of Abdoulaye Wade (2000-2012) and Macky Sall (2010 to the present) with the goal of, among others, opening up the sector to more liberal policies that they have supported. This desire to liberalize comes during a national context characterized by reforms enacted in 1996 giving an increased autonomy to the local collectivities in their management of land resources. The international context was similarly marked by the international financial institutions, notably the World Bank, advocating similar liberal policies, pushing for the modernization of the sector and an increase in productivity. By examining the installation of two agro-industrial companies (Senhuile and West Africa Farms) in the commune of Ngnith in the Saint Louis region, this study attempts to reveal to what degree this commune exercises its decentralized land management responsibilities in this new context of liberalization. The case studies retrace the different steps in the acquisition of land by these companies and the roles of the different actors involved in this process (the State, agro-industrial companies, rural communities, the commune of Ngnith, local populations, etc.). The study also analyses the different modes of production of these companies as well as the impacts and multiple risks resulting from their establishment. The results obtained, principally through interviews and semi-structured surveys conducted near the different locations of these companies, have generally shown that the current practice of decentralization in this commune cannot alone explain the establishment of these companies. Rather, the analysis reveals a three-fold process: the strong involvement of the State despite transferring the authority to the commune, the decisive role of a part of the local population, and the complexity of land acquisition strategies used by the companies.

Using data drawn from a sample of 80 farmers in the Kat River valley, this thesis presents the results of an assessment of the technical constraints affecting smallholder development and their implications for market access. A review of the relevant literature on the smallholder farm sector, technical change and technical constraints affecting smallholder farmers along with an overview of the agricultural marketing environment in South Africa has been presented. A critical review of the theoretical framework for consideration of technical change in agricultural development, with particular attention to the induced innovation model was undertaken. General information on the institutional set up was obtained by open-ended interviews of community leaders and focus groups. These interviews supplemented information obtained through literature study and document analysis. The other method of data collection employed was the single-visit household survey using structured questionnaires. The demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the surveyed farmers are described in this study. The selection process of the variables influencing market access was done by employing correlation and logistic regression analyses. Correlation analysis was conducted to ascertain the relationship among variables to find out the extent to which they mirror theory or intuition regarding their causation to constraints influencing market access. The logistic model was employed in the step-wise manner using each of key production inputs as response variables sequentially. On the basis of a binary logistic model, it can be concluded that the farmers still operate under a number of technical constraints. The most influential constraints are information, asset ownership, value of agricultural production and extension assistance. The study reflects the previous findings in South Africa that the legacy of apartheid continues to negatively impact on its agricultural economy. Key words: Technical Constraints, Technical Change,Market Access, Smallholder Farmers, Agricultural Development, Induced Innovation Model, Kat River Valley, Correlation analysis, Theoretical framework and Binary Logistic Model

PhDRDV / Institute for Rural Development / As has been the case in Eastern and Southern Africa, Zimbabwe continues to regard smallholder dairy farming as a viable strategy for reducing poverty and malnutrition, especially in rural areas. Although the country has since the early 1980s been promoting smallholder dairy development, available literature does not provide a clear picture of the extent to which the specific livelihoods of rural communities in terms of human, social, physical and financial capitals, have improved. Nor is there knowledge on its negative contribution to the farmers’ livelihoods. Thus, this study was undertaken to critically analyse the contribution of smallholder dairy farming towards the livelihoods of rural households using the Nharira dairy scheme as a focal area. The DfiD sustainable livelihood framework was used to build this understanding. Apart from characterizing the farmers, the contribution of smallholder dairy farming towards social, physical, human, natural and financial capitals was investigated. A sequentially integrated mixed methods approach was used. This was divided into two phases, which were quantitative and qualitative in nature. Results from the first phase were used to inform and design the second study. A census of the 21 active smallholder dairy farmers in Nharira, and management committee of the Nharira dairy processing plant was conducted. A household-focused questionnaire, key informant interviews, participatory mapping, record review, Global Positioning System (GPS) locating and focus group discussions were used to collect data. A tape recorder, GPS locator and camera were used as assistive devices during data collection. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data and interpret participatory maps. Livelihood capital indices were derived per household and used to complement descriptive statistics as part of quantitative data analysis. A social capital index was computed for each household using collective action, empowerment, groups and networks, and trust and solidarity as its components. Resource stocks and access were the building blocks of the natural capital index. Income, savings and investments, and access to funding were used to derive the household financial capital index. Contribution of dairy farming to productive equipment (such as cattle herd size) and basic infrastructure (such as quality of housing) were used to calculate the physical capital index. The index for human capital was obtained taking into account education, workforce and employment, enabling environment, and health and wellness. Equal weights were applied to the components when deriving the household livelihood indices because each one of them was considered to be substantially important for sustainable livelihoods. The quantitative data were stored and analysed using the International Business Machines (IBM) Statistical iii Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Pearson correlation coefficients, means and standard deviations were calculated. Most of the farmers (65 %) were female. Approximately, 95 % of the women farmers were literate. Only 1 % of the farmers were youth (< 35 years old), a situation that threatened the sustainability of smallholder dairy farming. A daily smallholder dairy farming routine was derived using the focus group and participatory mapping results. This showcased the various daily activities and linked them with the household members actively involved. Smallholder dairy farming was found to be labour intensive. This might deter the farmers from diversifying into other livelihood strategies. Smallholder dairy farming was observed to have strengthened financial, human, natural, physical and social capitals in the local households. However, the respective indices of 0.59 and 0.52 for social and natural capitals, suggested that smallholder dairy farming impacted on these more than any other. Even though social capital was strong, further reinforcement through improved smallholder dairy farming activities was still vital because of its power of enhancing access to other forms of livelihood capitals. Human and physical capitals had the least index scores of 0.48 and 0.47, respectively. On average, the overall household livelihood capital index as a result of smallholder dairy farming was 0.51. One of the study respondents supported the positive contribution in the following way, ‘’Zvakanakira dairy hatingazipedzi. Tinotoda zuva rese” (There are many positive things that we attribute to our involvement in smallholder dairy farming. Narrating these demands considerable time). It was concluded that smallholder dairy farming significantly strengthened livelihood capitals of households involved in it. The results of the current study suggest that smallholder dairy farming is a viable option for improving household livelihood capitals. Thus, establishment of dairy farming schemes in rural areas should be promoted. However, the participation of youth in smallholder dairy farming as enterprise owners deserves attention because it threatens sustainability of the sector. An integrated multiple angle view encompassing technical, social, institutional, economic and organizational ideas of the impact of dairy farming as a livelihood strategy on household capital portfolio was provided. Moreover, application of the sustainable development framework to understanding the smallholder dairy farming context at household level was a novel way of understanding the local realities. Lastly, a set of variables that can be utilised to measure livelihood capitals of households involved in smallholder dairy farming-related activities was distilled.

LD2668 .T4 1966 E47 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1978 E34 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1979 G52 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 K56 / Master of Science