Les petits producteurs laitiers font face à de nombreux défis et risques dans l'établissement de leurs systèmes de production, dans un environnement hautement imprévisible marqué par les incertitudes du climat et du marché, par exemple. Mais les défis et les risques peuvent s'avérer encore plus grands quand ils développent leur système à partir de zéro (ex nihilo), une situation courante dans les zones frontières de l'agriculture et dans le cadre de la réforme agraire au Brésil. Trois concepts principaux sont utilisés pour évaluer la dynamique et la capacité d'adaptation des systèmes en fonction des objectifs à atteindre : la résilience, la flexibilité et la vulnérabilité. Cette thèse présente le concept de vulnérabilité lié à des trajectoires de développement de 24 systèmes de production pilotés par des agriculteurs familiaux d'Unaí, Minas Gerais. Nous proposons une évaluation de la vulnérabilité des systèmes de production de lait, basée sur 10 indicateurs construits sur la base des difficultés identifiées par les agriculteurs familiaux. Les indicateurs sont liés aux trois dimensions des trajectoires : dimension familiale (3 indicateurs), technique (4 indicateurs) et financière (3 indicateurs). Les valeurs d'indicateurs de vulnérabilité entre les différentes années pour le même événement (sècheresse en 2007 et 2011), montrent que la plupart des systèmes de production ont vu leur vulnérabilité baisser au fil du temps. Les indicateurs de vulnérabilité liés à la dimension de la famille sont très stables. Un système peut être vulnérable à la même perturbation dans une période et pas dans l'autre, et vice versa. En perspective de ce travail, nous envisageons de présenter les résultats aux agriculteurs et aux autres acteurs de la filière laitière d'Unaí, pour provoquer une discussion entre eux sur les moyens de "construire" un système de production performant sans augmenter la vulnérabilité du système. / Small dairy farmers face many challenges and risks in developing their production systems, in a highly unpredictable environment marked by uncertainties in climate and market, for example. But the challenges and risks are even greater when they develop their system from scratch (ex nihilo), a common situation in agricultural frontier areas and in the context of land reform in Brazil. Three main concepts are used to assess the dynamics and adaptability of systems, depending on the objectives : resilience , flexibility and vulnerability. This thesis presents the concept of vulnerability related to trajectories of development, as it was applied to assess 24 smallholder farming systems in the region of Unaí (Minas Gerais, Brazil). We propose a framework to evaluate the vulnerability of milk production systems, based on 10 indicators derived from the types of “difficulties” faced along the farm development trajectory as identified by smallholder farmers. These 10 indicators relate to three key dimensions of a trajectory : the family dimension (3 indicators), the technical dimension (4 indicators) and the financial dimension (3 indicators). By comparing values of indicators of vulnerability between different years for the same disturbance (a drought which occurred both in 2007 and 2011), many production systems decreased level of vulnerability over time. There is a great stability of the indicators related to family dimension. The vulnerability of five production systems decreased between 2007 and 2011, but with different amplitudes. A system may be vulnerable to a given disturbance at one moment, not vulnerable at another moment, or vice versa. In the near future, we will present our results to farmers and other actors in the milk production chain in Unaí, with the hope of stimulating discussion among them about the best way to "build" a production system that performs well without increasing the vulnerability of the system.

The thesis examines how resource-poor smallholder farmers in Mexico are integrated into a Global Value Chain. Most Global Value Chains depend on production located in developing countries. In agriculture, Global Value Chain tend to concentrate production in large enterprises and exclude smallholder farmers. The logic of Global Value Chains is to reduce the cost of production by allocating low value activities, such as production of commodities to developing countries to take advantage of cheap labour cost. High value activities such as branding, marketing and product development remain in high income countries. The thesis consists of the in-depth case study of San Francisco Produce/Peninsula Organics (SFP/PO) Global Value Chain. It is located throughout Southern Baja Peninsula in Mexico and San Francisco California, U.S.A. It sells organic certified produce to the American market, particularly California and east coast. SFP/PO was founded by a social entrepreneur and has been functioning for over 30 years. This Global Value Chain has an explicit social purpose. It focuses on integrating smallholder farmers into agricultural production. This value chain requires farmers to adopt organic production. The methods consisted of semi-structured interviews. In total, 50 interviews were conducted in Mexico to farmers that belong to the value chain in 9 co-operatives and 3 single farmers. The interviews focused on how farmers learned organic production to meet quality requirements of global buyers. The analysis uses three perspectives to explain the integration of smallholder farmers into SFP/PO and the development of organic production capabilities. First Global Value Chains are used to describe the network, connections and production activities smallholder farmers and global buyer carry out. The study sheds light on how the value chain achieves its social aims by using global markets and providing external inputs to improve farmers' livelihoods. Second, using Technological Capabilities the study explains the skills farmers need to develop to participate in the value chain. Third, a Communities of Practice perspective is used to explain how social learning is involved in developing production capabilities. The research explains how farmers collectively define competence and how they display three different levels of participation in the value chain, periphery, medium and full participation. And fourth, using the theory of Knowing in Action, the research explores co-learning between novice and expert farmers and the interactions among farmers that results in co-innovation to develop new technical solutions and crop varieties. The thesis presents a case of a value chain which is motivated by social purpose to improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers. The study demonstrates that there is a change of ethos, where global value chain integrates farmers into agricultural production. These data highlight the importance of social structures which allow farmer-to-farmer connections which enhance novice farmer skills enabling interactions where there is respect, and negotiation of knowledge. These interactions take indigenous farmers' knowledge into account in ways that can be acknowledged and harnessed in the form of practices and techniques to produce globally marketable products.

Thesis (MSc. (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / The avocado industry is a major industry in South Africa and this can be seen by its economic contribution. Limpopo Province is one of the major avocado producing areas in South Africa, and avocado production within the province ranges from smallholder to commercial production. Smallholder avocado producers within the province have a significant role to play, especially if their full potential is unleashed. For smallholder farmers to play such a role they need to be competitive. The concept of competitiveness can be defined as the ability of an industry or firm to compete successfully in order to achieve sustainable growth while earning at least the opportunity cost on resources employed. The main aim of this study was to analyse the determinants of competitiveness of smallholder avocado farmers in the Vhembe District of the Limpopo Province based on the Porter’s Diamond model framework in order to assess the level of competitiveness of farmers and to establish how the farmers can be assisted to reach their full potential. The study was conducted in the Vhembe District Municipality and a sample of 60 farmers was interviewed. SPSS (SPSS 26.0) was used to analyse the data. Three analytical techniques were used in the analysis for this study. Firstly, factor analysis was used to reduce and group the number of variables associated with competitiveness of the farmers. Secondly, profitability analysis through enterprise budgeting was used to categorise the farmers into two groups; competitive and noncompetitive. Thirdly, Logistic regression was used to establish the socio-economic and Porter’s Diamond model determinants that could be linked to the competitiveness of the farmers. From the factor analysis, 5 factors were extracted, namely; “chance”, “government, related and supporting industries”, “factor conditions”, “firm strategy structure and rivalry” and “demand conditions”. From the profitability analysis the farmers were grouped into competitive and non-competitive categories with 22 farmers classified as being competitive and 38 farmers as being non-competitive. From the results of logistic regression, 7 out of 12 hypothesised variables were found to be statistically significant, these were; age of farmer, number of trees planted, related and supporting industries, firm strategy structure and rivalry, chance, demand conditions and factor conditions. Chance was the only variable with a statistically significant v negative influence on the competitiveness of the farmers, this was because factors that were tested for their influence on the competitiveness of the farmers are among others: Crime, HIV/AIDS, fires, frost and floods. Based on the research findings, several policy suggestions were made, these include; mentorship and encouragement of youth participation in farming, provision of agricultural land, capacity building for farmers, government support and stakeholder mobilization, specialized extension service and formation of cooperatives as well as encouraging commercialization.

Thesis (M. A. Agricultural Management (Agricultural Extension)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Smallholder farmers’ need for regular supply of adequate, quality and affordable seed led to the establishments of Community-Based Maize Seed Production Schemes (CBSPSs) in most developing countries, including South Africa. In view of the important influence of perception on the adoption and continued use of an innovation, this study was undertaken to evaluate farmers’ perceptions of CBSPSs in Polokwane and Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipalities of Limpopo province. The conceptualization of perception used in this study was based on the Düvel (1991) framework. The evaluation focused on whether planting the scheme’s main product, improved Open-Pollinated Varieties (improved OPV maize) seed meets farmers’ needs based on their perceptions and the extent of farmers’ planting of improved OPV maize. A census approach was used in view of the small numbers of seed producers in the schemes; all scheme members (50) were, therefore, interviewed between 27 March and 21 April 2017. To allow for comparison, an equal number of farmers (50) who were not members of the scheme were also interviewed. Data was collected from farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to analyze the data using SPSS software. A binary logistic model was used to analyze factors that influence farmer perceptions on OPV benefits. The study findings showed that there is a significant relationship between awareness knowledge of improved OPV maize and planting of improved OPV maize. Furthermore, the results showed that farmers perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of improved OPV maize seed were not different among scheme and non-scheme members as they were all in agreement that improved OPV maize have more benefits than their own previously recycled seeds. Finally, findings showed that respondents municipality and scheme membership had a significant, effect on the positive perception of planting improved OPV maize seeds. Other explanatory variables such as sex, farming experience, years of viii schooling, farm size, income and age of participants had no significant effect on farmer perceptions. It is therefore recommended that improved OPV maize be made widely available and promoted based on its advantages to enhance its adoption. Future studies on these seed schemes could look into the production and financial analysis of CBSPSs to ascertain their profitability and sustainability. / Agricultural Research Council (ARC)

Thesis (LLM. (Management and Law)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / Rural areas of Zimbabwe suffered acute shortage of banking services. Conventional banks feared high transaction costs and lack of collateral associated with this market segment. This research aimed at evaluating impact of microfinance on rural farming sector. Finding out the general banking and microfinance situation, appraising scheme impact and making recommendations were the research’s objectives. A descriptive research design was used. A population of 3,400 members constituting 289 Investment Groups (IGs) was used. Quota and purposive sampling were used to select 20 IGs and 154 individual respondents. Sample survey, Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and Key Informant Interviews (KII) were data collection methods. The survey findings showed that the five Department For International Development’s (DFID’s) Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) asset bases increased more for the treatment than the control groups, signifying microfinance impact. Wealth ranking, meant to triangulate survey results, depicted upward mobility of groups; old ones transcending to rich categories while the new moved into top poor rank, also demonstrating impact. Further, scheme achieved women empowerment basing on their numerical predominance and improved self-confidence, signifying impact. The study recommends that Farmers’ Association of Community self-Help Investment Groups (FACHIG) resuscitated its savings component using the Self-Help Group (SHG) thrift approach to ensure scheme sustainability. In addition, climate change, a phenomenon which increased droughts, could have dampened impact. However, the research did not delve into this area, compelling a future study.

No description available.

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / This study explored value-chain governance in the Tugela Ferry Irrigation Scheme in KwaZulu-Natal, and presents data on input markets, vegetable production and output markets. Rural poverty is a major problem in post-apartheid South Africa, and smallholder agriculture has been identified by the Economic Development Department as a key component of its New Growth Path framework. Some scholars argue that since water is a scarce resource, irrigation farming should form a key focus of pro-poor land redistribution policy. The 1994 democratic dispensation saw the dismantling of the agricultural homeland parastatals which managed these schemes, causing them to collapse or near collapse. Yet they may have the potential to reduce rural poverty. While markets are key for viable production of fresh produce, some scholars assert that globally, input suppliers, food processors and supermarkets dominate the agro-food industry resulting in negative outcomes for smallholder producers. In South Africa, four major supermarkets (which together claim 55% of retail market share) were in the past located mainly in cities, but the trend now is that they are moving to small towns and townships. There are documented cases where pro-poor governance of fresh produce value chains has resulted in positive outcomes in South Africa. The re-governing markets concept which postulates that a multi-stakeholder approach to making the governance of agricultural value chains pro-poor, is offered as a solution to reducing poverty. This thesis argues that the incorporation of smallholder farmers into modern markets remains ineffective in dealing with poverty because it includes only a few smallholder farmers and those included face exclusion when they are exposed to harsh market conditions.

This dissertation aims to provide a study on the right to food in an African context and to determine whether or not African states may effectively adopt competition law as a mechanism to protect against hunger. The study begins by examining the right to food and the obligations which flow from this right. Given that the predominant reason that people suffer from hunger is because they lack the ability to economically access adequate food, the dissertation examines the obligations of states to protect this right against abuse from non-state parties. In the framework of the food supply chain, this equates to providing protection against companies such as commodity traders and retailers that have gained a dominant position in the food market and are consequently in a position where they are able to abuse this position of power over the smaller producers and suppliers. The dissertation analyses the importance of the right to food by looking at the key role which smallholder farmers play in their communities. This is central to an African based study because smallholders make up the majority of the world’s hungry people, and it is also the foremost means through which people in Africa gain an income. The study looks at the traditional purpose of competition law and examines whether it would be an effective means to regulate the food market in order to guard against the abusive practices committed by large food companies that threaten the livelihoods of African smallholders. The dissertation concludes with an investigation into the international best practices that can be drawn from competition law regimes across the globe, in order to provide recommendations for a competition regime that is particular to an African context and which would provide the best possible protection for smallholder farmers to ensure that the right to food is upheld. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / gm2014 / Centre for Human Rights / unrestricted

MRDV / Institute for Rural Development

In rain-fed farming systems, a poor harvest can have broad and overwhelming effects on affected households. Smallholder farmers have to ensure that they have adequate food from one harvest to the other and enough inputs for the next farming season. Households consume more just after the harvest and the consumption levels decline as they move away from the harvest season. The study identified the ex-ante and ex-post adjustment mechanisms to seasonal food and input requirements. Special consideration was given to determine whether the probability of using a given adjustment mechanism to seasonality is the same in good, normal, poor and very poor years and whether household wealth has an influence on the use of adjustment mechanisms. Attention was also given to determining whether agricultural production and household wealth are reflected in observed seasonality in consumption. The study used cross-sectional data from 225 randomly selected households. The study relied on non-parametric methods of data analysis because the required dependent variables could not meet the parametric assumptions. The analysis showed that the probabilities of using some ex-ante and ex-post adjustment mechanisms for both food and input requirements by the non-poor households are not the same in good, normal, poor and very poor years. However, the poor households’ probability of using any of the identified ex-post adjustment mechanisms to seasonal input requirements is the same in all the years. The study established that household wealth affects the use of ex-ante and ex-post adjustment mechanisms to seasonal input requirements and ex-post adjustment mechanisms to seasonal food requirements after good, normal, poor and very poor harvests. The study further revealed that agricultural production is reflected in household seasonal consumption. However, the study failed to find a relationship between consumption and agricultural production in the post-harvest season after good and normal harvests. The study also showed that household wealth is reflected in food consumption in all the seasons of normal, poor and very poor years. However, no relationship was found between food consumption and household wealth in the post-harvest and rainy seasons after good harvests. The study further revealed that there is always a seasonal fall in consumption levels among households of all wealth strata despite the use of adjustment mechanisms. The situation worsens as we move from the good years towards the very poor years. The study suggests that the use of one size fits all type of interventions to minimise the seasonality problem cannot adequately achieve the required results for all households. It is important to know the way households from each wealth stratum respond to the seasonality problem and why they respond in such a way. Programmes that encourage strategic planning, agricultural production and wealth creation are necessary to reduce the seasonality problem. Furthermore, mechanisms which ensure that the benefits from government interventions reach the poor households are necessary. / Dissertation (MSc Agric)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / unrestricted