Purpose: The purpose of this was to assess skills and experience in commercial farming
among black farmers; identify s kills required in commercial farming among black farmers;
and empirically gain an insight of experience and constraints black farmers face in
commercial farming.
Design/methodology/approach : Qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were
used. Qualitatively, 12 participants were interviewed and 41 participants answered a closed-ended
questionnaire. The following variables were used to assess black farmers' s kills in
commercial farming: skills in farm management principles; skills in decision making science;
skills in farm record keeping; skills in farm risk management; skills in creating a competitive
advantage for a farm business; skills in farm financial management; and experiences and
constraints facing black commercial farmers.
Findings: It was found in this study that there is a significant deficiency in black farmer '
skills in commercial farming. The study further found that black farmers require skills in
farm management principles, decision making science in farming, farm record keeping, risk
management in farming, creating a competitive advantage for a farm business and farm
financial management. In terms of their experience from their successes and failures, black
farmers perceive that they need to be committed and determined, to have passion, patience
and perseverance, and need to work collectively in farming business.
Research limitations/implications: A number of participants in both methods of collecting
data limited the generalization of results. However, bridging of skills gap among black
farmers could improve on their current practice in commercial farming. In their own
experiences continuous support from relevant structures could impact positively in their
commercial farming. / Thesis (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2010
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/15985 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Molokwane, M J |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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