Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)--StellenboschUniversity, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The protection that agriculture in South Africa enjoyed under the Marketing Act was
terminated in 1996 when the controlled marketing of agricultural products was
abolished. The grain industry and individual winter-grain producers in the Western
Cape is now compelled to be competitive internationally. The ability of local
producers to compete effectively can be improved by increased yields, a reduction
in production costs, higher import levies, import control and the weakening in the
exchange rate of the rand.
This investigation focuses on strategies aimed at reducing production costs as a
means of improving competitiveness. The field of this study is the winter-grain
producing sub-regions of the Southern Cape which are severly affected by the
deteriorating situation.
In the course of this investigation typical farming units were identified that can be
regarded as representative of farming activities in the specific sub-regions of the
Southern Cape. Existing literature as well as the opinions of authorities (group of
experts) on the subject were used as sources of information in the study of
cost-saving methods of production. The emphasis was therefore on the
identification and evaluation of appropriate alternative production practices. The
practice of minimum tillage with accomanying reduced input costs proved to have
merit. The current situation was evaluated with the assistance of a group of experts
and possible alternative practices were discussed. A financial cost-benefit analysis
was used to compare the current production practices with practices proposed in
this study in order to ascertain its feasibility.
Directives are offered to producers in order to reduce the production costs and
thereby become more cost-effective. Based on the results of the case studies in the
different sub-regions the conclusion was reached that the suggested alternative
practices can result in a reduction in production costs and thereby make a marked contribution towards the ability of winter-grain farmers in the Southern Cape to
improve their competitive position. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Met die deregulering van die Suid-Afrikaanse landbou in 1996, is aile beskerming
vanaf beheerrade aan produsente geskrap. Die graanbedryf in die Wes-Kaap is
nou onder groot druk om meer mededingend te wees teenoor internasionale
produsente en elke individuele produsent moet dus poog om so mededingend as
moontlik te wees. Die mededingende posisie van plaaslike produsente kan verbeter
word deur, onder andere, 'n verhoging in die eenheidsopbrengs, 'n verswakkende
wisselkoerswaarde van die Rand, invoertariewe en -kwotas en deur die verlaging
van insetkoste.
Hierdie ondersoek fokus op strategiee gemik op die verlaging van insetkostes ten
einde mededingendheid te verbeter. Die kleingraanproduserende sub-streke van
die Suid-Kaap, wat ook deur hierdie verswakkende mededingendheid-situasie
geraak word, dien as ondersoekgebied vir hierdie studie.
In die ondersoek is daar gefokus op die identifisering van tipiese boerdery-eenhede
wat as verteenwoordigend beskou kan word van die boerderybedrywighede in die
ge'identifiseerde sub-streke van die Suid-Kaap. Bestaande literatuur en menings
van bedryfskenners is gebruik as inligtingsbronne vir die ondersoek na
koste-besparende produksiemetodes. Die klem val dus op die identifikasie en
evaluasie van toepaslike alternatiewe produksiepraktyke. Die praktyk van
verminderde bewerking met die gepaardgaande verlaagde bewerkings- en ander
insetkoste het veral op die voorgrond getree. Die gedetailleerde ontleding van die
produksiepraktyke en gepaardgaande winsgewendheid van die huidige situasiesketse
van die verskillende gevallestudies dien as vertrekpunt vir die ontledings.
Deur gebruik te maak van 'n groep bedryfskenners (ekspertgroep) word die huidige
situasie beoordeel en moontlike alternatiewe praktyke wat gevolg kan word, word
bespreek en beoordeel. Die huidige produksiepraktyke word vergelyk met die
voorgestelde verbeterde produksiepraktyke met behulp van 'n tinansiele
voordeel-koste ontleding ten einde die haalbaarheid daarvan te evalueer. Daar word in hierdie ondersoek dus riglyne aan produsente verskaf waarvolgens te
werk gegaan kan word ten einde hul mededingende posisie deur middel van
koste-besparende produksiemetodes te verbeter. Vanuit die evaluering van die
gekose gevallestudies in die verskillende sub-streke is dit duidelik dat die
alternatiewe praktyke, soos voorgestel deur die bedryfskenners, kan lei tot 'n
verlaging van insetkoste en dus tot 'n verhoging in die mededingendheid van die
Suid-Kaapse kleingraanprodusent.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/51812 |
| Date | January 2000 |
| Creators | Van Eeden, F.J. (Frederick Jacobus) |
| Contributors | Laubscher, J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Agricultural Economics. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | af_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 v. (various pagings) |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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