Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Zimbabwe’s land-reform process has been widely debated and severely
criticised, yet seldom been analysed at greater depth. In the transition from startup
small-holding farmer to the long-run goal of commercial farmer, Zimbabweans
currently experience a phase of increasing “contract farming”. New farmers are
producing for contractors who buy up their produce at predetermined prices.
Ideally, these contractors or agribusinesses also help the smallholders to get the
seeds and fertiliser, obtain the necessary equipment, help with the production
technology and assist in other ways.
On the basis of interviews with 25 farmers and 12 agribusinesses in different
regions of the country, the study tries to asses the merits, risks and preconditions
for success of contract farming. The responses from both sides of this contract farming
system suggest that overall success will largely depend on the effective
co-operation between the two sides and the facilitation of the process by relevant
government departments and/or supportive NGOs. Ideally, the lessons to be
learned from these transitional reform processes are directly relevant for land
reform and agricultural development efforts in other African countries. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Zimbabwe se grondhervormingsstelsel is in die jongste tyd wyd bespreek en
skerp gekritiseer, maar dit is selde in groter diepte ontleed. In die oorgang van
beginners-kleinskaal-boerdery tot die lang-termyn oogmerk van kommersiele
boerdery word die land tans gekenmerk deur ‘n vinnig toenemende proses van “kontrak-boerdery”. Nuwe boere produseer vir kontrakteurs wat hul produksie
teen voorafonderhandelde pryse opkoop. Op hul beste voorsien dié kontrakteurs
ook die saadgoed en kunsmis, verskaf die nodige toerusting, help met die
produksie-tegnologie en voorsien ander take.
Op die grondslag van diepte-onderhoude met 25 kleinboere en 12
landboubesighede in verskillende dele van die land, probeer die studie die
meriete, risikos en suksesvoorwaardes van hierdie stelsel van kontrakboerdery
te bepaal. Terugvoering van die twee kante van dié stelsel toon dat sukses
grootliks afhang van die effektiewe samewerking en interaksie van die twee
partye tot die stelsel asook ondersteuning deur die betrokke staatsdepartemente
en ander ondersteunende organisasies.
Lesse geleer uit hierdie studie van Zimbabwe se hervormingsproses behoort
direk relevant te wees vir soortgelyke hervormingsprosesse in ander Afrikastate.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/14909 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Duma, Moses |
| Contributors | Thomas, W. H., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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