Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study evaluates the use of information technology as a method to reduce production
risk for irrigated potatoes.
Risk in agriculture is discussed under climatic, market or price and production related
risk. Production related risk covers the disciplines of planting, irrigation, fertilisation,
disease and pest control as well as harvesting. It is in the above mentioned disciplines that
information technology could possible be applied to reduce production risk in irrigated
potatoes. The nature of this study can therefor be described as the investigation of the
economic justification of information technology as a method to reduce production risk in
irrigated potatoes.
A brief introduction to put potato production in world and South African context into
perspective, is provided. In South African context the importance and position of potato
production relative to other crops is discussed. To better understand the economic
conditions, under which potatoes are produced in South Africa, a financial breakdown of
production cost for irrigated potatoes over regions is given. It is important to understand
the economics of potato production before a proper assessment of thepossible benefits of
information technology can be made.
Various principles and instruments involved with information technology, as it applies to
potato production under irrigation are also discussed. Irrigation scheduling as a discipline
in which information technology can be applied, is also discussed. It is important to
understand that irrigation scheduling can be based on two underlying principles, i.e.
atmospheric modelling and soil moisture measurement. Various examples of
measurement instruments are discussed. Climatic based disease modelling and petiole
sampling as a method to determine nutritional status in the potato plant, was also
discussed. A brief discussion of computerised agriculture management software was
included to conclude the discussion on the principles and instruments available for
information technology in irrigated potato production. The use of fertiliser scheduling, irrigation scheduling and climatic modelling to reduce
fungal diseases in potatoes, as information technology methods, are explained in greater
detail. It is shown that recommended levels for various nutrients do exist and that petiole
analysis as a method to determine these levels at various growth stages, can be applied
successfully.
It is further argued that with various methods of irrigation scheduling, proper decision
making about the amount and timing of irrigation needed, can be possible. The Plant-Plus
system as a method to better control Late Blight on potatoes, is discussed. The results
obtained through a commercial trial proves the validity of climatic modelling as a method
of information technology to reduce production risk on potatoes, specifically the risk
associated with Late Blight.
The existence of and results obtained through the equipment and methods previuosly
mentioned, raises the question of the economic viability of information technology at
farm level. To investigate the perception of growers with regard to the applicability of
information technology to reduce production risk and their readiness to adopt such
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technology, a questionnaire was sent to 40 commercial potato growers throughout South
Africa.
Growers were tested on their perception with regard to the use of information technology
on aspects such as financial management, irrigation scheduling, fertilisation, climatic
measurement for fungal modelling as well as a profile analysis of the grower. The results
of the survey are tabulated and analysed. Growers were on average positive about the
value of information technology and indicated that under certain conditions, they were
prepared to implement such technology.
Margins in commercial potato production are under severe pressure and are in fact
shrinking. Case studies presented in this investigation and results from the pilot survey
indicate that the use of information technology is not only important for the reduction of risk in potato production but also imperative for sustainable and profitable potato
production.
It can therefore be concluded that, based on the results obtained in the pilot questionnaire,
a statistical valid sample would probably support the findings in the pilot study. The pilot
study indicated that reliable, affordable and practical information technology, as it has
been presented in this investigation, does have a place in modern day irrigated potato
production. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie evalueer die gebruik van informasie tegnologie as 'n metode om produksie
risiko in die verbouing van aartappels onder besproeiing, te verminder.
Risiko in landbou word onder klimatologiese, mark of prys en produksie verwante risiko
bespreek. Produksie verwante risiko kan weer onderverdeel word in risiko wat verband
hou met plant of vestiging, besproeiing, bemesting, plaag en pes beheer asook oes. Dit is
dan in die bogenoemde dissiplines waar informasie tegnologie moontlik aangewend kan
word om produksie verwante risiko te verminder. Die kern van hierdie ondersoek kan
gevolglik saamgevat word as 'n ondersoek na die ekonomiese regverdigbaarheid van
informasie tegnologie as 'n metode om produksierisiko in die verbouing van aartappels
onder besproeiing, te verminder.
Daar word kortliks verwys na aartappel verbouing in wêreld en Suid Afrikaanse konteks.
In Suid Afrikaanse konteks is die relatiewe belangrikheid van aartappelverbouing in
vergelyking met ander gewasse uitgelig. Ten einde 'n beter begrip vir die ekonomiese
omstandighede waaronder aartappels in Suid Afrika verbou word, word 'n afbraak van
produksiekoste oor streke verskaf Dit is belangrik om die ekonomie van
aartappelproduksie te verstaan voordat 'n deeglike evaluering van die moontlike voordele
wat informasie tegnologie kan inhou, onderneem kan word.
Verskeie beginsels en instrumente in die aanwending van informasie tegnologie, soos van
toepassing in die verbouing van aartappels onder besproeiing, word ook toegelig.
Hieronder word besproeiingskedulering as 'n metode bespreek. Dit is verder belangrik
om te besef dat besproeiingskedulering op hoofsaaklik twee beginsels berus naamlik
atmosferiese modellering en fisiese grondvog meting. Verskeie voorbeelde van
meetinstrumente word bespreek. Klimatologiese siektemodellering en petioolontledings
as 'n metode om die voedingstatus van aartappelplante te bepaal, word ook bespreek. Die gebruik van bemestingskedulering, besproeiingskedulering en klimatologiese
modellering vir die beheer van laatroes op aartappels, as metodes van informasie
tegnologie, word in groter besonderhede toegelig. Daar is aangetoon dat aanbevole peile
vir verskeie nutriënte bestaan. Deur die neem van gereelde petiool ontledings kan hierdie
peile suksesvol gedurende die opeenvolgende fenologiese stadia van die aartappelplant,
gehandhaaf word.
Daar is verder aangevoer dat deur die gebruik van verskeie metodes van
besproeiingskedulering, deeglike besluitneming rakende die hoeveelheid en
tydsberekening van 'n besproeiing, moontlik is. Die Plant-Plus sisteem as 'n metode om
laatroes op aartappels te beheer, is toegelig. Resultate behaal in 'n kommersiële
aanplanting het die geldigheid van klimatologiese modellering as 'n metode om
produksierisiko - veral die risiko geassosieer met laatroes - te verminder, onderskryf.
Die bestaan van resultate en instrumente soos voorgehou in Hoofstukke 3 en 4,
onderskryf of bevestig die vermoede dat informasie tegnologie wel aangewend kan word
om produksierisiko in aartappelverbouing te verminder. Die vraag is egter of dit
ekonomies op plaasvlak aangewend kan word. Ten einde die persepsie met betrekking tot - die toepaslikheid en gereedheid van produsente in dié verband te evalueer, is 'n
loodsvraelys na 40 respondente, wat die kommersiële aartappelprodusente regdeur Suid
Afrika verteenwoordig, gestuur.
Respondente is ge-evalueer met betrekking tot hul persepsie rakende die gebruik van
informasie tegnologie in die dissiplines van finansiële bestuur, besproeiingskedulering,
nutriëntskedulering en klimatologiese modellering vir die beheer van laatroes.
Respondente was oor die algemeen positief met betrekking tot die nut van informasie
tegnologie en dat onder seker voorwaardes, hulle dit sal gebruik.
Marges in kommersiële aartappelverbouing is onder ernstige druk en is inderdaad besig
om te krimp. Gevallestudies wat in hierdie ondersoek voorgehou is, asook resultate
verkry uit die vraelys, dui aan dat informasie tegnologie nie alleen belangrik is vir die vermindering van risiko in aartappelverbouing me, maar ook noodsaaklik IS vir
volhoubare en winsgewende aartappelproduksie.
Dit kan gevolglik gestel word dat resultate verkry uit die loodsvraelys, daarop mag dui
dat 'n statisties verifieerbare steekproef moontlik kan uitwys dat betroubare, bekostigbare
en praktiese informasie tegnologie, soos voorgehou in hierdie ondersoek, wel 'n
bestaansreg in die moderne verbouing van aartappels onder besproeiing het.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52359 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Jordaan, Emile |
| Contributors | Gevers, W., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | af_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 118 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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