The study was designed to identify and get a better understanding of the determinants of
Smallholder farmers' participation in cattle markets in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District of
North West Province, A hundred and nine smallholder cattle farmers were randomly selected
using the simple random sample method. The list of smallholder cattle farmers was obtained
from the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ngaka Modiri
Molema District). Data was collected through the use of structured questionnaire that
consisted of demographic characteristics market-related constraints encountered by
smallholder cattle farmers, availability of infrastructure, access to market information, cattle
production, cattle nutrition, cattle health, cattle husbandry, and reasons far keeping cattle
and markets participated in by smallholder cattle farmers. The data was coded, captured and
analysed using the statistical package for social science (SPSS) for frequencies, percentage
and profit regression analysis.
The results of the study show that the majority of the respondents in this research were male
(72%): married (68%); Christians (74%); not formally educated 45°o; and having less than
10 years in farming (61%). The results highlighted that majority of the smallholder cattle
farmers used informal markets to market their cattle (83%); mainly used auctions (58%) as a
formal marketing channel and were mostly familiar with informal (62%) marketing channels.
The farmers received higher prices (65%) from the cattle markets they regularly use and
were nearer. The majority of smallholder farmers (55%) do not participate in the most
rewarding channels.
Majority of the smallholder cattle farmers were affected by, lack of support from government
(96%); limited market information (95%); financial constraints (79%); (distance to
mainstream markets (60%); and bureaucracy (62%). The results of probit regression model
show that out of 15 independent variables considered, the coefficients for 5 variables' were
statistical/v significant, These were the number of heifers (Z= 2, 742: P<P0. 05), smallholder
cattle farmers keeping of farm records (Z=2. 611: P<0. 05), the number of years in farming
(Z=2,45] P<0.01), level of education Z=-1. 745,' P<0.01) and smallholder farmers
slaughtering of cattle and selling as carcass (Z- 1,899: P<0, 01). / Thesis (M.Sc.(Agric Economics) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2013
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/16191 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Mazibuko, Ndumiso |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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