Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With the advent of Globalisation, the need for improved competitiveness ill
agriculture, as in all sectors, has become increasingly important in obtaining
satisfactory levels of growth and development. International producers are competing
for South African markets while local producers must not only defend these markets,
but also seek out opportunities globally. Agricultural research has been identified as
one of the more important agricultural support services contributing towards the goal
of increased competitiveness. Innovation and new technology are central towards
achieving satisfactory competitiveness, and in order for these to be adequately
available, the agricultural research system in place must be effective and efficient in
its tasks and responsibilities.
The objective of this study was to determine whether or not the agricultural research
systems of KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape conform to the current challenges
presented by the market, technology and economic environments. The effectiveness
and efficiency of these systems regarding structural interactions, research investments
and the involvement of the private sector was critically analysed with regard to the
stakeholders within the system, namely: producers, co-operatives, private sector
agribusiness companies and agricultural research institutes. The findings are
discussed in terms of their implications for the agricultural sectors concerned and
recommendations made for potential improvements and future areas of research.
It was found that most of the structural interactions between the various stakeholders
investigated were conducted inefficiently and have thus resulted in a lack of
cooperation, poor relationship building, and sub-optimum productivity and growth.
Furthermore, it was established that investment in agricultural research is too low.
Although research expenditure growth rates and expenditure per fulltime researcher
are high, most of the growth rates are on the decline and most of the organizations do
not employ fulltime researchers, while the actual total amounts invested are low.
Investment in market research for current products is satisfactory, while investment in
market research prior to conducting research is poor. Finally, increased private sector
involvement has not been realized. Incentives for greater private sector involvement
based on profitability, have not been adequately developed. Of those companies who
have recognized the need for increased commitment to research, all but one have
predicted zero to low increases in research expenditure for the future, while current
research expenditures are also low.
There are many areas in which the agricultural research systems of the two provinces
concerned must improve. A culture inductive of greater research spending and private
sector participation should be fostered to overcome the causes and motives behind
these problem areas. Currently, the research systems investigated seem incapable of
effectively and efficiently supplying the agricultural sectors concerned with the much
needed new technologies, innovations and research management necessary to
adequately increase competitiveness. However, if all the shortcomings of the system
are recognized and a new demand driven orientation adopted, the research systems of
South Africa will in the future be more likely to promote increased productivity and
growth in agriculture through greater competitiveness. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Met die koms van In verenigde wêreldmark, het dit noodsaaklik geword dat die
landbou - net soos ander bedryfsektore - mededingend moet wees vir bevredigende
groei en ontwikkeling in dié sektor. Internasionale produsente ding mee om Suid-
Afrikaanse markte, terwyl plaaslike produsente nie net hierdie markte moet verdedig
nie, maar ook nuwe geleenthede in die buiteland moet soek. Landbounavorsing is as
een van die belangrikste landbou-ondersteuningsdienste geïdentifiseer om
mededingendheid te verhoog. Om voldoende mededingend te wees, is vernuwing en
nuwe tegnologie van wesenlike belang. Vir dié doel moet die bestaande
landbounavorsingstelsel doeltreffend funksioneer en sy take en verantwoordelikhede
behoorlik nakom.
Die doel van hierdie studie is om te bepaal of die landbounavorsingstelsels van
KwaZulu/Natal en die Wes-Kaap die uitdagings van die huidige mark-, tegnologiese
en ekonomiese omgewings die hoof kan bied. Die doeltreffendheid van strukturele
interaksies, beleggings in navorsing en die betrokkenheid van die privaatsektor is
krities ontleed aan die hand van die belangegroepe binne die stelsel, te wete
produsente, kooperasies, private maatskappye en landbounavorsingsinstitute. Die
implikasies van die resultate is vervolgens bespreek en aanbevelings is gedoen vir
moontlike verbeterings en toekomstige navorsingsgebiede. Daar is bevind dat die meeste strukturele interaksies tussen die onderskeie
belangegroepe wat bestudeer is, ondoeltreffend is. Daar is te min samewerking,
weinig sprake van verhoudings bou, produktiwiteit is te laag en daar is te min groei.
Daar is verder vasgestel dat daar te min in landbou-navorsing belê word. Alhoewel
die groeikoerse van navorsingsuitgawes en uitgawes per voltydse navorser hoog is, is
die meeste groeikoerse aan die daal, die meeste organisasies neem geen voltydse
navorsers in diens nie en die totale besteding is laag. Belegging in marknavorsing vir
bestaande produkte is bevredigend, maar belegging in marknavorsing voor navorsing
aangepak word, is onbevredigend. Laastens is die privaatsektor nog nie voldoende
betrokke nie. Daar bestaan egter nie genoeg aansporingsmaatreëls om die
privaatsektor se betrokkenheid te verhoog nie. Van dié maatskappye wat wel die
noodsaaklikheid van 'n groter verbintenis tot navorsing erken het, het almal behalwe
een, nul tot lae verhogings in navorsingsuitgawes vir die toekoms voorsien, terwyl
hulle huidige navorsingsuitgawes alreeds laag is.
Daar is baie opsigte waann die landbounavorsingstelsels van die twee betrokke
provinsies moet verbeter. Daar moet 'n kultuur ontstaan waar meer bestee word aan
navorsing. Verder moet die privaatsektor meer betrokke raak om die omstandighede
wat aanleiding gee tot die probleme, die hoof te help bied. Tans wil dit voorkom of
die navorsingstelsels wat ondersoek is, nie daarin slaag om die betrokke
landbousektore van die nuwe tegnologie, vernuwings en navorsingsbestuur te
voorsien wat noodsaaklik is om mededingendheid te verhoog nie. Indien al die
tekortkominge van die stelsel erken word en die korrekte aanpassings gemaak word,
sal die navorsingstelsels van Suid Afrika in die toekoms 'n groter bydrae kan lewer
om produktiwiteit te laat styg en groei in die landbou teweeg te bring.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52092 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Lutge, Rolf |
| Contributors | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Agricultural Economics. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 147 pages |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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