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Rural resource management

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    Agricultural extension, sustainable livelihoods and self-reliance: the case of Illovo's small-scale sugarcane farmer development programme (Noodsberg, South Africa).
    (2015) Ndlela, Sithembiso.; Worth, Steven Hugh.
    Small-scale Sugarcane Grower Development Programmes implemented in rural communities have become very popular in South Africa because sugarcane contributes substantially to both local and national economies. Illovo Sugar has adopted such development programmes with an aim of improving rural livelihood and option and also improving the South African sugar industry. In most cases, however, it appears that sugarcane development programmes are primarily driven by the pressure to meet the demand for sugar which has focused the programmes on developing sugar through small-scale farmers. This study then seeks to investigate and unravel the role that extension could and should play in sugarcane development programmes to refocus such programmes on the farmers (rather than on the commodity), to build their capacity, and to make their livelihoods more sustainable in the face of change and opportunities for improvement. This investigation was conducted with three groups of participants; small-scale sugarcane farmers, extension worker and enablers. Enablers, in the context of this study, refers to stakeholder/s or structure/s involve in making, suggestion of changes and alteration of policies, law and processes that shapes the impact of the Small-scale Sugarcane Grower Development Programme on the programme’s target farmers. In the case of this programme, the enablers are the Illovo development manager and SASRI extension specialist who were selected purposively as key informants of the study. The other participants (including farmers and extension providers) were selected using a Snowball Sampling. Thirty-five farmers participated in this study, sampled on the principle of saturation. The investigation with farmers was carried out using semi-structured interviews as basis for developing themes and focus group discussion for surfacing in-depth data. Semi-structured interview was also employed to gather data from extension workers and enablers. From the perceptions of small-scale sugarcane farmers the study discovered that extension is primarily involved in technology transfer, particularly in the production aspect of the programme. From the perceptions of farmers, extension workers and enablers the study found that the programme is intensively focusing on ensuring that all small-scale farmers supply sugarcane to Illovo at the end of each season. The study determined that the role of extension assumes that, through transferring technology and ensuring technical support, the livelihoods of small-scale farmers will be enhanced and sustained and self-reliance will be achieved. The study also found that the development programme focuses on building farmer knowledge to run the farm and ensure sustainability, but does not facilitate the acquisition of skills by farmers to engage with scientific enquiry. Farmers are given a limited opportunity to participate in all the activities of the programme which jeopardise their chances of being selfreliant in their farming operations. This also has adversely impacted on farmers’ ability to own their development and be accountable for what they achieve. The study essentially found that the programme focuses more on developing the enterprise (sugarcane) through farmers than on building farmer capacity to improve the enterprise while sustaining their livelihoods – which is the antithesis of both theory and intention of development and extension. In the light of this, the study suggest that in the production, finances and marketing aspects of the programme, the role of extension should be extended to engaging farmers in an extension conversation with the aim of building their capacity to engage with scientific enquiry. The agenda for improving farmer capacity can be developed around the idea of advancing farmer skills and knowledge, and creating opportunities within the programme to enhance farmer aptitude. The study further recommends a shift in the programme from technology-oriented toward more farmer-centred development that places farmers in the centre of the programme and encourages farmer participation in all the processes of the development programme. This will include adoption of a learning-based approach that suggests a learning process of investigation, assimilation and sharing to be used by all the role-players (farmers, extension and enablers) in facilitating an intervention relevant to farmers’ livelihood.
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    Development support and contributions for beneficiaries: A case study of the Agribusiness Development Agency, KwaZulu-Natal.
    (2018) Geza, Wendy.; Kaister, Karen.
    The democratic government of South Africa has continuously funded agricultural policies and programs that aim to address the challenges of the past, and provided more opportunities for black farmers to participate in the economy of the country. However, there is little evidence available on whether or not government programs have been effective and relevant. Studies conducted have predominantly focused on the contribution of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and faith-based organizations towards agricultural development and improving rural livelihoods. This study contributes to the limited available knowledge around the effectiveness and sustainability of government interventions. The study analysis provides the ability to compare Agribusiness Development Agency (ADA) staff perceptions of ADA program effectiveness, with farmer-identified characteristics of what constitutes appropriate support for farmer development. Qualitative in its approach, a purposeful selection of ADA staff and beneficiary farmers from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) were interviewed, using a structured questionnaire. Findings of the study revealed that support provided by the ADA is in agreement with what the farmers considered to be appropriate support for agricultural activity. In particular, support is more suitable for highly motivated individual farmers than it is for secondary cooperatives (two or more primary cooperatives who come together to access inputs and funding). However, where input provision and decision-making is controlled by implementing agents, it was revealed that farmers in this study are not becoming independent decision-makers. Moreover, development theory identifies this type of support as incapable of promoting sustainable rural development because it lacks the building of human capability.
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    The role of indigenous knowledge systems in seasonal prediction and adaptation to climate change and variability amongst smallholder farmers in Bikita, Zimbabwe.
    (2018) Mafongoya, Owen.; Mafongoya, Paramu L.; Mudhara, Maxwell.
    Climate change and variability have serious threats on rainfed agriculture in Zimbabwe. Poor and vulnerable smallholder farmers are facing serious food insecurity. Vulnerability to droughts is worsened by poverty, limited financial capital and access to technology. These factors limit their ability to cope, adapt and build resilience to climate change shocks and stresses. Local farmers’ adaptive potential, planning and preparedness are affected because of absence of adequate seasonal forecasting information. Smallholder farmers usually get forecasting information from indigenous knowledge indicators and scientific forecasts. Due to limited technology, they rely more on indigenous indicators. This study scrutinized local farmer vulnerability and the subsequent indigenous adaptation strategies used in coping with climate change risks and hazards. In using indigenous knowledge in coping and adaptation, the study interrogated the role of social capital and local institutions in reducing their vulnerability to disasters. The role of social capital and local institutions was scrutinized in the context local farmer indigenous knowledge and adaptation. Data in this study was collected using Focus Group Discussions, key informant interviews and structured questionnaires. The collected data was discussed based on the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. Results revealed majority of smallholder farmers, particularly women, are vulnerable to droughts and diseases. Their adaptive potential is constrained by their limited access weather and seasonal information. Seasonal forecasting information helps them in planning and making decisions which reduces vulnerability to climate change risks and hazards. Despite the presence of multiple indigenous indicators for seasonal forecasting, seasonal information still remains problematic for local farmers. Unreliability of some of the indigenous indicators and other factors such as modern science, christianity, western education and scientific seasonal forecasting are negatively affecting the use indigenous indicators in seasonal forecasting. On another level of adaptation, using social capital and local institutions is critical. Some farmers’ failure in reviving indigenous based social capital is crippling their potential of self-help adaptation strategies. Furthermore, some intervening local institutions are not premising their adaptation strategies much on indigenous strategies. In areas where local farmers invest in social capital and local institutions include indigenous knowledge systems, vulnerability is reduced. It can be concluded that use of indigenous knowledge systems is critical for sustainable adaptation of rural poor and vulnerable smallholder farmers. It can be recommended that the government needs to encourage and incorporate indigenous knowledge into adaptation plans and actions, and integrate indigenous knowledge into scientific seasonal forecasting and adaptation strategies. Integrating local knowledge and scientific strategies would reduce vulnerability and increase local farmer resilience and adaptive capacity against climate change shocks and stresses.
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    Towards reducing sugarcane productivity gap between largescale and smallholder farmers: Influence of ICT among sugarcane growers in Swaziland.
    (2018) Dlamini, Mbuyazwe Michael.; Worth, Steven Hugh.
    This study evaluates the role of agricultural extension relative to improving information access among smallholder farmers and extension officers with an overall aim of increasing smallholder sugarcane productivity in Swaziland. The country is currently experiencing a decrease in the productivity of smallholder sugarcane growers yet they form a substantial portion of the overall sugar production statistics. The research process adopted for this investigation involved a theoretical process on one hand, and an empirical process on the other. Both processes followed a systematic investigation pattern. The influence of agricultural extension towards improving sugarcane production and the influence of ICT on knowledge and information management among sugarcane farmers were first interrogated separately. The theoretical approach went on to discuss how well agricultural extension can use ICT to facilitate knowledge and information access among smallholder sugarcane farmers to help them improve their productivity. Drawing from relevant published works, this study was able to establish that agricultural extension, through the use of ICT, is particularly well positioned to assist smallholder farmers with access to sugarcane production information hence improve their productivity. The empirical process involved data collection through structured interviews with respondents, comprising smallholder sugarcane farmers and extension officers within the sugar industry of Swaziland. A total of 189 respondents participated in the investigation regarding their perceptions on three information access issues: i) barriers to information access; ii) readiness towards the use of ICT to access information and; iii) how information and knowledge is currently being managed. The study generally found that respondents did not perceive most of the barriers to be a hindrance to information access amongst themselves. They also regarded themselves as ready to use ICT, specifically cell phones, to access sugarcane production information. Finally, the study revealed that almost all the respondents have already started using their cell phone to manage information within their workplaces and farms. Based on the findings, the study then developed a communication model that will make use of the available communication resources to improve information dissemination and management among the sugar industry players. The study concluded by proposing a linkage that will see the government of Swaziland, the sugar industry players and the only mobile network provider in the country (MTN) coming together to support the smallholder sugarcane grower and facilitate the implementation of this model for improved sugarcane productivity.