The impact of comprehensive agricultural support programme (CASP) on small-scale farmers in KwaZulu-Natal.
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Date
2017
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
This research set out to examine the challenges faced by small-scale farmers in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, analyse the nature of the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Program (CASP) grants extended to small-scale farmers in the province and the contribution of CASP towards enhancing access to markets by the farmers. The study was also motivated by the need to investigate the impact of CASP grants on small-scale farmers in KwaZulu-Natal in order to recommend effective strategies for enhancing the contribution of CASP towards improved production among small-scale farmers. The realisation of these objectives was made possible through adopting a qualitative phenomenological research methodology and an analytical explanatory descriptive research design which gave direction to how data were collected and analysed. Thus the chosen research methodology and design allowed for the collection of detailed information that made it possible to identify challenges faced by small-scale farmers in the province, analyse the nature of CASP grants extended to them and identify the contribution of CASP towards enhancing access to markets. Furthermore, the research methodology and design enabled the research to successfully determine the impact of CASP grants on small-scale farmers in KwaZulu-Natal. The research employed semi-structured interviewing of senior managerial staff in charge of CASP in the Department of Agriculture at KwaZulu-Natal province was employed as a data collection tool, together with the interview guide which comprised of open-ended questions. This allowed respondents the opportunity to explain themselves in detail. Purposive sampling was employed to select the research participants namely the senior managerial staff. Data for this research were analysed through thematic analysis and the findings presented using NVIVO style diagrams. The main findings from this research showed that small-scale farmers in KwaZulu-Natal were facing several challenges before the inception of CASP and that some of the challenges still persist today. The findings further revealed that small-scale farmers in KwaZulu-Natal were being assisted with both monetary and non-monetary interventions. Additionally, the findings confirmed that CASP was also actively involved with assisting small-scale farmers with access to markets in the form of provision of logistical and transport support, preferential procurement and other initiatives highlighted in chapter 4 of this research. Lastly it was concluded that CASP positively impacted on the welfare of small-scale farmers through improved yields, increased income, and gaining of farming expertise among others. However, the findings also revealed that, although CASP brought about some positive developments to small-scale farmers, there were some negatives – such as developing farmer over-dependence, over-indebtedness and
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limited coverage in terms of the people who benefitted. The implications of these findings for the senior management in charge of CASP are that there is a need to continuously improve the CASP initiative so that the shortcomings identified in the study are eliminated.
Description
Master’s Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.