Doctoral Degrees (Food Security)

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A gendered analysis on the role and potential of goat production to improve income and food security in semi-arid areas of South Africa.
(2020) Tsvuura, Susan Maira.; Mudhara, Maxwell.; Chimonyo, Michael.
Small scale goat farming has a potential to contribute to livelihoods particularly in semi-arid areas where rainfall is erratic and crop farming is too risky. The broad objective of the study was to conduct a gendered analysis on the role and potential of goat production to improve income and food security in semi-arid areas of South Africa. The study used focus group discussions, key informant interviews and a questionnaire survey of 241 households for data collection. Descriptive statistics, general linear models, Chi-square tests and the Tobit regression model were used for data analyses. Male-headed households were mostly young, married and educated whilst female-headed households largely belonged to the old aged, were single or widowed and had little or no formal education. Male-household heads generally owned goats. In female-headed households, both the head and elder sons owned goats. In male-headed households, the head made decisions on goat marketing and on use of goat income whilst in female-headed households, both the head and elder sons made decisions (p<0.01). Male-headed households had larger goat flock sizes (mean 26.78 goats per household) than female-headed households (mean 15.59 goats per household) (p<0.05), lower goat mortality rates and achieved higher goat reproduction rates (p<0.05) as they followed better health control. Their goat annual net gains were higher than those of female-headed households (p<0.05). The motivations of male and female-headed households for keeping goats were different, with female-headed households rearing primarily for cultural ceremonies and males for sales. Goat sales were generally low, with mean of 2.1 for male-headed households and even lower for female-headed households with mean of 1.0 (p<0.05) in 12 months. The determinants of goat commercialization were gender of household head, location, education level of household head, occupation of household head, total household income, number of goats a household owns, goat marketing price, goat losses through death from diseases and theft, and whether a household receives remittances. The main constraints to goat commercialisation were poor condition of goats and mortality, high illiteracy rates of women, cultural settings biased against women, which discouraged them from owning and selling goats, shortage of transport to take goats to the market, poor confidence in the newly set up auction system of marketing and limited access to information. The reason for the low goat sales could be due to farmers’ failure to build up suitable flock sizes (due to losses through poor nutrition, diseases, predation, and theft), and this made it more unlikely to sell goats. Goat numbers were also an indicator of wealth. The Chi-square statistic showed a significant relationship between food security and household socio-economic parameters such as education level of household head (p<0.05), gender of household head (p<0.05) and the total household income (p<0.01). The study found that in gendered analysis, goat production does not contribute significantly to the improved income and food security in semi-arid areas of South Africa. Goats did not emerge as one of the main determinants of food security as their contribution to household income was limited. This is because goat flock numbers for most households did not grow significantly due to poor nutrition, diseases, predation, and theft. Where goat flock sizes were low, households limited goat sales to maintain their flock sizes and only sold goats when there were household emergencies such as funerals and ill-health. The main determinants of household food security were education levels, gender, saving money, location with access to irrigation to sustain gardens, sale of goats in the previous 12 months and the total household income. Female-headed households were less food secure than male-headed households, partly because they did not have reliable employment to provide adequate and nutritious food for their households. The food security situation was lower for households with lower education levels, and those who received less household income. Strengthening the role of women in household decision-making process is best done by increasing literacy levels among females so that they become empowered to achieve gender equality and their abilities within the society. Household commercially oriented goat production is a prerequisite for the commercialization of goats, particularly in female-headed households. For a successful goat production, female farmers need to regard goat farming as a source of income and to be convinced that their standard of living can improve through goat farming. Hence, there is need to improve the capacity of rural women and strengthen their resource base to enable them to play better roles in goat production. Participation of women in goat ownership, production, marketing, as well as decision-making on their income is critical in achieving food security. Empowering women by promoting rural education can contribute to improved food security. Increasing goat flock numbers enable farmers to make more sales, which can improve household welfare. Therefore, extension workers need to assist farmers to manage and utilize goats to their full potential. This may be done by assisting goat farmers to improve goat nutrition, health, and management; thereby increasing production efficiency of goats.
Identification of opportunities for organic beef production from Nguni cattle to enhance food security by communal farmers in KwaZulu-Natal South Africa.
(2015) Kunene-Ngubane, Phumelele Eleanor.; Kolanisi, Unathi.; Chimonyo, Michael.
Communal farms are characterised by marginal lands which are suitable for external livestock farming. Communal farmers are in possession of adaptable indigenous cattle breeds and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) which facilitate the production of beef without the use of synthetic chemicals. As a result, these communal farming systems may be labelled ‘organic’ by default. In the developed countries, consumer demand for animal products is increasingly shifting towards products that are safe, nutritious, produced through acceptable methods and of good eating quality. Hence the demand for organic beef, which is sold at a premium, is increasing in these countries. Although communal farmers in South Africa are suitably placed to produce organic beef, the organic beef market is not well-developed and consumer demand for organic beef is not known. The objective of this study was to identify opportunities for organic beef production in providing household food security in communal areas of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The specific objectives were to: assess the potential for organic beef production by communal farming systems; investigate the possibility of organic beef production by South African communal farmers; determine factors affecting consumers’ perceptions about organic beef in South Africa; and assess consumers’ Willingness To Pay (WTP) a premium for organic beef. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and a survey of 300 consumers were employed to collect data from communal farmers and consumers in various retail outlets in KwaZulu-Natal. Although the literature review indicated a growing concern and controversy regarding the health, safety and environmental benefits of organic and conventional beef, globally, consumers perceive organic beef as healthier as and safer than conventional beef, hence are willing to pay premium prices of up to 25%. These positive perceptions are based on the fact that the production processes of organic beef eliminate the use of chemicals. The indigenous cattle breed, particularly the inherent Nguni, has a lower sero-prevalence for A. marginale and B. bigemina in both the cool-dry and hot-wet seasons; hence it does not require chemicals for the prevention of tick-borne diseases prevalent in South African communal farms. South African communal farmers value their production systems which they consider to be wholesome, results in mature and tasty meat with several domestic and medicinal benefits compared to conventional beef. As a result, its produce, such as organic beef, should fetch premium prices in the formal markets. Socio-behavioural factors relating to inferiority, exclusion and lack of external institutional support are the main reasons why communal farmers are not actively participating in the South African formal beef markets, hence the low off-take rates (5 – 10%) from communal farms. The findings revealed that communal farmers were willing to participate in the South African formal beef market as equal partners with differentiated products which should be sold at the right price. This indicates a potential for organic beef production by South African communal farmers which could support and sustain the organic beef niche market in South Africa. The findings on determinants of consumers’ perceptions about organic beef revealed that consumers perceive self-grown food, without the use of chemicals as ‘organic,’ and hence associate it with health and safety. Organic food is acceptable in South Africa since 60% of the consumers had prior experiences in purchasing and consuming organic food. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) yielded three components upon which South African consumers base their perceptions about organic beef: safety, health and environment. Safety control was the most important factor with 25.1% variations that determined consumer’s decision when purchasing organic beef. Health considerations are also important to the South African consumers regarding the purchasing of organic beef, with 21.5% variations. Information about organic beef and trust of origin were highly regarded by consumers as safety measures, whilst the absence of chemicals and appearance were considered as vital health factors. The findings on the effects of socio-economic characteristics and taste on consumers’ willingness to pay for organic beef indicated that the majority of consumers (76%) were willing to pay a premium for organic beef, with 52% willing to pay less than 25% premium. Taste and safety attributes were important favourable attributes of organic beef over conventional beef. Consumers value organic beef such that even those who did not consider it as safer than conventional beef were willing to pay a premium. Consumers in urban cities were most likely to be willing to pay a premium for organic beef. The study concludes that South African consumers, similar to those in developed countries, perceive organic beef as healthier, safer and environmentally friendlier than conventional beef. The demand for organic beef in South Africa is high since 76% of consumers were willing to pay a premium. As thus, organic beef production could be employed to ensure household food security on communal farms. The market for organic beef in South Africa is in the urban formal markets. The subjective safety, health and environmental attributes of organic beef have to be addressed in order to allow South African communal farmers to take advantage of the potential organic beef niche market. Civic engagement involving all stake holders in the South African formal beef markets is essential for the establishment and maintenance of a differentiated organic beef niche market which adheres to set standards in order to ensure trust amongst all stakeholders. Recommendations for future research include studies on sensory evaluation could be conducted to determine preferences between organic and conventional beef in South Africa. Further studies are required to determine production efficiency of communal farming systems with regards to organic beef production in order to inform policy and facilitate the establishment of organic beef production standards. Studies comparing the chemical composition between organic and conventional beef are also required.
Utilisation of Provitamin A biofortified maize in Ovambo chickens to improve food and nutrition security.
(2016) Odunitan-Wayas, Feyisayo Adeola.; Chimonyo, Michael.; Kolanisi, Unathi.; Siwela, Muthulisi.
The broad objective of the study was to determine the effect of provitamin A biofortified maize (PABM) inclusion, sex and age on growth performance, carcass traits, blood composition, meat quality, vitamin A content, nutritional value and consumers’ acceptability of Ovambo chickens. The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential of delivering provitamin A in yellow-orange biofortified maize to vitamin A deficient -vulnerable population groups who prefer provitamin A-devoid white maize. This was achieved through feeding indigenous chickens on the PABM with the expectation that the chicken carcass would have increased concentrations of vitamin A. A total of 102 Ovambo chickens, indigenous to southern Africa, were reared and fed two dietary treatments; the control, white maize (WM) and a PABM-based diet for nine weeks. There was no significant effect of diet on the average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Male birds had higher (P<0.05) ADFI and ADG than the female birds. There was also an interaction of diet, age and sex on ADG and ADFI. Male birds fed on the PABM had higher (P<0.05) ADFI at 15 weeks and 21 weeks of age than the WM fed male birds. Male birds had higher (P<0.05) ADG than the female birds at 15- 17 weeks of age. Male birds fed on the PABM diet had a significantly higher ADG at 16 weeks of age. The PABM fed female birds had a higher ADG than the WM fed females at all weeks except 21 weeks of age and was significantly higher at 19 weeks of age. The PABM fed female birds had significantly lower FCR at 20 weeks than the WM fed female birds. The male birds had higher (P<0.05) FCR at 21 weeks than the female birds. The PABM diet had a significant effect on the dressed carcass (DC) and leg weight of the birds. Female birds had higher (P<0.05) relative breast and back weights, whilst the male birds had higher body weights (BW) and leg weights (P<0.05). The DC, leg (thigh and drumstick) and back relative weight of the birds significantly increased as the ages at slaughter increased. The PABM fed birds had a significantly higher relative weight of gizzard and liver than the WM fed birds (P<0.05). The female birds had higher gizzard and liver weights than the male birds (P<0.05). The gizzard and liver weights of the birds decreased with increasing age. The relative heart weight of the male birds increased with age and was higher than that of the female birds (P<0.05). The PABM diet increased the packed cell volume (PCV) of the birds and the leucocytes (WBC) of the PABM fed female birds were within the normal range but significantly higher than the WM fed female birds. The mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) of females fed on PABM was lower than that of the PABM fed male birds and the WM fed female birds. All the mean values of the haematological parameters were within the normal range regardless of the age, sex and diet of the birds. Age had an effect (P<0.05) on alanine transaminase (ALT), total protein (TP), GLOB, triglycerides (TRI) and uric acid (UA). The sex of the birds significantly influenced the TP, GLOB, ALB, CREAT and TRI concentrations. The interaction of diet and age had a significant influence on the ALP, ALT and GLOB concentrations. The PABM diet, sex and age of the birds or their interactions had no significant overall effect on the pH, drip loss (%), cooking loss (%) and shear force of meat (P>0.05). The meat and skin of PABM fed chickens had higher Hunter a* (redness) and b* (yellowness) and lower Hunter L* (lightness) values. The skin of the female birds had higher Hunter L* (lightness) values than that of the males (P<0.05). As the age of the birds increased, the skin of the WM fed females became lighter (Hunter L* values increased), whilst the intensity of the yellow colour of the skin of the PABM fed male birds increased (a* values increased) (P<0.05). The PABM improved the vitamin A concentration in the Ovambo breast meat. The WM fed chicken meat had an average of 40mcg/100g while the PABM diet increased the vitamin A concentration to 55mcg/100g. Sex and the interaction of diet and sex did not significantly affect the vitamin A concentration in the Ovambo meat. The PABM and sex had no significant effect on the moisture, crude protein and fat content of the meat. The ash content of the meat of the female birds was higher (P<0.05) than that of the male birds. The sex of the bird and diet had no effect on the mineral composition of the muscle. The interaction of sex and PABM diet impacted on the copper concentration of the Ovambo chicken meat. The sensory characteristics of the meat of the PABM and WM fed chickens were not significantly different. Age and gender of the consumers and their interactions had no significant effect on the acceptability of all the sensory attributes of the Ovambo chicken meat evaluated. The findings of this study concluded that indigenous chickens fed PABM can be a tool for curbing VAD and improving the meat quality of indigenous chickens in southern Africa regions.

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Food Security) by Author "Chimonyo, Michael."