Browsing by Author "Thamaga-Chitja, Joyce Magoshi."

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Determining the potential for smallholder organic production among three farming groups through the development of an empirical and participatory decision support tool.
(2008) Thamaga-Chitja, Joyce Magoshi.; Hendriks, Sheryl Lee.; Nsahlai, Ignatius Verla.; Copeland, Phillip.
Organic farming is increasingly viewed as a plausible production system for sustainable agriculture for smallholder farmers. However, there is not enough scientific evidence and knowledge to advocate certified organic farming for African smallholder farmers who face several constraints related to production, storage and marketing. The potential for organic farming for smallholder farmers, faced by these constraints, is not clearly defined. As a result, this study set out to evaluate the production potential of organic agriculture among three smallholder farmer groups. Production questions were used to investigate and evaluate the potential for organic agriculture among three smallholder farmer groups and constituted the following subproblems: · What crops can be grown in the three study areas, based on climatic data ? · Do farmers concur that these are the most suitable potential organic crops? · How useful do the farmers find the decision making tool? · What constraints threaten commercial production of the identified crops for these farmers? Participatory methodologies that included the use of Force Field Analysis, discussions and workshops were used to identify organic production constraints related to production decisions. Farmers faced constraints related to finance, capacity enhancement, technical knowledge, fencing, irrigation, and a lack of, or inappropriately trained extension officers. As a response to identified production constraints, a decision support tool was developed. Natural resource data, including climatic and agronomic data, was used to create a specially calibrated Microsoft Excel spreadsheet interface that functions as an empirical organic production decision support tool for organic and aspirant organic smallholder farmers, by providing answers for farmer-prioritised production constraints. A list of potential crops for each of the three study areas was subjected to a series of checks against suitability for climate and disease conditions and nutrient requirements. A limited supply of manure, to meet the enormously high requirements for organic production in the poor soils of these areas, is the major constraint to exclusive organic production and renders certified organic production difficult and unsustainable. Farmers disagreed with some of the crops on the list, arguing that familiar crops were rejected by the model, but they were excited by the prospects for production of “new” crops suggested as suitable by the decision support tool, but not yet grown in the study areas. End users welcomed the model and expressed the opinion that it would be useful in decision making related to organic crop production. The study concludes that, although a number of agronomically-suitable crops can grow in the study areas, organic production is restricted by rather high manure requirements, lack of compost making skills, lack of knowledge on natural pest and disease control and poorly nourished soils, leading to poor yields. The rainy season creates a disease-supporting environment, rendering organic farming risky for rain-fed smallholder farming. Risk in certified organic farming for smallholders was further exacerbated by a hardly inconducive policy environment that low literacy levels exist amongst farmers. This study is innovative for three reasons. First, farmers were true participants and drivers of the research. Second, trans-disciplinary expert seminars were attended by experts from different disciplines who critiqued the conceptualisation, design, and implementation of the study. Third, the development of a practical decision-support tool shows innovation towards solving complex smallholder farmers decisions. If organic farming is to be promoted, commitment by government is needed in order to establish policy and legislation on organic farming to direct and govern training, information provision and marketing. Intensive training and knowledge building of organic production for smallholder farmers and extension officers is critical. There are also agroecological risks associated with organic farming for smallholder farmers. Recommendations for future research include comparison between organic agriculture and conventional agriculture, where sustainability of certified organic farming and economic viability can be conducted in the South African context. Improvement of the decision making tool will require involving information technology specialists so that the tool can be installed in community centres, extension offices and other accessible places for farmers and others.
Improving market access for smallholder farmers : socio-economic determinants of pre-and post-harvest practices - and their potential role for microbial contamination of fresh produce.
(2017) Beharielal, Tashiana.; Thamaga-Chitja, Joyce Magoshi.; Schmidt, Stefan.
Fresh produce is known to carry a natural microbial community however, during agricultural production and processing, any ready-to-eat fresh produce can become contaminated with pathogenic microbial organisms if inappropriate hygiene practices are used. As such fresh produce items go through minimal, if any inactivation or preservation treatments during further processing, hygiene quality and safety of the produce may be compromised thereby limiting market access and endangering consumer health. This study was conducted to determine if the Marianhill Agri-hub smallholder farmer socio-economic characteristics influence pre- and post-harvest practices and hygiene practices adopted. Furthermore, the contributions of these practices to microbial contamination of ready-to-eat fresh produce and its implications for market access, health and household food security were evaluated. Questionnaire results indicated a literate farmer community (88%), reliant on diversified income sources and farming as a livelihood strategy. Moderate interest in gaining market access to supplement household income was a key characteristic (61%). Most farmers utilized natural water sources (Mnini pond, Mnini river, stream and rain-fed) for irrigation, however, only a few (18%) pre-treated water prior to irrigation. Statistical analysis (Pearson Chi-square tests) indicated that farmer education levels and exposure to prior training have a statistically significant (p<0.05) impact on selected pre-and post-harvest practices implemented, highlighting the importance of farmer education and training. Microbiological analysis of fresh produce samples such as lettuce, parsley, carrots and spinach collected over at least a three month period from the main Agri-hub, showed the presence of total (ranging from 130-79000 MPN/g) and faecal coliforms (ranging from 22-1400 MPN/g) as well as E. coli (ranging from 2.2-49 MPN/g). These values were not satisfactory with respect to total coliform levels and presence of E.coli in view of South African legislation. In irrigation water samples, faecal coliforms were present up to 7000 MPN/100ml thereby frequently not meeting the WHO irrigation water quality requirements. Additionally, a number of irrigation water samples did not meet the South African standards for irrigation water applied to minimally-processed fresh produce of ≤ 1 E. coli/100ml, with values between 9.3-1400 MPN/100ml. Salmonella spp. was not detected in fresh produce and irrigation water samples. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of 155 randomly selected E. coli isolates from both fresh produce and irrigation water were determined using the EUCAST disk diffusion method. The highest percentage of antibiotic resistance in E.coli isolates was detected against the antibiotic streptomycin at >94%. However, while 6% of the tested E. coli isolates were susceptible to all tested antibiotics, 2% of the E. coli isolates were multidrug-resistant. Multidrug-resistant strains of E. coli are concerning, as resistance genes are easily transferable to other potentially pathogenic bacteria present on produce, which might render the treatment of such pathogens difficult. Scanning Electron Microscopy showed the ability of E.coli isolates to form biofilms on PVC coupons mimicking contact surfaces. Antibiotic resistant and biofilm forming E.coli isolated from fresh produce and associated production and processing surfaces highlight the need of implementation of appropriate pre-and post-harvest hygiene practices. Stringent microbiological quality standards governing entry into high-value markets need to be adhered to by smallholder farmers. Therefore, understanding of smallholder farmer socio-economics is imperative to improving pre-and post-harvest hygiene practices, as the use of proper hygienic pre-and post-harvest practices is essential to prevent microbial contamination and improve quality of ready-to-eat fresh produce which will, in turn, facilitate improved market access.
Perceptions of barriers to market participation among three farmer groups in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
(2008) Mthembu, Nonkululeko.; Thamaga-Chitja, Joyce Magoshi.; Hendriks, Sheryl Lee.
There has long been evidence that many smallholder farmers can benefit from marketoriented agriculture. However, smallholder farmers often face a number of barriers to accessing the markets. Smallholder market access is often cited as a factor that exacerbates the smallholder situation, but is little researched. This study investigated barriers to market participation among three smallholder farmer groups in rural KwaZulu-Natal. It is hypothesised that identification of these barriers could assist in institutional innovation to alleviate market constraints and challenges faced by smallholder farmers. It is also expected that addressing such barriers may create enabling conditions that would encourage smallholder farmers to access and participate more effectively in markets. Such efforts could improve the ability of smallholder farmers to become part of the mainstream or commercial agricultural economy. Three farmer groups from rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal (Centocow, Mbumbulu and Muden) were selected to participate in the study because they had interests in marketing fresh produce. One group (Mbumbulu) was a certified organic producer and was supplying a formal market. The other two groups (Centocow and Muden) were not organically certified and sold produce to informal markets. A three way comparison that included agricultural Policy Reform, Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) from Local Municipalities and focus group discussions was used to check and validate farmers’ responses to questions asked. Agricultural policy reforms relevant to these groups were reviewed. IDPs were analysed to evaluate service delivery and provision of infrastructure (enabling conditions for market participation). Focus group discussions were conducted to investigate farmer experiences in marketing and perceptions of agricultural policy constraints. The study revealed that access to resources, market information, infrastructure and farmer support services were barriers to market participation. Efforts to incorporate smallholder farmers through agricultural policy reforms in large scale agriculture have failed. Programmes to create enabling conditions (e.g. infrastructural development and telecommunications) were either not budgeted for or not implemented by local municipalities. Local economic development programmes focused on developing tourist attractions, although communal areas (Centocow and Mbumbulu) have the potential for agricultural growth. Local municipalities also faced challenges, such as lack of capacity to plan, implement, budget for planned projects, lack of service provider commitment and municipal funds. The results showed that despite barriers to market participation, smallholder farmers still marketed limited amounts of produce. If identified barriers are addressed, the issues raised in this study might improve market participation. Some barriers require direct intervention by government, as in the case of support services, extension service, credit and training. Investment in good infrastructure may encourage smallholder farmers to participate effectively in markets. This may be done by establishing a market infrastructure that includes collection points, transportation and market deposits in order to address the problems of proximity to markets. Such intervention should require the involvement of the private sector.