Advancing gross farming income sustainability of smallholder farmers in the Free State Province, South Africa.

Abstract

The study aimed at advancing the Gross Farming Income (GFI) sustainability of smallholder farmers in Free State province (FS), South Africa (SA). While the official GFI in SA has experienced substantial growth over a number of years(DAFF, 2019b), its real value was on the decline, as its contribution to the agricultural value-added share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declined from 4,2% in 1994 to 1,9% in 2019 and resulting in a lag of 2.3% compared to the global average (DALRR, 2020a). The current GFI of the smallholder farmers in FS was also, low, and declining, with calculations showing similar trends to the national measurements. As the main source of income for farming households including smallholder farmers, it was on the decline from 2,7% in 2018, to 2,5% in 2019, 2,3% in 2020 and 2% in 2021 (Stats SA, 2019a, 2020c, 2021, 2022a). The study utilised a mixed methods approach. Data was collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews of 385 respondents, identifying detailed research questions, from the main and related objectives, and analysing these using descriptive, univariate, bivariate and multivariate techniques. The quantitative analysis phase indicated significant association of demographic and farming practice determinants, with the GFI of smallholders, while the qualitative analysis phase showed a significant association of the GFI, with strategies to commercialise, skills development support programmes and current sustainability practices linked to GFI models and frameworks. The study findings and results suggest a GFI Sustainability Framework and Model in FS, with farmers employing different farming practices, primarily growing vegetables for consumption and local sales, by diversifying their products, improving market connections, strengthening community ties, and using better record-keeping practices. The study recommends: policy-based and farm-level strategies with the positive implications of enhancing the economic well-being of smallholder farmers, creating more job opportunities, enhancing infrastructure, and facilitating market access.

Iqoqa.

Ucwaningo lwaluhlose ukuthuthukisa ukusimama kweSamba Esiphelele Semali Engenayo Kwezolimo, iGross Farming Income (GFI) kubalimi bamapulazi amancane eSifundazweni saseFree State (FS), eSouth Africa (SA). Nakuba i-GFI esemthethweni e-SA ibe nokukhula okukhulu eminyakeni eminingi (DAFF, 2019b), inani layo langempela lalehla, njengoba igalelo layo engxenyeni eyengeziwe yezolimo yoMkhiqizo Wezwe Ophelele Wonyaka, iGross Domestic Product (GDP) lehlile kusuka ema-4,2% ngowe-1994 kuya ema-1,9% ngowezi-2019 nokwaholela ekusaleleni emuva ngama-2.3% uma kuqhathaniswa nesilinganiso somhlaba wonke (DALRR, 2020a). I-GFI yamanje yabalimi abancane e-FS nayo iphansi, futhi iyancipha, izibalo ziveza ukuthambekela okufanayo nezilinganiso zikazwelonke. Njengoba umthombo onqala wemali engenayo emindenini yabalimi ubandakanya nabalimi abancane, wancipha usuka ema-2,7% ngowezi-2018, waya ema-2,5% ngowezi-2019, ema-2,3% ngowezi-2020 nasema-2% ngowezi-2021 (Stats SA, 2019a, 2020c, 2021, 2022a). Ucwaningo lwasebenzisa uhlelo lwezindlela ezixubile. Imininingo yaqoqwa ngamaphephamibuzo nangezingxoxo ezihleliwe zababambiqhaza abangama-385, ukuhlonza imibuzo yocwaningo eningiliziwe, kusuka ezinhlosweni ezinqala nezihlobene, nokuhlaziya lokhu kusetshenziswa izindlela ezichazayo, ezihlangene, ezivivayo nezinhlobonhlobo. Isigaba sokuhlaziywa kobungako sabonisa ukuhambisana okuphawulekayo kwezimbangela zokuhleleka kwabantu nokulima kwabo kanye ne-GFI yabalimi bamapulazi amancane, kanti ngakulolu olunye uhlangothi isigaba sokuhlaziywa kobungako saveza ukuhlangana okuphawulekayo kwe-GFI, namasu okuhweba, izinhlelo zokusekela ukuthuthukiswa kwamakhono kanye nezindlela zamanje zokusimama ezixhunywe kumamodeli nezinhlaka ze-GFI. Okutholakele ocwaningweni kanye nemiphumela kuphakamisa uHlaka neModeli Yokusimamisa i-GFI eFree State, lapho abalimi besebenzisa izindlela ezahlukahlukene zokulima, ikakhulukazi ukutshala imifino ezodliwa nezodayiswa endaweni, ngokwenza imikhiqizo yabo ibe ngehlukahlukene, ukuthuthukisa ukuxhumana kwezimakethe, ukuqinisa ubudlelwane nemiphakathi, nokusebenzisa izindlela ezingcono zokugcina amarekhodi. Ucwaningo luncoma: amasu ancike kunqubomgomo nakwezamapulazi anemiphumela emihle yokuthuthukisa inhlalakahle yezomnotho yabalimi bamapulazi amancane, ukudala amathuba emisebenzi eyengeziwe, ukuthuthukisa ingqalasizinda, nokwenza kube lula ukufinyelela ezimakethe.