A sustainability model for agricultural cooperatives in KwaZulu-Natal = Imodeli yokusimamisa imifelanawomye yezolimo KwaZulu-Natali.

Abstract

The high attrition and stagnant rate of agricultural cooperatives in the Province of KwaZulu Natal has raised concerns, given that they are recognised globally and in South Africa for their significant role in promoting impoverished communities' social and economic development. This challenge has become a threat to community development by hampering the growth of the agricultural cooperatives. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the challenges that hinder the growth of agricultural cooperatives and assess factors that contribute to their growth. The study utilised clustered sampling to ensure the representation of all districts and was conducted in nine districts of KwaZulu-Natal Province. The sample comprised 367 respondents who were members of agricultural cooperatives from 99 cooperatives in the province. Quantitative research was employed using questionnaires, and the data were analysed using SPSS (Version 25.0.). Sustainability models used in the study included pictorial visualization, quantitative, physical, conceptual, standardising, egg of sustainability, and prism models. The literature gap in a sustainability model that considers the combined behaviour of resource management, good governance, sustainability monitoring, market access, and social and economic aspects in agricultural cooperatives has been addressed. The study revealed several factors contributing to agricultural cooperatives' demise, including a lack of good governance, leadership, technical skills, business management expertise, conflict management abilities, cohesion among members, and sustainable farming methods. These deficiencies suggest that the agricultural cooperatives under review could be more sustainable. Therefore, the study recommends adherence to cooperative principles, capacity building of cooperatives in all aspects of business, including environmental training, the appointment of boards to inculcate governance systems, the institutionalisation of social responsibility programs, and redefining the government's relationship with agricultural cooperatives. The study contributes to the body of knowledge by developing a model that enhances the sustainability of agricultural cooperatives in KwaZulu-Natal, thereby increasing their success rate.

Iqoqa.

Izinga eliphezulu lokuntengantenga kanye nezinga elimile lemifelandawonye yezolimo esiFundazweni saKwaZulu-Natali sekuphakamise ukukhathazeka, njengoba yaziwa emhlabeni jikelele naseNingizimu Afrikha ngeqhaza layo elikhulu ekuthuthukiseni imiphakathi entulayo nentuthuko yezomnotho. Le nselelo isiphenduke ingozi ekuthuthukisweni komphakathi ngokukhinyabeza ukukhula kwemifelandawonye yezolimo. Ngokunjalo, lolu cwaningo luhlose ukuphenya ngezinselelo ezithikameza ukukhula kwemifelandawonye yasemapulazini kanye nokuhlola izinto ezinomthelela ekuthuthukisweni kwawo. Ucwaningo lusebenzise amasampula ahlanganisiwe ukuze kuqinisekiswe ukumelwa kwazo zonke izifunda. Lwenziwa ezifundeni eziyisishiyagalolunye zesiFundazwe saKwaZulu-Natali. Isampula lalinabahlanganyeli abangama-367 ababengamalungu emifelandawonye yezolimo engama-99 esifundazweni. Ucwaningo lwekhwantithethivu lusetshenziswe kusetshenziswa uhlu lwemibuzo, futhi imininingo yahlaziywa kusetshenziswa i-SPSS (Inguqulo 25.0). Izindlela zokusimama ezisetshenziswe ocwaningweni zifaka ukubonwa kwesithombe, ubuningi, ngokomzimba, umqondo, ukulinganisa, iqanda lokusimama, nezindlela ezimbili eziphikisanayo. Isikhala esikhona kwezocwaningo ngendlela yokusimama ukucubungula ukuziphatha okuhlangene kokuphathwa kwezinsiza, ukubusa okuhle, ukuqapha ukusimama, ukufinyeleleka kwezimakethe, nohlelo lozomnotho yemifelandawonye yezolimo sekubhekwana nayo. Ucwaningo luveze izinto eziningi ezidala ukushabalala kwemifelandawonye yezolimo, okuhlanganisa ukuntuleka kokubusa okuhle, ubuholi, amakhono ezobuchwepheshe, ubuhlakani bokuphatha amabhizinisi, amakhono okulawula ukungqubuzana, ukubumbana kwamalungu kanye nezindlela zokulima ezisimeme. Lokhu kushoda kusikisela ukuthi imifelandawonye yezolimo ebuyekezwayo ingase isimame. Ngakho-ke, ucwaningo lutusa ukulandelwa kwezimiso zomifelandawonye, ukuthuthukiswa kwamakhono yemifelandawonye kuzona zonke izigaba zebhizinisi, okuhlanganisa ukuqeqeshwa, ukuqokwa kwamabhodi azogxilisa izinhlelo zokuphatha, ukufakwa kwezinhlelo zokuzibophezela komphakathi, kanye nokuchaza kabusha ubudlelwano bukahulumeni namadlelandawonye ezolimo. Lolu cwaningo lunomthelela ekuthuthukisweni kolwazi ngokuqhamuka nendlela ethuthukisa ukusimama kwemifelandawonye yabalimi KwaZulu-Natali, ngaleyo ndlela kwenyuse izinga lempumelelo yayo.