Analysis of marketing channels used by smallholder crop farmers in Vryheid (Abaqulusi) Municipality, Kwazulu-Natal
- Authors: Ntshangase, Muziwandile Gift
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Marketing channels -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Farm management -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11222 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019823 , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Marketing channels -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Farm management -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Description: A total of 120 structured questionnaires were administered to analyse marketing channels used by smallholder crop farmers, at Abaqulusi Municipality, Vryheid and KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa. Research methodology consisted of research design, sample frame, sampling procedure, data collection and data analysis which were used in the study. Descriptive statistics analysis was used, where frequencies and percentages of the variables were indicated. Variables which were measured included demographic socio-economic profile of survey household heads where age, marital status, educational level, occupation other than farming, land ownership, household size and gender of the household heads.The results show that the statistically significant variables (gender, household size) at 5% level positively affect smallholder crop farmers’ access to market information, expertise on grades and standards, availability of contractual agreements, existence of extensive social capital, availability of good market infrastructure, group participation and reliance on tradition. These findings suggest that an adjustment in each one of the significant variables can significantly influence the probability of participation in either formal or informal marketing, and hence their marketing channels. In the light of the foregoing research findings, several policy options were suggested. These include encouraging collective action, promotion of contract farming, ensuring the availability of market information to all farmers, encouraging value addition and investment in rural infrastructure.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Assessing the effectiveness of section 21 schools in public financial management (a case of circuit 13 in King William’s Town district in the Eastern Cape)
- Authors: Mnwana, Vuyokazi
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1133 , vital:26529
- Description: The transformation in the education system of South Africa has led to a series of changes in the manner in which schools function and the manner in which they are managed. The transformation process saw the promotion and devolution of powers to schools and self management whilst at the same time ensuring equal access to education. The South African Schools Act spelt out the regulations that need to be followed towards the achievement of the envisaged goal, coupled with the other regulatory framework such as National Norms and Standards for School Funding. The new dispensation saw schools being classified into two categories: Section 20 and Section 21 with stipulated functions. The Section 21 schools experienced an added responsibility of being expected to manage their funds, allocated by the Department of Education through a paper budget, a function they are not formally trained for. The principals and School Governing Bodies had to ensure that they comply with the framework that governs public financial management so as to ensure that financial resources are managed in an effective, efficient and economic manner. This function prompted schools to acquaint themselves with the laws and regulations such as the Public Finance Management Act and the Treasury Regulations in order to ensure that their financial management practices are compliant with the prescribed framework. Their activities need to be conducted in a manner that promotes transparency, responsibility, equity and accountability, all of which are principles of good governance. To ensure effective financial management, schools have to acquire new knowledge and skills in basic financial management. The aim of the study was to assess whether the schools have the skills needed to render effective public financial management in order to be able to account on their financial activities. The study further attempted to establish the role played by the Department of Education towards facilitating empowerment strategies and the role played by the auditors in terms of the assessment of the school’s financial records. A case study of three schools was conducted, all of which are section 21 schools but differ in terms of their socio-economic backgrounds, location and conditions. The socio-economic backgrounds are described in terms of the quintile system and the location in terms of urban, rural and sub-urban schools. The information was gathered through interviews with the principals of the three schools, chairperson and treasurer of the School Governing Body and the school finance officer or bursar. Other interviews were conducted with the Education Development Officer, who is a representative of the Department of Education at schools and an auditor who conducts the auditing function for schools in terms of financial control. It emerged from the findings that the urban schools are well equipped and capable of managing school finances in an effective manner, whilst the sub-urban and rural schools do not have the necessary skills and knowledge to manage school finances. As it turned out, theirs is a functioning for compliance without proper understanding of the financial processes which include budgeting, funds and income management, expenditure management and financial reporting. Although the Department of Education is employing all means possible to empower stakeholders on financial management it has emerged that the strategies are inadequate to address the problems experienced by these schools. The auditor has identified a series of discrepancies and challenges in terms of financial reporting although they also try to mentor and support schools.
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- Date Issued: 2014
GIS and remote sensing as a potential tool to support digital soil mapping in the Eastern Cape province in South Africa
- Authors: Mathe, Tumelo
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geographic Information System)
- Identifier: vital:11533 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019858
- Description: This study is based on assessing the potential use of GIS and Remote Sensing in trying to fill the various soil maps of selected regions at different scales with spatial soil data. A variety of processes are available for use. These include band ratios, principal component analysis as well as use of a digital elevation model (DEM). With the advent of GIS and Remote Sensing, these principles in the new niche of study are investigated to check if they can be used to augment the current processes available in soil mapping techniques. Such processes as band ratioing, principal component analysis and use of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are investigated to check if they can be used in soil mapping techniques. From the results produced it is evident that these processes have the potential to be used in the Digital Soil Mapping process. Despite the limitation of remote sensing to a few centimetres of the topsoil these processes can be used together with the soil mapping techniques currently being used to come up with soil maps.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Isolation, Characterisation, and biological activity evaluation of essential Oils of Cymbopogon validus (Stapf) Stapf ex Burtt Davy and Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf
- Authors: Rungqu, Pamela
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Chemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11354 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021283
- Description: Cymbopogon validus and Hyparrhenia hirta belong to the Poaceae botanical family. Both plants are used as thatching material; H. hirta is also used for weaving mats and baskets. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of C. validus and H. hirta essential oils on fresh egg-albumin induced edema on Wistar rats. To fully understand the chemically induced anti-inflammatory properties of these plants, we first analyzed the chemical composition of the essential oils. The essential oils were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In C. validus, 13 compounds accounted for 74.3% of fresh leaves oil, 14 compounds 71.8% of dried leaves oil and 12 compounds 73.3% of flower oil were identified from the GC-MS Chromatogram. The percentage yields were as follows fresh leaves oil 2.2%, dried leaves oil 2.0% and flower oil 2.4% v/w respectively. Linalool (3.2-29.6%) and northujane (4.4-16.9%) were the dominant compounds found in the 3 oils analyzed. While, α-terpineol 37.5% and verbenone 13.5% was only found in the fresh leaf oil, this was absent in the dried leaves oil and the flowers oil of C. validus. In H. hirta, 25 compounds accounted for 68.1% of fresh leaves oil, 40 compounds 71.9% of dried leaves oil, 23 compounds 77.6% of fresh flowers oil and 18 compounds 80.1% of dried flowers oil were identified from the GC-MS Chromatogram. The percentage yields obtained from the different parts were 3.4% for fresh leaves oil, 2.8% for dried leaves oil, 2.8% for fresh flowers oil and 0.7% for dried flowers oil v/w respectively. Northujane (8.5-30.0%), diisooctyl phthalate (4.4-26.5%), phytone (1.1-10.4%) were the dominant compounds found in the 4 oils analyzed. While, dibutyl phthalate 26.9% was only found in the fresh flowers and was absent in the dried flowers oil. Moreover, caryophyllene oxide (1.7-9.6%) was found in fresh leaves and dried flowers oil of H. hirta. In vivo analysis revealed that the two essential oils displayed significant edema inhibition effect overtime. They displayed strong anti-inflammatory properties when compared to control group. However, the H. hirta essential oil was more effective than that of C. validus. Linalool, α-terpineol, and northujane extracted from C. validus and H. hirta essential oils might have contributed to the anti-inflammatory effects observed in Wistar rats. This study, confirms the anti-inflammatory properties of C. validus and H. hirta suggesting that they may be used in diseases related to anti-inflammation.
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- Date Issued: 2014