Investigation of strategies employed in rural households to improve food security in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality : a case of Zihlahleni Location in Middledrift, Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Gqozo, Odwa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10758 , vital:35752
- Description: Eastern Cape is one of the provinces experiencing a rapid increase in food prices while household income is increasing at a slower rate. Against this background, the main objective of this study was to investigate strategies used by rural households to improve food security in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality formally known as Nkonkobe in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Data were collected from 100 households using a questionnaire as the main instrument by using simple random sampling. Data were analyzed by employing simple descriptive statistics to describe household food security. Results revealed that most (50.3percent) households that were interviewed were male headed and unemployment was high (73.6percent). Moreover, the average age of the interviewed household heads was 59 years. Most (68percent) of the households owned home gardens and had access to arable land which was not being cultivated. Most (87percent) households indicated that lack of capital was the main cause of food security and depended on government grants. Most (100percent) of the interviewed household heads depend mostly on food purchases rather than their own production. The recommendation is that the government should continue fostering its agenda of improving agriculture as a strategy in rural households for curbing food insecurity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The role of formal education in improving agricultural production: case of lower Gqumashe, Raymond Mhlaba Municipality
- Authors: Jafta, Siwongiwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Agricultural productivity , Non-formal education , Farmers -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Anthropology
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10273 , vital:35387
- Description: This study seeks to examine economic activity using anthropological perspective at Lower Gqumahashe. This settlement possesses natural resources that favour agricultural development. For instance, water resources include Tyhume River, which is the main source of irrigation. Tyhume Rive is the perennial river that runs along the study area. Other possible sources of irrigation are local livestock dams and the main water pipe supplying University of Fort Hare and Alice town. This study is an attempt to determine the impact of formal education on agricultural productivity at Lower Gqumahashe. The study population was female local farmers who were actively involved in agricultural activities during the course of investigation. The researcher used empirical research design. The researcher realized that empirical research design would offer her an opportunity for intense or prolonged contact with research informants in order to have a holistic picture of their behavior. The findings of the study reveal that low level of formal education of farmers impacts negatively on agricultural productivity in the study area. The study recommends that local female farmers should be encouraged to participate in adult basic education using incentives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018