- Title
- Market integration as a key enabling factor for increased levels of agriculture commercialisation
- Creator
- Kant, Leigh-Ann
- Subject
- Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Subject
- Agricultural industries -- South Africa
- Subject
- South Africa
- Date Issued
- 2025-04
- Date
- 2025-04
- Type
- Master's theses
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/72836
- Identifier
- vital:79269
- Description
- This study investigated market integration as a key enabling factor for increasing agricultural commercialisation among small-scale vegetable farmers in South Africa. Limited access to profitable markets has hindered these farmers’ ability to realise the full value of their produce, restricting their transition to higher levels of commercial farming. Using a quantitative research approach, this study examined the roles of vertical coordination, contract farming and other critical factors in facilitating market integration. Data were collected via electronic surveys targeting managers of agribusinesses engaged with small-scale farmers and analysed through descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Key findings revealed that vertical coordination significantly enhances commercialisation outcomes; while contract farming, though moderately effective, is constrained by challenges such as inconsistent quality and deficits in trust. Other variables, including joint initiatives and training, positively affected market integration efforts. Conversely, limited access to information and the high costs of traceability systems emerged as significant barriers. The study proposes a refined conceptual framework to address these challenges, emphasising the need for enhanced collaborative efforts, capacity building and policy support to create inclusive and sustainable agricultural value chains. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on agricultural development and offer actionable insights for agribusinesses, policymakers and stakeholders aiming to empower smallscale farmers and improve food security in South Africa.
- Description
- Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 2025
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (155 pages)
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | KANT, L.pdf | 2 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |