Urban agriculture in Nelson Mandela Bay: a case study
- Authors: Philander, Bronwyn
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Urban agriculture -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/34318 , vital:33301
- Description: Urban agriculture has gained importance due to the rise of both urban poverty and unemployment. In countries such as Malaysia, urban agriculture addresses food security by providing urban dwellers with access to nutritious, safe and cost-effective food. The rising food prices and unemployment in South Africa have put food security of the urban poor in a precarious position and whilst the benefits of urban agriculture have been researched, the main problem identified was that residents in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) were not practising urban agriculture. Thus, this study aims to identify the enablers and barriers of urban agriculture in NMB. The positivism paradigm was adopted for this study. The study was an exploratory study and used Holland Park as a case study. Holland Park is situated in the centre of the city of Port Elizabeth, also known as NMB and is surrounded by Mercantile Hospital, Aspen Pharmaceutical Company, Mondelez International (previously Cadbury) and Morewag Primary School. It falls within ward seven namely the Greenacres/North End cluster of the Nelson Mandela Bay geographical area. This area consists of approximately 1189 residents and most women are housewives. This area was chosen due to the high rate of unemployment amongst women. A sample of 300 was drawn from residents in Holland Park. The selection of the respondents was based on convenience sampling. A cross sectional study was conducted and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The measuring instrument used an existing questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the measuring instrument were confirmed using construct validity and internal reliability. Exploratory factor analysis was undertaken and six factors were extracted, namely attitude, food availability, lifestyle, awareness, perceptions and knowledge. These factors were thus identified as the enablers and barriers of urban agriculture. Data collected were subject to several statistical analyses – these included both descriptive and inferential statistics. Pearson’s product moment correlations were conducted and findings revealed that all factors except food availability are significantly and positively correlated to the dependent variable, urban agriculture. In addition, food availability showed a negative correlation and a high positive correlation was reported between urban agriculture and knowledge. Hereafter, multiple regression analysis was performed, to identify the strength of the effect that the independent variables, namely attitude, food availability, awareness, lifestyle, perceptions and knowledge have on the dependent variable, urban agriculture. This allowed the researcher to make conclusions as to whether the independent variables are enablers or barriers, depending on the strength of effect. Thus, the enablers identified for this study were attitude, lifestyle and perceptions. These factors were all positive and significantly related to urban agriculture. Food availability was negatively related to urban agriculture, indicating that the more residents had food available, the less they would practise or participate in urban agriculture. Thus, food availability was found to be a barrier to practising urban agriculture in NMB. Finally, awareness and knowledge (under multiple regression analysis) appeared to have not been significantly related to urban agriculture – as such it was insignificant and could not be regarded an enabler nor a barrier. In order to establish whether relationships existed between the demographic factors (age, gender, qualification, employment status and being a breadwinner) and the independent variables (attitude, food availability, lifestyle, awareness, knowledge and perceptions) investigated in this study, an analysis of variance was undertaken. The results indicated that gender, employment status and being a breadwinner were not related to any of the factors. However, qualification had a significant relationship with attitude (p<0.000), awareness (p<0.004), knowledge (p<0.040) and perceptions (p<0.000), indicating that residents who had a post-matric qualification indicated a positive attitude towards urban agriculture and were more aware of the benefits of urban agriculture towards one’s health and the environment. Findings also revealed that having a post-matric qualification influenced residents’ knowledge with regard to growing food in a sustainable manner, such as using recyclable materials (as holding containers) when practising urban agriculture. In addition, having a post-matric qualification influenced residents’ perceptions regarding urban agriculture, these related to teaching children the importance of gardening (amongst others). In conclusion, findings indicated that residents had an interest in urban agriculture and had some knowledge with regard to growing their own fruit and vegetables.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Socio-economic benefits of agricultural projects to surrounding communities: the case of Qamata Irrigation Scheme in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Masela, Zandile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Irrigation farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/4716 , vital:28501
- Description: The Qamata Irrigation Scheme (QIS) is one of the largest irrigation schemes in South Africa. Despite substantial state investment, community members have only derived limited benefits from the scheme, leading the government efforts to revitalize the scheme. Many studies have been conducted about QIS but none of them have analyzed the effects of the QIS on the surrounding communities. This study investigated the socio-economic benefits of QIS to surrounding communities. For the purposes of this study, the units of analysis were the surrounding household members, questionnaires were used to collect data. Probabilistic sampling of random sampling method was used to select the villages; respondents’ were availability selected with sample size of 197 households. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from the participants. To analyse data, descriptive statistics and multinomial logit regression model were used. The study found out that female-headed households constitute 63.45 percent compared to male-headed households at 36.55 percent. The average age of the households in the villages that are within the radius of 10km is 58 years, while it is 59 years in villages that are beyond the 10km radius. In villages within the radius of 10km, 86.08 percent of respondents are unemployed, 5.70 percent are employed at the scheme and 8.23 percent are self-employed. In villages beyond 10km, 84.62 percent of respondents are unemployed, 5.13 percent are employed at the scheme and 10.26 percent are self-employed. In both villages, 71 percent of respondents reported that that they do not get feed supply from the scheme while 29 percent of respondents reported that they get feed supply from the scheme. From the overall distribution of villages within and beyond the radius of 10km, 80 percent of respondents reported that they do not get job opportunities from the QIS while 20 percent of respondents reported that they get job opportunities from the QIS. The study shows that 53 percent of respondents from villages within the radius of 10km are low-benefitting, 33 percent of respondents are intermediate-benefitting and 14 percent of respondents are high-benefitting from the scheme, while in villages beyond the radius of 10km, 97 percent of respondents are low-benefitting, 3 percent of respondents are intermediate-benefitting and none of the respondents is high-benefitting from the scheme. Furthermore, the study, through the multinomial logit regression model, shows that gender for intermediate benefitting has a negative coefficient (-1.70) and shows a significance of 10 percent On the other hand, gender for high benefitting has a positive coefficient (2.57) and shows a significance of 1 percent. Distance from the scheme has a negative coefficient (-3.08) and shows a significance of 1 percent. Access to farmland has a positive coefficient (2.33) and shows a significance of 10 percent. The study recommends that surrounding communities should own home gardens so that they can grow fresh produce and create job opportunities. The surrounding communities are also encouraged to own more farmlands or produce their own crops so they can also learn from the skills of the scheme.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The contribution of agriculture to rural development in Mbashe Municipality
- Authors: Malusi, Phaphama Paul
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture and state -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18123 , vital:28578
- Description: Despite the decreasing contribution of agriculture to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa, agricultural activities are critical in the development of rural households. These activities are an important route through which these rural communities can reduce poverty. This is mainly because agriculture has been the main source of income and employment in rural areas in South Africa and other less developed countries (LDC). However, it has not generated sufficient income to sustain rural households. Rural areas are characterised by factors such as low socio-economic conditions, low standards of living, lack of access to markets and inadequate infrastructure that does not create an enabling environment for private sector involvement. The private sector is not actively involved or engaged in rural development. Rural development involves improvement in the economic security of people in rural areas. It is poor households that look for employment in agriculture. The poor are portrayed in terms of qualifications, employment, access to resources, basic health services, skills possessed, self- sustaining activities, and income and expenditure patterns. Many individuals in rural areas are pushed into non-agricultural activities due to lack of opportunities in agricultural activities. Lack of opportunities in agriculture can be caused by subsistence agriculture in small holdings of land and lack of appropriate skills sets for certain agricultural activities. Ultimately, it is poor individuals who increase their dependence on agriculture. The primary objective of this research was to obtain a better understanding of the contribution of agriculture in rural development in the Mbhashe Local Municipality (MLM). Furthermore, the necessary conditions required to sustain livelihoods in the rural areas were identified. This was mainly done in an attempt to improve the quality of life in the rural areas. The study was based on three objectives. The first objective was to identify the constraints to agricultural activities in the Mbashe Local Municipality; the second was to investigate the plight of rural people in the Mbhashe Local Municipality. Lastly, the third objective was to investigate the contribution of agriculture in rural development in the study area. The main finding with regards to the first objective is that facors such as lack of infrastructure, low socio-economic conditions, lack of appropriate skills and lack of opportunities in agriculture are some of the constraints to agricultural activities. Investments in basic infrastructure need to be significant so that funds can flow into the rural areas to be invested in livelihood activities in order to create more employment opportunities. With regard to the second objective, the main finding is that rural people need to be empowered through increased knowledge and skills. This involves improving literacy and skills training, because the outcome of this training is that they are able to stand on their own feet and provide for their families. The main finding with regard to the third objective is that rural areas, by nature, are not easy to service but have indigenous knowledge that can be used in agriculture. However, the government must support them with the necessary infrastructure. Agriculture has been a major source of income and employment in the Mbashe Municipality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Recapitalisation and development programme for cattle producing farmers in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Sontundu, Qaqamba
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12790 , vital:27121
- Description: This thesis examines the impact of the recapitalisation and development programme on cattle producing farmers in Joe Gqabi and Chris Hani Districts. This research is based on the insight that most of the Eastern Cape cattle producing farmers are facing financial problems and their farms are dilapidated even though there are interventions from the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform and Rural Development and Land Reform through programmes such as CASP and RADP for rescuing the cattle producing farmers. The major challenges faced by the cattle producing farmers into getting the funding will be established in this study. The main focus is on the farms that have already got the funding and also on the ones that are still in the pipeline for being funded by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. To a lesser extent, the thesis draws on findings from careful considerations of case studies comprising ten farms, thus five farms from Joe Gqabi and five from Chris Hani Districts. The research methods under this research design yielded data that was descriptive and exploratory based on human experiences and are associated with discovering changes in situations. The research findings show that delays in releasing recapitalisation and development funds for land reform beneficiaries have been recognised as one of the main reasons for the collapse of land reform projects. In most cases the funds are arriving long after they were needed for important faming activities. The delays are also leading to permanent closure of the farms. Therefore, it is essential for the success of land reform programmes to ensure that the production model is designed so as to generate benefits for land reform beneficiaries. This thesis is concluded by making recommendations to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform in order to address the identified Recapitalisation and Development Funding challenges as well as to identify what can be considered as effective financial support to the land reform projects.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The relative contribution of non-timber forest products, agriculture and off-farm sources of income to rural households in Koloni and Guquka, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mtati, Nosiseko
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Informal sector (Economics) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Households -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Forest products -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Non-timber forest products -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Income -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4785 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018193
- Description: [Partial abstract]: This study was carried out to determine the contribution of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) to household total income, other livelihood sectors were also examined simultaneously. The contribution of agriculture involved livestock and crop production. Wages and government grants were other livelihood sectors that were looked into. This study was important in determining the change in livelihood strategies in the last decade and to quantify the NTFPs used at the two sites. It was carried out in Guquka and Koloni, both part of the central Eastern Cape. Information on direct use value of the NTFPs used, the quantities and local price; crop production outputs and inputs and the costs. Data were collected via a questionnaire.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An assessment of the impact of Local Economic Development in Mbhashe Local Municipality with special focus on agricultural projects
- Authors: Mniki, Sicelo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local finance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9128 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018579
- Description: The need to achieve developmental local government in South Africa has necessitated that the municipalities and other government departments pay more attention to the poor so that they can be helped to live more fruitful lives and become the instruments for the growth of local economy. This study seeks to assess the impact of Local Economic Development (LED) initiatives in Mbhashe Local Municipality with special focus on the Maize Production Project (MPP). The areas of Mbhashe municipality that were included in the study include Ndakeni village near Dutywa, Tswele-litye near Willowvale and Madwaleni near Elliotdale. The study followed both the qualitative and quantitative research approaches and the respondents were made up of a sample of MPP beneficiaries from the three areas mentioned above, Community Leaders and the Officials. The objectives of the study were to identify MPP objectives, to identify challenges in the implementation of the MPP, to assess the availability of remedial measures and lastly, to assess whether the community has benefited from the maize production project or not. Among others, the objectives of the MPP were to maximise maize production, to make profit, to create employment opportunities for the unemployed. Only 13 percent of the surveyed beneficiaries believe that their expectations of this initiative were fully met. The majority (two thirds) believe that their expectations were partly met, whilst one in five (20 percent) believe that their expectations were not met at all. The MPP implementation challenges included delays caused by the municipal procurement processes, unfavourable climate conditions, poor service delivery by the appointed service providers who provide tractors, shortage of funds and late start for ploughing. Even though the remedial measures seem to be in place, the implementation and the communication of the strategies remains a big challenge. Furthermore a proportion of the respondents were unhappy with the public participation process that preceded the implementation of the project.According to the findings, two thirds (67 percent) of the surveyed farmers believe that their communities have benefited from the MPP, although one third (33 percent) disagreed. The challenges of an insufficient budget, procurement delays and late commencement of ploughing need to be addressed if the maize production initiative is to yield the desired results.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A decade of changes Eastern Cape white commercial farmers' discourses of democracy
- Authors: Böhmke, Werner
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Farmers -- Psychology , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Democracy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political culture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social psychology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2934 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002443 , Farmers -- Psychology , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Democracy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political culture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social psychology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This paper deals with an analysis of the discursive accounts of Eastern Cape white commercial farmers on the subject of Democracy. Drawing on the theoretical perspectives of Social Constructionism and Discourse Analysis – which view individuals’ accounts of their realities as produced and informed by their particular social and historical context – the paper seeks to provide an analysis of the content of, and rhetorical strategies within the participants’ accounts and explanations. Such accounts of the social, historical and political circumstances in which Eastern Cape commercial farmers find themselves are thought to provide valuable insights into the manner in which the process of democratisation has been received by members of the agricultural sector. Data collection was conducted via brief, audio taped, semi-structured interviews. The participants were all white men and women, living in a commercial farming region of the Eastern Cape Province. Responses to the interviews were subjected to the Discourse Analytical procedure advanced by Ian Parker. Analyses reveal that participants are critical of the notion of democracy; utilize specific rhetorical and argumentation strategies; make use of notions and techniques of ‘Othering’; and subscribe to a colonial / patriarchal ideology which attempts to idealize pre-democratic South Africa. These findings illustrate what is in many ways still an ongoing political and ideological struggle in the rural regions of the country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005