An investigation of skills and knowledge of women participating in water and food security projects in the Eastern Cape Province: a case of Mbekweni village, Sirhosheni and Lutengele villages
- Authors: Makeleni, Maliviwe
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11235 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021306 , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The South African government initiated programmes to ensure that women in agriculture are empowered with sufficient agricultural skills and knowledge to engage in agriculture in order to alleviate poverty for their families and communities. Studies argue that within the agricultural sector, women are not capacitated adequately enough in terms of the skills and knowledge they need to acquire, and particularly as this relates to their ability to have knowledge about more advanced technologies in farming. This includes the most up to date knowledge related to sustainable-development. This study has attempted to investigate skills and knowledge possessed by women participating in water and food security projects in the Eastern Cape. Selected study areas were Mbekweni village located in Whittlesea, Sirhosheni village which is situated in Willowvale and Lutengele village in Port St Johns. The thesis was also aiming to find the skills/knowledge gap amongst the sample so as to come up with recommendations. The data was collected using two semi-structured questionnaires. The first questionnaire was for the main survey which mainly concentrated on the socio-economic information of the respondents. This data were collected from 163 households across three sites using systematic sampling. The second questionnaire was mainly used to gain more in-depth analysis. The data were collected from 30 households across three sites using purposive sampling. Both questionnaires were administered through face-to-face interviews. The majority of respondents have stated that they have basic knowledge and skills in farming, however they need further training on appropriate planting methods for various crops, irrigation scheduling and frequency, application of pesticides and marketing skills. Econometric analysis, through the use of the binomial regression model revealed that education affects the level of knowledge of farmers in selecting appropriate planting methods as well as farmers’ knowledge in determining seed depth of a crop. Gender influences the level of knowledge farmers have when selecting appropriate planting methods. Having extension assistance was recognised to affect farmers’ knowledge in determining irrigation scheduling and intensity. All variables were statistically significant showing a 5% level. The thesis ultimately argues that encouraging support to agricultural extension that respects local-level indigenous farming will increase the food-security potential of residents within the Eastern Cape.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Makeleni, Maliviwe
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11235 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021306 , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The South African government initiated programmes to ensure that women in agriculture are empowered with sufficient agricultural skills and knowledge to engage in agriculture in order to alleviate poverty for their families and communities. Studies argue that within the agricultural sector, women are not capacitated adequately enough in terms of the skills and knowledge they need to acquire, and particularly as this relates to their ability to have knowledge about more advanced technologies in farming. This includes the most up to date knowledge related to sustainable-development. This study has attempted to investigate skills and knowledge possessed by women participating in water and food security projects in the Eastern Cape. Selected study areas were Mbekweni village located in Whittlesea, Sirhosheni village which is situated in Willowvale and Lutengele village in Port St Johns. The thesis was also aiming to find the skills/knowledge gap amongst the sample so as to come up with recommendations. The data was collected using two semi-structured questionnaires. The first questionnaire was for the main survey which mainly concentrated on the socio-economic information of the respondents. This data were collected from 163 households across three sites using systematic sampling. The second questionnaire was mainly used to gain more in-depth analysis. The data were collected from 30 households across three sites using purposive sampling. Both questionnaires were administered through face-to-face interviews. The majority of respondents have stated that they have basic knowledge and skills in farming, however they need further training on appropriate planting methods for various crops, irrigation scheduling and frequency, application of pesticides and marketing skills. Econometric analysis, through the use of the binomial regression model revealed that education affects the level of knowledge of farmers in selecting appropriate planting methods as well as farmers’ knowledge in determining seed depth of a crop. Gender influences the level of knowledge farmers have when selecting appropriate planting methods. Having extension assistance was recognised to affect farmers’ knowledge in determining irrigation scheduling and intensity. All variables were statistically significant showing a 5% level. The thesis ultimately argues that encouraging support to agricultural extension that respects local-level indigenous farming will increase the food-security potential of residents within the Eastern Cape.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Factors affecting participation rates in farming in the rural areas of South Africa: case of Amathole District Municipality
- Authors: Zamxaka, Xolisa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Agricultural systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021291 , Agricultural systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: South Africa and the rest of developing countries are faced with poverty and poor rural development. Rural participation in agricultural activities is one of the components that can be used to address the poverty challenge facing the people residing in rural areas. The broad objective of this research is to determine factors affecting participation rate in farming in the rural areas of Amathole District Municipality of Eastern Cape. In this study stratified random sampling method was applied in order to choose a sample out of 30 households that were interviewed 13 people belonged to Participants and 17 people belonged to non-Participants. The results from this study show that women participate a lot in farming activities. The multiple regression model was used to test the participation rates of the people in Amathole region specifically Phumlani area. A number of variables were considered in this study to assess the impact of different variables on participation in farming activities. The results showed that about 57% of the respondents are not participating in farming while 43% of the respondents participate. The farming participants that were interviewed all claim that there is a lack in farming support in the area. When there is no support of any kind, rural people would not be motivated to start development projects on their own. Consequently, this lack of farming support in the Phumlani area may have an influence on the number of farming participants. Therefore, the lack of support in the area may serve as a motivation for non-participants not to be influenced to farm. Rural farming needs to be promoted amongst the youth so as to protect and sustain agricultural growth in rural areas. The study has discovered that the youth of Phumlani is not actively involved in farming activities. Government can provide community members with farming resources so as to promote farming in the area. It would be wiser for the government to provide physical farming resources and implements rather than cash grants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Zamxaka, Xolisa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Agricultural systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021291 , Agricultural systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: South Africa and the rest of developing countries are faced with poverty and poor rural development. Rural participation in agricultural activities is one of the components that can be used to address the poverty challenge facing the people residing in rural areas. The broad objective of this research is to determine factors affecting participation rate in farming in the rural areas of Amathole District Municipality of Eastern Cape. In this study stratified random sampling method was applied in order to choose a sample out of 30 households that were interviewed 13 people belonged to Participants and 17 people belonged to non-Participants. The results from this study show that women participate a lot in farming activities. The multiple regression model was used to test the participation rates of the people in Amathole region specifically Phumlani area. A number of variables were considered in this study to assess the impact of different variables on participation in farming activities. The results showed that about 57% of the respondents are not participating in farming while 43% of the respondents participate. The farming participants that were interviewed all claim that there is a lack in farming support in the area. When there is no support of any kind, rural people would not be motivated to start development projects on their own. Consequently, this lack of farming support in the Phumlani area may have an influence on the number of farming participants. Therefore, the lack of support in the area may serve as a motivation for non-participants not to be influenced to farm. Rural farming needs to be promoted amongst the youth so as to protect and sustain agricultural growth in rural areas. The study has discovered that the youth of Phumlani is not actively involved in farming activities. Government can provide community members with farming resources so as to promote farming in the area. It would be wiser for the government to provide physical farming resources and implements rather than cash grants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
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