A socio-economic impact assessment (SEIA) of the Idutywa agripark project on project beneficiaries in Mbashe local municipality of the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Magida, Phiwokuhle Thulani
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11211 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016195 , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Poverty, inequality and unemployment have always been challenging first in South Africa with special reference to rural South Africa. These persistent challenges with severe impacts on black population are believed to be the results of the previous governance in South Africa. Policies have been formulated, reformulated and others implemented in a form of development projects which have achieved little success in pursuit of combating these challenges. However, in the process of achieving rural development through developmental projects, a fundamental stage in the life cycle of these projects is often omitted or given little attention. This stage is the monitoring and evaluation stage which is critical to ascertain potential impacts (both positive and negative) especially if the project is to be replicated and achieve its objectives as postulated in the millennium development goals. This thesis attempted to carry out a Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA) of the Agripark project implemented at Dutywa on the livelihoods of communities directly affected by this project. The Agripark project is a project that comprises three linked components, a seedling nursery, an agro-processing facility and a sizeable feeder plot and has been implemented to benefit four villages. This project has been implemented as the second Agripark project by the University of Fort Hare in partnership with the province’s Department of Agriculture. To track change after the implementation of the project, data were collected from the same respondents that were interviewed for the baseline study, therefore, the same sample size that was used in the baseline study was also used for this study. As a tool for data collection, a questionnaire was developed to elicit the required information and was interviewer administered during data collection. The results of the study revealed that Agripark project has impact on both social and economic wellbeing of the households. The processing unit of the project was not yet functioning therefore the project was not fully effective thus the impact was not as intended by the project when the study was carried out. Skills transferred were only on production but only a small number of people could receive them. These households largely relied on external sources of income mainly on social grants and their contribution to total household income had increased to 88% in 2011 compared to 80% in 2008. As much as the increase in incomes cannot be entirely be because of the project but Agripark had a positive impact on household incomes through wages of those employed there and through increased profitability of hawking vegetables. The proportion of household earning incomes less than the Poverty line fell from 85% in 2008 to approximately 79% in 2011. The household complemented their staples with a variety of vegetables and the main source of these vegetables was Agripark even though own production was declining. Even though food was still the main item of these households expenditure, the proportion of income spent on food fell from 64% in 2008 to 48% in 2011. There were no environmental impacts found. From the descriptive analysis, the project had impact on the livelihoods of these households because it brought change on the household expenditure as a result of the income earned by those who are working in the Agripark. There was an improvement on risk of food insecurity through cheaper vegetable that both physically and financially attainable. However, as much as the project had positive impact, there were also concerns raised by the respondents that the employment was only biased to certain individuals which cased stress to some households. Furthermore, the empirical analysis of the selected variables showed that participation in Agripark had an impact on economic wellbeing of the beneficiaries. Thus, funding must be made available to the project so that it can upgrade their electricity and have the processing plant running as it may be the major source of employment, skills development and achievement of its objectives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Magida, Phiwokuhle Thulani
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11211 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016195 , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Poverty, inequality and unemployment have always been challenging first in South Africa with special reference to rural South Africa. These persistent challenges with severe impacts on black population are believed to be the results of the previous governance in South Africa. Policies have been formulated, reformulated and others implemented in a form of development projects which have achieved little success in pursuit of combating these challenges. However, in the process of achieving rural development through developmental projects, a fundamental stage in the life cycle of these projects is often omitted or given little attention. This stage is the monitoring and evaluation stage which is critical to ascertain potential impacts (both positive and negative) especially if the project is to be replicated and achieve its objectives as postulated in the millennium development goals. This thesis attempted to carry out a Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA) of the Agripark project implemented at Dutywa on the livelihoods of communities directly affected by this project. The Agripark project is a project that comprises three linked components, a seedling nursery, an agro-processing facility and a sizeable feeder plot and has been implemented to benefit four villages. This project has been implemented as the second Agripark project by the University of Fort Hare in partnership with the province’s Department of Agriculture. To track change after the implementation of the project, data were collected from the same respondents that were interviewed for the baseline study, therefore, the same sample size that was used in the baseline study was also used for this study. As a tool for data collection, a questionnaire was developed to elicit the required information and was interviewer administered during data collection. The results of the study revealed that Agripark project has impact on both social and economic wellbeing of the households. The processing unit of the project was not yet functioning therefore the project was not fully effective thus the impact was not as intended by the project when the study was carried out. Skills transferred were only on production but only a small number of people could receive them. These households largely relied on external sources of income mainly on social grants and their contribution to total household income had increased to 88% in 2011 compared to 80% in 2008. As much as the increase in incomes cannot be entirely be because of the project but Agripark had a positive impact on household incomes through wages of those employed there and through increased profitability of hawking vegetables. The proportion of household earning incomes less than the Poverty line fell from 85% in 2008 to approximately 79% in 2011. The household complemented their staples with a variety of vegetables and the main source of these vegetables was Agripark even though own production was declining. Even though food was still the main item of these households expenditure, the proportion of income spent on food fell from 64% in 2008 to 48% in 2011. There were no environmental impacts found. From the descriptive analysis, the project had impact on the livelihoods of these households because it brought change on the household expenditure as a result of the income earned by those who are working in the Agripark. There was an improvement on risk of food insecurity through cheaper vegetable that both physically and financially attainable. However, as much as the project had positive impact, there were also concerns raised by the respondents that the employment was only biased to certain individuals which cased stress to some households. Furthermore, the empirical analysis of the selected variables showed that participation in Agripark had an impact on economic wellbeing of the beneficiaries. Thus, funding must be made available to the project so that it can upgrade their electricity and have the processing plant running as it may be the major source of employment, skills development and achievement of its objectives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Assessment of sources of livelihoods and opportunities to improve the contribution of farming within available food chains
- Authors: Mbusi, Nontembeko
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livelihood strategies , Outcomes , Poverty , Farming , Employment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11204 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007575 , Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livelihood strategies , Outcomes , Poverty , Farming , Employment
- Description: Official statistics suggest that as many as 40 percent to 60 percent of people in South Africa are living in poverty, and the 15 percent poorest are in a desperate struggle for survival. Since 1994, Government has been making an effort to help smallholder agriculture through numerous programmes, including those that address land ownership and provide credit and grants for farms and households, but very little change has taken place. Understanding the sources of livelihood and opportunities to improve the contribution of farming within available food chains is therefore an important practical need. The study investigated sources of livelihood and mapped the livelihoods profile of the farming households in parts of the Eastern Cape. The study was conducted in the Alice and Peddie communities in the Amathole district municipality. A set of structured questionnaires were used to interview the sample of 80 farming households selected through a random process within two irrigation schemes and communities that were selected purposively in line with the focus of the larger project on which this study is based. The resulting data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The descriptive results indicated that members of most rural households were old, married, uneducated and unemployed. Farming was primary livelihood strategy employed in these areas. Rural households were also dependent on remittances, social grants and pension funds because the farming strategy could not meet all their household needs. The major crops that were grown for income and food security to sustain their livelihoods included maize, potatoes, onions and butternut. Factors that had significant influences on outcomes were extension services, grants, pension and remittances, land productivity, type of irrigation system, market accessibility, output price difference and value adding. The available opportunities were land productivity, irrigation facilities, government or NGO programmes and working as a group. For improved livelihood of rural communities in Alice and Peddie, government needs to strengthen agricultural activities and equip farmers with market information, improve their access to irrigation schemes, provide training on value adding and also improve access to extension services.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mbusi, Nontembeko
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livelihood strategies , Outcomes , Poverty , Farming , Employment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11204 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007575 , Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livelihood strategies , Outcomes , Poverty , Farming , Employment
- Description: Official statistics suggest that as many as 40 percent to 60 percent of people in South Africa are living in poverty, and the 15 percent poorest are in a desperate struggle for survival. Since 1994, Government has been making an effort to help smallholder agriculture through numerous programmes, including those that address land ownership and provide credit and grants for farms and households, but very little change has taken place. Understanding the sources of livelihood and opportunities to improve the contribution of farming within available food chains is therefore an important practical need. The study investigated sources of livelihood and mapped the livelihoods profile of the farming households in parts of the Eastern Cape. The study was conducted in the Alice and Peddie communities in the Amathole district municipality. A set of structured questionnaires were used to interview the sample of 80 farming households selected through a random process within two irrigation schemes and communities that were selected purposively in line with the focus of the larger project on which this study is based. The resulting data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The descriptive results indicated that members of most rural households were old, married, uneducated and unemployed. Farming was primary livelihood strategy employed in these areas. Rural households were also dependent on remittances, social grants and pension funds because the farming strategy could not meet all their household needs. The major crops that were grown for income and food security to sustain their livelihoods included maize, potatoes, onions and butternut. Factors that had significant influences on outcomes were extension services, grants, pension and remittances, land productivity, type of irrigation system, market accessibility, output price difference and value adding. The available opportunities were land productivity, irrigation facilities, government or NGO programmes and working as a group. For improved livelihood of rural communities in Alice and Peddie, government needs to strengthen agricultural activities and equip farmers with market information, improve their access to irrigation schemes, provide training on value adding and also improve access to extension services.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Integrated crop-livestock farming system for sustainable economic empowerment of small-scale and emerging farmers in the former homeland of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa: a case study of Ciskei area in Nkonkobe municipality
- Authors: Ngxetwane, Vuyolwethu
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural productivity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural assistance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farmers -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11183 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/459 , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural productivity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural assistance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farmers -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: For decades, there has been significant investment in the development of agricultural technologies that aim to increase productivity of smallholder farmers in Africa. But farm output and productivity have stagnated and poverty rates have remained high and even increasing in some areas. At the same time, increases in human population levels have resulted in rising demand for food as well as for arable land. The growing intensification of farming has been accompanied by degradation of wild lands, including tropical forests and wetlands, at an alarming rate. Further pressure on fragile land has come from associated urbanization, leading to agricultural land being converted to residential and industrial uses with serious consequences for agricultural production and food supply. The recent increases in food prices across the globe as well as South Africa have drawn attention to this problem even more strongly. The main objective of the current study was to investigate farmer’s perception of the relative importance of crop-livestock integration in the small holder farming systems. Data were collected from 70 emerging and smallholder farmers selected by stratified random sampling in the communities surrounding Alice, Middledrift and the Seymour- Balfour area of Nkonkobe municipality of the Eastern Cape Province. To collect the data, a semi-structure questionnaire was administered to the respondents through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the farmers in terms of their socio-economic and demographic backgrounds. A series of multiple linear regression models and a binary logistic regression equation were fitted to determine the factors influencing farmers’ perception and how these in turn contribute to the decision to adopt or not to adopt crop-livestock integration. The results of the study reveal that small farmers in the Nkonkobe municipality have the possibility of realizing immense benefits from the integrated systems which also have the potential to lead to substantial improvements of the physical, chemical and biological soil properties. There is clear evidence of widespread interest to experiment with the practices based on the strong positive perceptions that a majority of the survey farmers exhibited during the course of the survey. But the farmers are facing challenges in coping with the associated complexities of competition on land, and management skill which are often in limited supply. That in most cases is not enough and efficient even to manage one of these two enterprises alone and reduction in crops yield due to use of manure as a substitute of fertilizer. Constraints to integrating crops and livestock include the competition for resources, especially land. Managing two types of farming on the same farm was perceived as difficult and many respondents held the view that use of waste of one enterprise as input to the other enterprise can reduce productivity. For example some farmers considered that the use of manure to improve soil fertility may not lead to output growth to the same extent as the use of fertilizer. A number of farmers (86%) pointed out that they only market their produce after deducting their consumption share, highlighting the crucial role of food security as a motivation for crop-livestock integration. Complementation of inputs rather than substituting inputs is required to render the system more productive and sustainable as costs are minimized and output is boosted. Associations of grain and livestock producers are useful for filling these gaps which include limited access to credit, technology and knowledge and can promote the adoption of a crop-livestock system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Ngxetwane, Vuyolwethu
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural productivity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural assistance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farmers -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11183 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/459 , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural productivity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural assistance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farmers -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: For decades, there has been significant investment in the development of agricultural technologies that aim to increase productivity of smallholder farmers in Africa. But farm output and productivity have stagnated and poverty rates have remained high and even increasing in some areas. At the same time, increases in human population levels have resulted in rising demand for food as well as for arable land. The growing intensification of farming has been accompanied by degradation of wild lands, including tropical forests and wetlands, at an alarming rate. Further pressure on fragile land has come from associated urbanization, leading to agricultural land being converted to residential and industrial uses with serious consequences for agricultural production and food supply. The recent increases in food prices across the globe as well as South Africa have drawn attention to this problem even more strongly. The main objective of the current study was to investigate farmer’s perception of the relative importance of crop-livestock integration in the small holder farming systems. Data were collected from 70 emerging and smallholder farmers selected by stratified random sampling in the communities surrounding Alice, Middledrift and the Seymour- Balfour area of Nkonkobe municipality of the Eastern Cape Province. To collect the data, a semi-structure questionnaire was administered to the respondents through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the farmers in terms of their socio-economic and demographic backgrounds. A series of multiple linear regression models and a binary logistic regression equation were fitted to determine the factors influencing farmers’ perception and how these in turn contribute to the decision to adopt or not to adopt crop-livestock integration. The results of the study reveal that small farmers in the Nkonkobe municipality have the possibility of realizing immense benefits from the integrated systems which also have the potential to lead to substantial improvements of the physical, chemical and biological soil properties. There is clear evidence of widespread interest to experiment with the practices based on the strong positive perceptions that a majority of the survey farmers exhibited during the course of the survey. But the farmers are facing challenges in coping with the associated complexities of competition on land, and management skill which are often in limited supply. That in most cases is not enough and efficient even to manage one of these two enterprises alone and reduction in crops yield due to use of manure as a substitute of fertilizer. Constraints to integrating crops and livestock include the competition for resources, especially land. Managing two types of farming on the same farm was perceived as difficult and many respondents held the view that use of waste of one enterprise as input to the other enterprise can reduce productivity. For example some farmers considered that the use of manure to improve soil fertility may not lead to output growth to the same extent as the use of fertilizer. A number of farmers (86%) pointed out that they only market their produce after deducting their consumption share, highlighting the crucial role of food security as a motivation for crop-livestock integration. Complementation of inputs rather than substituting inputs is required to render the system more productive and sustainable as costs are minimized and output is boosted. Associations of grain and livestock producers are useful for filling these gaps which include limited access to credit, technology and knowledge and can promote the adoption of a crop-livestock system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Application of the sustainable livelihoods framework to the analysis of the Provincial Growth and Development Plan of the Eastern Cape: a case study of the Massive Food Production Programme in Nkonkobe Municipality and Buffalo City Municipality
- Authors: Dirwayi, Tafadzwa P
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11159 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/353 , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The Government of the Eastern Cape Province introduced the Massive Food Production programme, which is a cornerstone within the agrarian reform initiative of the Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP). The programme has been going on for more than seven years, however little has been documented on its impact. The main objective of the study was to investigate the impact of the Massive Food Production Programme on the livelihoods in Nkonkobe Municipality. This study did not only investigate its impact on the participants but also assessed its impact on the recipient communities. Accordingly, the specific objectives of the study were to investigate the impact of the Massive Food Programme on the asset base of participants, the general livelihood activities, and the livelihood outcomes. Among other livelihood activities, the study made an in-depth investigation on the impact of the Massive Food Production Programme on maize crop production. This is because the Massive Food Production was aimed at maize crop production. Previous studies investigated on the indicators of success that can be used to measure the impact of this programme. After the wide-ranging evaluation of views, arguments and research findings, a model to measure impact of the programme was designed. The asset base improvement was used as the proxy of impact. Nine factors were selected from the principal component analysis of the many factors that were taken to affect participation. Three other dummy variables to proximate location, participation and group turnover were added to the regression model that was developed to measure impact. The DFID Sustainable Livelihood Framework was used to investigate the impact of the Massive Food Production Programme. This approach was used in both conceptualizing the study and the selection of variables. The DFID Sustainable Livelihood Approach was selected because unlike the CARE or UNDP Sustainable Livelihood models, it was designed for such purposes. Data collection was accomplished through observation, interviewing, and focus group discussions. The researcher also made use of project annual reports on change of livelihoods, baseline survey reports, project log frame, internal reports, work plans, budgets and mid-term evaluation reports as sources of secondary data. v The research findings were analysed using several analytical procedures, including the conventional descriptive statistics, principal components analysis, and linear regression analysis. The use of the different types of analysis was driven by the research questions under investigation and the theories on which they are based, and by the available data. The study revealed that to some extent the Massive Food Production Programme has managed to improve the asset base of the farmers. However, its impact on ensuring food security is still debatable. Findings of the study revealed that most of the participants and the non-participants communities experienced food shortages in the last season 2007/8 for at most three months. The study revealed that the highest agricultural income is from livestock sales. The varying locations showed the potential of livestock production. It is recommended that development agencies consider livestock production as an agricultural strategy with immense potential for enhancing sustaining rural livelihoods
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Dirwayi, Tafadzwa P
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11159 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/353 , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The Government of the Eastern Cape Province introduced the Massive Food Production programme, which is a cornerstone within the agrarian reform initiative of the Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP). The programme has been going on for more than seven years, however little has been documented on its impact. The main objective of the study was to investigate the impact of the Massive Food Production Programme on the livelihoods in Nkonkobe Municipality. This study did not only investigate its impact on the participants but also assessed its impact on the recipient communities. Accordingly, the specific objectives of the study were to investigate the impact of the Massive Food Programme on the asset base of participants, the general livelihood activities, and the livelihood outcomes. Among other livelihood activities, the study made an in-depth investigation on the impact of the Massive Food Production Programme on maize crop production. This is because the Massive Food Production was aimed at maize crop production. Previous studies investigated on the indicators of success that can be used to measure the impact of this programme. After the wide-ranging evaluation of views, arguments and research findings, a model to measure impact of the programme was designed. The asset base improvement was used as the proxy of impact. Nine factors were selected from the principal component analysis of the many factors that were taken to affect participation. Three other dummy variables to proximate location, participation and group turnover were added to the regression model that was developed to measure impact. The DFID Sustainable Livelihood Framework was used to investigate the impact of the Massive Food Production Programme. This approach was used in both conceptualizing the study and the selection of variables. The DFID Sustainable Livelihood Approach was selected because unlike the CARE or UNDP Sustainable Livelihood models, it was designed for such purposes. Data collection was accomplished through observation, interviewing, and focus group discussions. The researcher also made use of project annual reports on change of livelihoods, baseline survey reports, project log frame, internal reports, work plans, budgets and mid-term evaluation reports as sources of secondary data. v The research findings were analysed using several analytical procedures, including the conventional descriptive statistics, principal components analysis, and linear regression analysis. The use of the different types of analysis was driven by the research questions under investigation and the theories on which they are based, and by the available data. The study revealed that to some extent the Massive Food Production Programme has managed to improve the asset base of the farmers. However, its impact on ensuring food security is still debatable. Findings of the study revealed that most of the participants and the non-participants communities experienced food shortages in the last season 2007/8 for at most three months. The study revealed that the highest agricultural income is from livestock sales. The varying locations showed the potential of livestock production. It is recommended that development agencies consider livestock production as an agricultural strategy with immense potential for enhancing sustaining rural livelihoods
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
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