CONSUMER CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH FOOD PRICES

To keep up with the recent trends in consumer demand for food products, an understanding of the associated customer characteristics is needed. This study identifies significant characteristics and factors of households who are likely to purchase basic household food when prices are high. The analysis was performed using logit model. The results of the study imply that the following households are more likely to purchase foods when prices are high: those with large sizes of land for farming and for home garden, those who frequently purchase the basic food stuffs, those who receive some advice on prices of food, and those with large household sizes. Educated females with information sources on food prices, and those household who stay far away from the nearest food shops do not appear to be likely to purchase food when prices are high.Food prices, consumer characteristics, logit model, Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis,

Climate change and adaptation of small-scale cattle and sheep farmers

The main objective of this study was to investigate the factors that affected the decision of small-scale farmers who kept cattle and sheep on whether to adapt or not to climate changes. The Binary Logistic Regression model was used to investigate farmers’ decision. The results implied that a large number of socio-economic variables affected the decision of farmers on adaptation to climate changes. The study concluded that the most significant factors affecting climate change and adaptation were non-farm income, type of weather perceived, livestock ownership, distance to weather stations, distance to input markets, adaptation choices and annual average temperature.Climate change, small-scale cattle and sheep farming, Binary logistic model, Farm Management,

CLIMATE CHANGE AWARENESS AND DECISION ON ADAPTATION MEASURES BY LIVESTOCK FARMERS

This paper investigated the extent of awareness of climate change by livestock farmers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It further explored the choice of adaptation measures that were followed and factors that affected adaption measures. The results indicated that marital status, level of education, formal extension, temperatures and the way in which land was acquired, significantly affected awareness of climate change. Variables that significantly affected adaptation selections were gender, formal extension, information received about climate change, temperatures and 2 the way in which land was acquired. The study suggested that the positive and significant variables that affected awareness and adaptation measures by livestock farmers be considered when awareness and adaptation strategies are implemented.Climate change awareness, Heckman’s two step probit model, decisions to adapt, Farm Management,

Monitoring and evaluation of university-community impact in driving transformation agenda

As part of the national transformation agenda, university-community impact is critical to HEIs for efficient delivery of community engagement (CE). Although CE is given due consideration in HEIs, there have been almost no attempts to develop evaluation tools that are useful for understanding the dynamics of engaging with communities at a micro and detailed level. HEIs tend to turn a blind eye on the micro dynamics of evaluating community engagement. Moreover, the tools for monitoring and evaluating CE are not standardized across all HEIs. This article reviews literature on monitoring and evaluation to draw conclusions and make recommendations. Findings of the literature review indicate that monitoring and evaluation remain a challenge in HEIs. As a recommendation, HEIs should be open to criticism regarding the quality of monitoring and evaluating CE and allow communities to evaluate them for improvements

CLIMATE CHANGE AWARENESS AND DECISION ON ADAPTATION MEASURES BY LIVESTOCK FARMERS

This paper investigated the extent of awareness of climate change by livestock farmers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It further explored the choice of adaptation measures that were followed and factors that affected adaption measures. The results indicated that marital status, level of education, formal extension, temperatures and the way in which land was acquired, significantly affected awareness of climate change. Variables that significantly affected adaptation selections were gender, formal extension, information received about climate change, temperatures and 2 the way in which land was acquired. The study suggested that the positive and significant variables that affected awareness and adaptation measures by livestock farmers be considered when awareness and adaptation strategies are implemented

Climate change and adaptation of small-scale cattle and sheep farmers

The main objective of this study was to investigate the factors that affected the decision of small-scale farmers who kept cattle and sheep on whether to adapt or not to climate changes. The Binary Logistic Regression model was used to investigate farmers’ decision. The results implied that a large number of socio-economic variables affected the decision of farmers on adaptation to climate changes. The study concluded that the most significant factors affecting climate change and adaptation were non-farm income, type of weather perceived, livestock ownership, distance to weather stations, distance to input markets, adaptation choices and annual average temperature

CONSUMER CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH FOOD PRICES

To keep up with the recent trends in consumer demand for food products, an understanding of the associated customer characteristics is needed. This study identifies significant characteristics and factors of households who are likely to purchase basic household food when prices are high. The analysis was performed using logit model. The results of the study imply that the following households are more likely to purchase foods when prices are high: those with large sizes of land for farming and for home garden, those who frequently purchase the basic food stuffs, those who receive some advice on prices of food, and those with large household sizes. Educated females with information sources on food prices, and those household who stay far away from the nearest food shops do not appear to be likely to purchase food when prices are high

Smallholder farmers; adoption decision-making behaviours in the adoption of climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices: the case of soil conservation practice adoption at Qamata Irrigation Scheme, South Africa

This study evaluates smallholder farmers' adoption decision behaviours regarding the adoption of climate smart agricultural (CSA) practices, using the adoption of soil conservation practices at Qamata Irrigation Scheme, South Africa as a case study. Using the case study research methodology, 70 smallholder farmers were selected through a focused group interview method. Empirical data analysis was with the probit, logit and the binary logistic regression analysis models. Based on results and congruent with literature, the nature of smallholder farmers' adoption behaviour regarding the adoption of soil conservation technologies is complex, being affected by multiplicity of factors. Of most significance (at p<0.01) are gender, marital status, length of time of continuously farming on one spot (LENTFARM) and crop production respectively. The indication is that women farmers prefer their own practices to extension recommendations which is as expected. Similarly, married farmers, LENTFARM, and farmers with increased crop production preferred extension recommendations for soil conservation instead of their own practices. The conclusion is that significant variables of this study are factors influencing smallholder farmers' adoption decision behaviour regarding CSA practices in the study area. Therefore intervention efforts for improved CSA practice adoption should consider the significant variables of this study. Key words: Smallholder farmers; adoption; adoption decision-making behaviours; climate smart agriculture practices; soil conservation

Smallholder farmers; adoption decision-making behaviours in the adoption of climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices: the case of soil conservation practice adoption at Qamata Irrigation Scheme, South Africa

This study evaluates smallholder farmers' adoption decision behaviours regarding the adoption of climate smart agricultural (CSA) practices, using the adoption of soil conservation practices at Qamata Irrigation Scheme, South Africa as a case study. Using the case study research methodology, 70 smallholder farmers were selected through a focused group interview method. Empirical data analysis was with the probit, logit and the binary logistic regression analysis models. Based on results and congruent with literature, the nature of smallholder farmers' adoption behaviour regarding the adoption of soil conservation technologies is complex, being affected by multiplicity of factors. Of most significance (at p<0.01) are gender, marital status, length of time of continuously farming on one spot (LENTFARM) and crop production respectively. The indication is that women farmers prefer their own practices to extension recommendations which is as expected. Similarly, married farmers, LENTFARM, and farmers with increased crop production preferred extension recommendations for soil conservation instead of their own practices. The conclusion is that significant variables of this study are factors influencing smallholder farmers' adoption decision behaviour regarding CSA practices in the study area. Therefore intervention efforts for improved CSA practice adoption should consider the significant variables of this study. Key words: Smallholder farmers; adoption; adoption decision-making behaviours; climate smart agriculture practices; soil conservation