ECONOMIES OF SCALE FOR SMALL AND LARGE SUGAR CANE FARMS IN KWAZULU-NATAL

This paper gives a profile of a sample of a small and large sugar cane farms in the North coast region of the KwaZulu-Natal sugar cane belt. The survey was conducted during May 1995. Farms studied varied between one and 600 hectares. Values for small farms were significantly lower than large farms for human capital resources, farm resource utilisation, rate of search and utilisation of farm information, and adoption of appropriate and improved cultural farm practices. Such differences may account for the differences in farm productivity between small and large farms that exist in the South African sugar industry. A linear discriminant function model shows that small and large farms studied differ significantly on lines of human resources and cost of borrowed capital (market related). The findings of the study show that large cane farms face lower market related interest rates, are relatively better equipped in human resource capital, and are in a position to implement appropriate and recommendable farm practices (soil analysis and use of certified seedcane) compared to small farmers

Socioeconomic factors associated with finger millet production in eastern Uganda

(Received 6 February, 2001; accepted 19 February, 2002) Abstract Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) is a major food security crop in Uganda, particularly in dry areas of the eastern and northern region. Unfortunately, yields are steadily declining at farm level and this coupled with lack of comprehension of factors responsible has provoked concern among farmers and research scientists. This study was conducted in eastern Uganda to establish the socioeconomic causes of millet yield decline. One fifty finger millet farmers were randomly selected and interviewed. A Cobb-Douglas production function was used to assess the critical socioeconomic factors influencing finger millet production. Seeding rate, labour, tools and equipment, production experience, and weed management were found to be the most constraining factors. Manure application, farmer-group involvement and ownership of draught power (oxen and ploughs) were also critical issues in the production of the crop. The future of the crop largely lies in addressing the factors that limit use of inputs and the integration of indigenous knowledge in finger millet production research and development. Key Words: Allocative efficiency index, Cobb-Douglas function, Eleusine coracana, marginal product Résumé Le millet (Eleusine coracanal) est une plante importante pour la sécurité alimentaire, particulierement dans les régions sèches de l'est et du nord de l'Ouganda. Malheuresement les rendements sont entrain de décliner constament au niveau des fermes et ceci couplé avec le manque de compréhension des facteurs responsables ont provoqué un intéréssement parmi les fermiers et des scientifiques. Cette étude était conduite à l'est de l'Ouganda pour établir les facteurs socio-economiques de la dimunition des rendements. Cent cinquante fermiers étaient sélectionner au hazard et interviewés. La fonction de production de Cobb-Douglas était utilisée pour estimer les facteurs socio-economiques determinants la production du millet. Le taux des jeunes plantes, la main d'æuvre, les outils et équipements, l'expérience de production et le travail de désherbement étaient les facteurs les plus contraignants. L'application du fumier, la participation du groupe des fermiers et la possession des bêtes de trait puissants étaient aussi des problèmes critiques dans la production des plantes. L'avenir des plantes était largement liée à la résolution des facteurs qui limitent l'usage des intrants et l'intégration de connaissances indigènes dans la recherche et le développement du millet. Mots Clés: Indices d'allocation efficace, fonction de Cobb-Douglas, Eleusine coracana, produit marginal (Af Crop Sci J 2002 Vol 10 No 1 pp111-120

Prospects and constraints of finger millet production in Eastern Uganda

(African Crop Science Journal 1999 7(4): 569-584

Prospects and Constraints of Finger Millet Production in Eastern Uganda

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) is a major staple and cash crop in northern, eastern, western and southwestern Uganda. However, research on the crop has been limited. As such, a survey was conducted in eastern Uganda (Kumi, Pallisa and Kamuli districts) to establish the status of the crop, its production constraints and prospects for its development. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to fifty households per district, during the period October-December, 1998. Land productivity has declined considerably in the study districts and low soil fertility is a major factor in this respect. Production of the crop is hampered by many constraints, the major ones being inadequate labour for weeding and harvesting, frequent drought, pests and diseases, and soil exhaustion. The region is highly dependent on oxen for land preparation. Finger millet production activities are generally gender neutral. The crop is grown almost exclusively once a year. Inter-cropping and crop rotation are common practices in finger millet production, and the role of finger millet as a cash crop is on the increase. Prospects for development of the crop lie in increasing yield through generation of labour-saving technologies, particularly for weeding and harvesting, and development of farmer-friendly packages for pests and disease management, drought mitigation and soil fertility management. A follow-up on-farm soil fertility management study was conducted to investigate the response of finger millet sown in rows or broadcasted, to various soil fertility management regimes. Row planting resulted in significantly (P<0.05) better finger millet growth and yield than broadcasting. Combined application of P and N, or P and manure gave the highest yields. Application of N alone delayed flowering and physiological maturity of the crop by 1 and 2 weeks, respectively. There was no significant (P<0.05) effect of planting pattern or fertiliser treatment on threshing percentage.L\u2019eleusine (Eleusine coracana L.) est une d\ue9nr\ue9e de base et une culture de revenu dans l\u2019Est, Nord, Nord-West et Soud-Ouest de l\u2019Uganda. Cependant, la recherche sur cette culture a \ue9t\ue9 tr\ue8s limit\ue9e et ainsi une enqu\ueate a \ue9t\ue9 conduite dans l\u2019Est de l\u2019Uganda (Kumi, Pallisa et Kamuli districts) pour \ue9tablir la situation de la culture, les contraintes de production et les perspectives pour son d\ue9veloppement. Un questionnaire semi-structur\ue9 a \ue9t\ue9 administr\ue9 sur 50 m\ue9nages par district, durant la p\ue9riode Octobre-D\ue9cembre 1998. La productivit\ue9 de la terre a baiss\ue9 consid\ue9rablement dans les districts \ue9tudi\ue9s et la faible fertilit\ue9 du sol constitute un facteur principal \ue0 cet \ue9gard. La production de cette culture est handicap\ue9e par plusieurs contraintes, les principales \ue9tant le travail unad\ue9quat du sarchage et de la recolte, fr\ue9quente s\ue9cheresse, pestes et maladies et l\u2019\ue9puisement du sol. Le r\ue9gion est hautement d\ue9pendante de l\u2019ox pour la pr\ue9paration de la terre. Le activit\ue9s de production de l\u2019\ue9leusine sont g\ue9n\ue9rallement de sexe balanc\ue9. La culture est faite presque exclusivement une fois l\u2019ann\ue9e. L\u2019association et la rotation des cultures sont pratiques communes dans la production de l\u2019eleusine et son importance en tant que culture de revenu s\u2019accroit. Les perspectives de d\ue9veloppement se trovent dans l\u2019augmentation des rendements par la g\ue9n\ue9ration des technologies qui all\ue8gent le travail, en particulier pour le sarclage, la recolte et le d\ue9veloppement des paquets sains pour les agriculteurs dans la gestion de pestes et maladies, la mitigation de la s\ue9cheresse et la gestion de la fertilit\ue9 de sol. Un suivi d\u2019essai en milieu r\ue9el de gestion de la fertilit\ue9 du sol a \ue9t\ue9 conduit pour \ue9tudier la r\ue9ponse d\u2019\ue9leusine sem\ue9e en lignes ou \ue0 la vol\ue9e dans differents r\ue9gimes de gestion de la fertilit\ue9 du sol. La plantation en lignes a favoris\ue9 significativement (P<0.05) une meilleure croissance d\u2019\ue9leusine et du rendement plus que la plantation \ue0 la vol\ue9e. L\u2019application combin\ue9e du P et d\u2019N ou du P et de la fumure a donn\ue9 des rendements plus \ue9lev\ue9s. L\u2019application d\u2019N seul a retard\ue9 la floraison et la maturit\ue9 physiologique de la culture d\u2019une et deux semaines respectivement. Il n\u2019y avait pas d\u2019effect significatif (P<0.05) de mode de plantation ou du traitement d\u2019engrais sur le pourcentage de battage

MEASURING SMALLHOLDER COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE IN THREE SOUTH AFRICAN PROVINCES

For more information on the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa or subscription to Agrekon, visit http://www.aeasa.org.zaA major policy issue in South Africa is the redefinition of the role of the previously disadvantaged smallholder agricultural sector in providing rural livelihoods. This study shows that black small-scale farmers do produce certain agricultural activities both profitably and efficiently. This has major implications for broader rural growth and development. Agricultural policies aimed at promoting commodities that best make use of resources are required to exploit potential linkages with non-agricultural sectors of the economy.http://www.aeasa.org.z