Milk production potential of South African Boer and Nguni goats

(South African J of Animal Science, 2000, 30, Supplement 1: 76-77

Participation of smallholder farmers in agro-processing industries : implications for the extension services of Gauteng Province

The study aimed to evaluate the levels of participation of smallholder farmers in the agro-processing industries of Gauteng Province. The main objective was to determine the implications of participation or lack thereof for the extension services, using an exploratory mixed sequential design. Four focus group sessions were conducted to account for qualitative data collection, and the survey data was gathered from three regions of Gauteng Province (West Rand, Pretoria, and Germiston). A sample of smallholder farmers (n=78) was purposively selected across the three regions to select participants. The results revealed that factors such as institutional design, condition of participation, and collaboration were critical in influencing these farmers. However, the results also revealed that leadership did not affect either of the levels of participation of these farmers. Therefore, these results suggest that the level of participation in smallholder farming could be improved, should the influential factors be taken into consideration during the development planning of these farmers. It is recommended that strategic plans formulated by the supporting institutions consider these influential factors as the tools for the transformation of the agro-processing industries. These factors could stimulate participation by smallholder farmers in this sector.The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) and the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC).http://www.journals.co.za/content/journal/agriam2020Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Developmen

EXPANSION STRATEGIES IN THE AGRO-PROCESSING SECTOR FOR SMALL-SCALE AGRO-PROCESSORS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The study was aimed at developing strategies for expansion by small-scale agro-processors in South Africa. This article purports that post-colonial states are organizations that choose to develop citizens in alignment with their needs, and such is the responsibility of post-colonial South African governments towards agro-processors. The study utilizes a quantitative research approach, and data was collected using a questionnaire. A total of 503 small-scale agro-processors from Gauteng, Limpopo, North West, Free State, and Mpumalanga Provinces of South Africa participated in the study. Factor analysis was used to identify the factor loading of the latent variables (unobserved variables), and Structural Equation Modelling (S.E.M.) was used to determine critical tenets for small-scale agro-processors. The study utilized an exploratory research design and a quantitative research approach. Data for this study were collected from 503 respondents across fi ve provinces of South Africa. A stratifi ed probability random sampling technique was used in the selection of respondents across the fi ve provinces. Practically, the study developed a strategic framework for economic empowerment for small-scale agro-processing in South Africa. This study concludes that small-scale agro-processors of South Africa are still struggling with strategic economic empowerment despite existing support from the government in the form of policies. The study recommends that the review of policy and government programmes to support small-scale agro-processors should consider factors for strategic economic empowerment as identifi ed in the frameworkBIC NW

Key factors for the improvement of smallholder farmers' participation in agro-processing industries of Gauteng province of Republic of South Africa : lessons for the extension advisory services

This study aims at identifying factors that could be used as parameters to improve the smallholder farmers' participation in the agro-processing industries of Gauteng province in order to enhance job creation and self-employment. The study used both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The focus sessions were used to exploit the respondents' views regarding their participation or lack thereof. On the other hand, the quantitative approaches were used to quantify the effect of the factors under consideration. A sample of (n = 78) smallholder farmers were purposively selected across ten (n=10) local municipalities. The data were analysed using a logistic regression model where non-participation and participation were coded 0 and 1, respectively. The effect of profit, access to advice, age of the farmers, and information flow to the participation of the smallholder farmers was tested. The study found that five identified parameters {information supply (beta = 0.315, p = 0.002), bonds (beta = 0.332, p = 0.000), mutual trust (beta = 0.410, p = 0.000), age (beta = 0.242, p = 0.004) and access to study group (beta = -0.416, p = 0.000)} have significant probabilities to improve the participation of smallholder farmers in the agro-processing sub-sector. The results imply that extension advisors and policymakers can use these parameters to improve the participation and representativeness of the smallholder farmers in the agro-processing industries.https://journals.co.za/content/journal/agrihj2021Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Developmen