Factors affecting extension workers in their rendering of effective service to pre and post-settled farmers in government initiated and supported farming small, micro and medium enterprises

Small, micro and medium entrepreneurs play an important role in economic growth and poverty alleviation across the globe. To this effect, the South African government has instituted a policy to encourage the formation, promotion and support of small, micro and medium enterprises (SMME’s). In particular, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry(DAF) and Rural Development and Land Affairs (DRDLA), through land acquisition, restitution and other agrarian development systems, initiates and supports agriculturally based SMME’s with the objective of achieving sustainable livelihoods for the poor and commonages. However, an intensive investigation using desktop, government reports, research articles and case studies on the pre and post-settlement delivery of services by extension officers, revealed that support is grossly inadequate in terms of funding, training, technical advice, mentoring, monitoring and evaluation. This is also exacerbated by the extension workers’ lack of capacity and specialization in particular fields, such as production, marketing and management to adequately service the land reform programs. It is therefore recommended that extension workers be capacitated on specialisation, production, management, mentoring, monitoring and evaluation in order for them to deliver qualityservices that will contribute to in making these SMME’s sustainable

Aphrodisiac properties of some Zimbabwean medicinal plants formulations

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of formulations composed of Mondia whitei, Ekebergia capansis, aloe tincture (Aloe exelsa) and pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo) on sexual behaviour of inexperienced male rats. Male rats were treated orally with ethanol extracts of M. whitei and E. capensis, aloe tincture (from aloe juice) and pumpkin seed powder. The sexual behaviour of the rats treated with extracts was compared with those treated with 100 ìg of testosterone as the positivecontrol and those receiving normal rat feed as negative control. The receptivity of the females was rendered homogeneous with daily dose of estadiol benzoate. The sexual behaviour of the rats were observed over one ejaculatory phase for five consecutive days. The results showed a dose dependent increase in sexual arousability (decreased mounting latency), copulatory efficiency (decreased intercoupulatory interval) and improved sexual sensation (increased in neuromotor activity) for the ratstreated with M. whitei and E. capensis, aloe and pumpkin seeds showing an increase in sexual performance in terms of intromissions and ejaculatory latency which also improved sexual sensation and coupulatory efficiency. The formulations of plants under investigation showed significantaphrodisiac properties

The effect of the food insecurities in farming and non-farming households: lesson learnt from households in the Francis Baard district municipality, Northern Cape Province of South Africa

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of food insecurity in farming and non-farming households in the Francis Baard District Municipality. The research approach used in this study was quantitative. By using a cross-sectional survey, data was collected referring to the population of interest. A simple random sample comprising of 516 respondents from farming and non-farming households in the Frances Baard Municipality was selected. The data were analysed using multiple logistic regression (MLR) models. The results revealed that food shortages are more likely (B = 0.22, p = 0.01) to cause severe food insecurities in farming households when access to food gardens and smallholding is constant. On the other hand, non-farming households could also be affected by severe food insecurity due to food shortages (B = 0.29, p = 0.04) and lack of access to smallholding farming areas. The results further showed that food gardening is highly likely to reduce severe food insecurity. The results imply that the municipality has to provide access to food gardening facilities and smallholder plots for non-farming and farming households to combat severe food insecurity and promote food security. The policy on comprehensive producer support only recognises the support for the farmers' different categories than the households. Therefore, it is recommended that the policymakers amend this policy to enable the household to be empowered as beneficiaries

Analysis of Women Empowerment in South African Water Boards: A Special Reference to Historically Disadvantaged Individuals (HDIs) in South Africa

The aim of the study was to investigate women’s empowerment in water boards of South Africa. The study was carried out in all South African water boards (n=14) using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. A non-probability sample (which used a purposive sampling frame) was used, resulting in a non-representative sample size (n=409). Qualitative data were collected through a combination of literature reviews, interviews, questionnaires, and observations. The results revealed that males have fair access to managerial and advisory positions such as junior  management and water expert categories at a relatively young age. However, at the governance level, males compared to females are dominant at executive level. Very little women empowerment at these boards was evident. Women appear to lack succession prospects in other critical governing positions of South African water boards. The study recommends for a special attention to affirm women in the water boards in a sustainable manner.Keywords: gender, representation, governance, empowerment, board