Challenges of Contract Farming among Small-Scale Commercial Vegetable Farmers in Eastern Cape, South Africa

This research investigated the effectiveness of contract farming in commercialisation of small-scale vegetable farmers. The broad objectives of the study were to investigate the agri-business challenges inherent in contract farming and the government incentives required by agribusiness firms to engage small-scale vegetable farmers in contract farming programmes. A sample of 47 small-scale farmers and 15 agribusiness firms involved in contract farming production of vegetables were selected in Sarah Baartman district municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were chosen as data collection tools to identify the agribusiness challenges inherent in contract farming relationships between the parties. Findings from the study revealed that the contract farming environment in the area surveyed was highly polarised and characterised by a fundamental conflict of interest between agribusiness and farmers. Among the divergent key factors inhibiting contract farming engagement were a lack in terms of quality seeds, trust, entrepreneurial skills and formal contract agreements. The study recommends a collaborative partnership between private firms and government, with state support through revised policies and development programmes. These amendments are crucial to enhancing the engagement of small-scale vegetable farmers in lucrative agri-food chains

Challenges of Contract Farming among Small-Scale Commercial Vegetable Farmers in Eastern Cape, South Africa

This research investigated the effectiveness of contract farming in commercialisation of small-scale vegetable farmers. The broad objectives of the study were to investigate the agri-business challenges inherent in contract farming and the government incentives required by agribusiness firms to engage small-scale vegetable farmers in contract farming programmes. A sample of 47 small-scale farmers and 15 agribusiness firms involved in contract farming production of vegetables were selected in Sarah Baartman district municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were chosen as data collection tools to identify the agribusiness challenges inherent in contract farming relationships between the parties. Findings from the study revealed that the contract farming environment in the area surveyed was highly polarised and characterised by a fundamental conflict of interest between agribusiness and farmers. Among the divergent key factors inhibiting contract farming engagement were a lack in terms of quality seeds, trust, entrepreneurial skills and formal contract agreements. The study recommends a collaborative partnership between private firms and government, with state support through revised policies and development programmes. These amendments are crucial to enhancing the engagement of small-scale vegetable farmers in lucrative agri-food chains

Circular external fixation and cemented PMMA spacers for the treatment of complex tibial fractures and infected nonunions with segmental bone loss

The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome of combined circular external fixation and cemented polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) spacer application between a cohort of patients with grade 3 open fractures and infected tibial nonunions and concomitant segmental bone loss.The study was designed as a retrospective cohort study. All patients who were treated for complex tibial fractures or infected nonunions with segmental bone loss between 2009 and 2013 were included if they were aged between 16 years and 60 years, sustained acute traumatic grade 3 open tibial fractures, presented with infected nonunion, and were followed up for a minimum of 12 months. Patients with a history of ipsilateral tibial fractures, contralateral lower extremity fractures, polytrauma, chest, or abdominal trauma and patients with head injuries were excluded. Both groups were treated with aggressive debridement, circular external fixation, and antibiotic-impregnated PMMA spacer. Outcome measures were the time in the external fixator (EFT) and the external fixation index (EFI).Twenty-four patients with a mean age of 32 ± 14.7 years were included. Twelve patients with a mean age of 32 + 14 years and a mean bone defect of 82 + 36 mm were treated for acute complex grade 3 open tibial fractures, and 12 patients with a mean age of 35.1 + 15.7 years and a mean bone defect of 50 + 26 mm were treated for infected nonunions. There was no significant difference ( p = 0.44) between the groups for EFT (249 ± 99 days-tibial fractures; 255 ± 142 days-infected nonunion). There were significant between group differences ( p = 0.027) for EFI (37.3 ± 9.1 cm/days-tibial fractures; 56 ± 14.5 cm/days-infected nonunion).The findings of this study suggest that patients were treated for infected nonunion with segmental bone loss using circular external fixation, distraction osteogenesis, and antibiotic-impregnated PMMA spacers, and the spacers may not offer any advantage over a conventional approach using the principles of osteogenesis only. In contrast, antibiotic-impregnated spacers for open tibial trauma were advantageous and reduced the EFI considerably