Importance of Sustainability on Agriculture in Southern Africa

This paper seeks to describe and discuss the impact that climate changes, and other challenges in terms of sustainability, have had on Africa and particularly on South Africa. It seeks to discuss the extent to which these changes directly and indirectly impact agriculture and the measures that are currently underway, with particular reference to South Africa, as well as suggest other strategies that could be implemented to attenuate the effects of climate change, thereby advancing the global shift towards sustainability. The paper discusses environmental and other changes that have taken place in Africa and asserts that the continent is in a particularly difficult situation in light of the debate on sustainability versus productivity. The fact that most of the world’s rural poor depend on agriculture and that climatic changes have created new complications makes it more difficult to meet the MDGs and impedes economic development. This is especially relevant in light of the financial crisis and the drop in aid from the developed world. However, although more still needs to be done, it should be noted that significant progress has been made and projects and strategies are currently underway to utilize the region’s natural advantages.sustainability, agriculture, South Africa, climate change, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management,

INCREASING DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION OF SOUTH AFRICAN WINES: IDENTIFYING THE KEY MARKET SEGMENTS OF THE “BLACK DIAMONDS”

Although South Africans are not predominantly wine drinkers, the industry is looking for ways to develop the local market to balance exports. The black middle class, increasingly referred to as the Black Diamonds are the most powerful marketing trend in the last 10 years as they have emerged as the strongest buying influence in the economy and making inroads in understanding this market presents a good opportunity. The study asserts that the key factors influencing the South African consumers’ behavior are age, gender, income, race and wine drinking history. The study also asserts that not only are the black middle class are different from the white middle class but within the Black Diamonds different segments exist. The industry should particularly focus on marketing to the women and the “Start me up” age group in the group as there is limited consumer knowledge about wines, but a high willingness to experiment. The study also suggests various new brand communication platforms that can be explored to reach this market as well as co-opetition between industry stakeholders.Black Diamonds, wine consumer behavior, alcoholic beverages, Agribusiness, Demand and Price Analysis,

Alternative marketing options for small-scale farmers in the wake of changing agri-food supply chains in South Africa

With South Africa’s urban population approaching 60%, supermarkets and fast food chains have become important players in the South African food system. These large players in the food sector have systematically modified their procurement practices especially with regard to fresh fruit and vegetables and are now circumventing spot markets in favour of sourcing via in-house sourcing companies who mainly procure from preferred supplier producers. This paper draws extensively from a global research programme which seeks to highlight the market changes that potentially contribute to continued exclusion of the small producers from mass consumer markets. This paper illustrates, through a series of case studies, how integration of small-scale farmers into the urban retail market can be facilitated and how the challenges posed by the changing food system could possibly be overcome. The case studies illustrate various initiatives through which small-scale farmers and agribusinesses can be integrated into mainstream agri-food systems and may be used as models for an innovative approach to include small-scale farmers while still maintaining profitable business operations. They highlight the need for a multi actor approach for the successful participation of smallholder farmers in order to allow them to join the supply chain at any point within the channel.Marketing, Agribusiness,

Importance of Sustainability on Agriculture in Southern Africa

This paper seeks to describe and discuss the impact that climate changes, and other challenges in terms of sustainability, have had on Africa and particularly on South Africa. It seeks to discuss the extent to which these changes directly and indirectly impact agriculture and the measures that are currently underway, with particular reference to South Africa, as well as suggest other strategies that could be implemented to attenuate the effects of climate change, thereby advancing the global shift towards sustainability. The paper discusses environmental and other changes that have taken place in Africa and asserts that the continent is in a particularly difficult situation in light of the debate on sustainability versus productivity. The fact that most of the world’s rural poor depend on agriculture and that climatic changes have created new complications makes it more difficult to meet the MDGs and impedes economic development. This is especially relevant in light of the financial crisis and the drop in aid from the developed world. However, although more still needs to be done, it should be noted that significant progress has been made and projects and strategies are currently underway to utilize the region’s natural advantages

A consumer-orientated study of the South African beef supply chain

The South African beef industry, like many other South African supply chains, is challenged by the increased complexity and demand brought about by globalization, increased volumes and competition, shortage of skilled staff and pressures to meet changing customer needs. The power has shifted from the supply side to the consumer. The consumer has been empowered by greater knowledge. Consumer needs are changing. A combination of these two facts implies that not only the retailer, but also the supply chain as a whole must make sure that it is aligned to deliver customer value, in order to ensure sustainable competitiveness and survival, manage risks and ensure acceptable returns. Competition today is based on competing supply chains. The focus of this study is to define the South African consumer and their needs, so that the beef industry and in particular the supply chain participants, are able to identify opportunities to improve the delivery of customer value. This study attempts to determine the extent to which the South African consumer needs and demands regarding beef have changed, and whether the beef value chain is positioned to meet these changes. The supply chain concept, market orientation, meat quality and consumer food trends form the theoretical framework of this study; an industry analysis provides the context in which agri-businesses function; a network analysis provides a better understanding of the roles and value-adding activities that are delivered by chain participants; and an analysis of the South African consumer establishes the composition of the market, consumer needs and disposable income issues that are critical to finding the optimal solution that is sustainable enough to meet the changing environment. Although the industry has a good status, good management practices can further increase consumer confidence in beef.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ragr20nf201

A Consumer-oriented Study of the South African Beef Value Chain

The South African beef industry, like many other South African supply chains, is challenged by the increased complexity and demand brought about by globalization, increased volumes and competition, shortage of skilled staff and pressures to meet changing customer needs. The power has shifted from the supply side to the consumer. The consumer has been empowered by greater knowledge. Consumer needs are changing. A combination of these two facts implies that not only the retailer, but also the supply chain as a whole must make sure that it is aligned to deliver customer value, in order to ensure sustainable competitiveness and survival, manage risks and ensure acceptable returns. Competition today is based on competing supply chains. The focus of this study is to define the South African consumer and their needs, so that the beef industry and in particular the supply chain participants, are able to identify opportunities to improve the delivery of customer value. This study attempts to determine the extent to which the South African consumer needs and demands regarding beef have changed, and whether the beef value chain is positioned to meet these changes. The supply chain concept, market orientation, meat quality and consumer food trends form the theoretical framework of this study; an industry analysis provides the context in which agri-businesses function; a network analysis provides a better understanding of the roles and value-adding activities that are delivered by chain participants; and an analysis of the South African consumer establishes the composition of the market, consumer needs and disposable income issues that are critical to finding the optimal solution that is sustainable enough to meet the changing environment. Although the industry has a good status, good management practices can further increase consumer confidence in beef

Mapping the competitive food chain for fresh produce retailers in Tshwane, South Africa

Although several previous studies have ascertained that smallholder farmers prefer informal markets, a few vertically integrated retail chains increasingly dominate South Africa’s agro-food supply chain. The onset of this trend has led to the demise of a large number of general dealers in favour of the sleek new stores. However, greengrocers and hawkers in the fresh produce market have proven to be resilient to this onslaught. This resilience is of interest to this study. The study used ‘Porter’s forces’ model and chain analysis to structure the research and seeks to describe and analyse the competitive situation by determining the relative competitive and strategic behaviour of retailers and to map the sector’s value flows. The main findings were that tridimensional competition was mostly in the middle-income areas. The low-income areas were dominated by hawkers while large chains dominated the high income areas and greengrocers were mostly confined to middle-income areas

Increasing domestic consumption of South Africa wines : exploring the market potential of the "Black Diamonds"

Although South Africans are not predominantly wine drinkers, the industry is exploring ways to develop the local market to balance exports. The black middle class, increasingly referred to as the " Black Diamonds" are the most powerful marketing trend during the last 10 years, as they have emerged as the strongest buying influence in the economy, and making inroads in understanding this market presents a good opportunity. The data used in this paper was collected from an integration of a consumer behaviour survey; as well as personal interviews and focus group discussions. The paper asserts that the key factors influencing the South African consumers' behaviour are age, gender, income, race and wine drinking history. The paper also asserts that, not only is the block middle class different from the white middle class, but that different segments exist within the "Black Diamonds". The industry should parlicularly focus on marketing to women and the "Start-me-up" age group, as there is limited consumer knowledge about wines, but a high willingness to experiment. The paper also suggests various new brand communication platforms that can be explored to reach this market as well as competition between industry stakeholder

Increasing Domestic Consumption of South African Wines: Exploring the market potential of the “Black Diamonds”

Although South Africans are not predominantly wine drinkers, the industry is looking for ways to develop the local market to balance exports. The black middle class, increasingly referred to as the Black Diamonds are the most powerful marketing trend in the last 10 years as they have emerged as the strongest buying influence in the economy and making inroads in understanding this market presents a good opportunity. The data used in this paper was collected from an integration of a consumer behaviour survey; as well as personal interviews and focus group discussions. The paper asserts that the key factors influencing the South African consumers’ behaviour are age, gender, income, race and wine drinking history. The paper also asserts that not only are the black middle class are different from the white middle class but within the Black Diamonds different segments exist. The industry should particularly focus on marketing to the women and the “Start me up” age group in the group as there is limited consumer knowledge about wines, but a high willingness to experiment. The paper also suggests various new brand communication platforms that can be explored to reach this market as well as co-opetition between industry stakeholders

INCREASING DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION OF SOUTH AFRICAN WINES: IDENTIFYING THE KEY MARKET SEGMENTS OF THE “BLACK DIAMONDS”

Although South Africans are not predominantly wine drinkers, the industry is looking for ways to develop the local market to balance exports. The black middle class, increasingly referred to as the Black Diamonds are the most powerful marketing trend in the last 10 years as they have emerged as the strongest buying influence in the economy and making inroads in understanding this market presents a good opportunity. The study asserts that the key factors influencing the South African consumers’ behavior are age, gender, income, race and wine drinking history. The study also asserts that not only are the black middle class are different from the white middle class but within the Black Diamonds different segments exist. The industry should particularly focus on marketing to the women and the “Start me up” age group in the group as there is limited consumer knowledge about wines, but a high willingness to experiment. The study also suggests various new brand communication platforms that can be explored to reach this market as well as co-opetition between industry stakeholders