A Sociological Investigation on the Influence of Gender Inequality in Agricultural Development: A Study of Koloni village, Raymond Mhlaba Municipality.
- Authors: Mxoli, Aviwe
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Agricultural productivity
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Sociology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16373 , vital:40713
- Description: This study investigates the influence of gender inequality in agricultural development in Koloni village, Raymond Mhlaba Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The study explored the views of the agricultural active individual on the influence of gender inequality in agricultural development. Likewise, the study investigated the causes of gender inequality in agricultural productivity in the study area. Moreover, this study examined how gender inequality affect sale of agricultural production in Koloni Village. The study used theory triangulation and was guided by three theories namely: Women’s Empowerment Theory, Feminist Agrifood Systems Theory and the Agrarian Feminist Theory. The study used both quantitative and qualitative research methods embedded in pragmatic ontological and epistemological inquiry. Data collection process included the use of survey questionnaires, semi structured in-depth interviews and focus groups. The targeted participants of the study were obtained using non-probability sampling procedure. The quantitative data gathered were analysed using descriptive statistics, while the qualitative data were processed with the use of content analysis and the research findings are presented using sided by side comparison. The key findings of the study indicate that women do not reach their full potential in agriculture, owing to women’s lack of skill crucial in agriculture. Furthermore, gender inequality jeopardizes women’s chances of benefiting from workshops and trainings and that consequently affects women’s skills essential for agricultural production. The study concluded that gender inequality hinders agricultural development in Koloni village, Raymond Mhlaba municipality, South Africa. The findings of this study indicated that more women engage in agricultural activities than men nonetheless ii patriarchal systems within the agricultural sector that marginalises women is still dominant in Koloni village.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The role of formal education in improving agricultural production: case of lower Gqumashe, Raymond Mhlaba Municipality
- Authors: Jafta, Siwongiwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Agricultural productivity , Non-formal education , Farmers -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Anthropology
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10273 , vital:35387
- Description: This study seeks to examine economic activity using anthropological perspective at Lower Gqumahashe. This settlement possesses natural resources that favour agricultural development. For instance, water resources include Tyhume River, which is the main source of irrigation. Tyhume Rive is the perennial river that runs along the study area. Other possible sources of irrigation are local livestock dams and the main water pipe supplying University of Fort Hare and Alice town. This study is an attempt to determine the impact of formal education on agricultural productivity at Lower Gqumahashe. The study population was female local farmers who were actively involved in agricultural activities during the course of investigation. The researcher used empirical research design. The researcher realized that empirical research design would offer her an opportunity for intense or prolonged contact with research informants in order to have a holistic picture of their behavior. The findings of the study reveal that low level of formal education of farmers impacts negatively on agricultural productivity in the study area. The study recommends that local female farmers should be encouraged to participate in adult basic education using incentives.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Factors that influence smallholder farmers maize varietal choice: the case of Mhlontlo Local Municipality Eastern Cape
- Authors: Nkohla, Siviwe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Agricultural productivity , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture extension work -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/3121 , vital:28263
- Description: In South Africa, maize is grown all over the country under various environments including both dry and irrigated agriculture. The majority of maize farmers are smallholders farming on small pieces of land with low input technologies. Additionally, South Africa`s smallholder maize farmers are characterised by low maize productivity, this is despite of the availability of many improved maize varieties on the market. It is clear that professional maize breeders are continuously developing many superior maize varieties with traits more suitable for the commercial farming sector than the smallholder sector. Against this background, this study used a descriptive statistics approach to find out maize varieties and traits preferred by smallholder farmers. The study also evaluated factors that influence smallholder farmers` maize varietal selection choice using descriptive statistics and multinomial regression. The data used for the empirical analysis was obtained from a survey of 200 smallholder farmers in Mhlontlo Local Municipality, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2016
The impact of beliefs and values on agricultural change: a case of Murombedzi Irrigation Scheme, Zimbabwe
- Authors: Nyika, Emery
- Date: 2013-01
- Subjects: Agriculture -- Environmental aspects , Farms, Small , Agricultural productivity
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/25698 , vital:64469
- Description: Since the mid 1970s there has been an increasing effort to raise the level of adoption of agricultural innovations in small-scale farming for improved production. NGOs and governments have engaged in a participatory approach not only to empower local people, but also to give them an opportunity to learn, access, and utilize innovations that have been introduced in the agriculture sector. However due to several factors small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe have failed to fully adopt these changes that would enhance their farming activities. Most of these farmers have rather preferred maintaining and practising their preliterate farming methods. Like most irrigation schemes Murombedzi Irrigation Scheme is self funded due to the fact that the government has failed to fund most of such projects. This has subsequently left projects such as the Murombedzi Irrigation Scheme to provide for their own agricultural needs. NGOs have in the past provided assistance to these small-scale farmers but mostly in cases of drought. This study is an assessment of the impact of beliefs and values on the adoption of agricultural change in Murombedzi Irrigation Scheme. The study investigates the extent to which beliefs and values have an effect on small-scale farmer’s access and utilization to adopting innovations. Research findings reveal that farming production in Murombedzi is low and the local farmers have been passive participants in gaining training and education that can assist them in gaining knowledge on the effectiveness of implementing innovations. However; the farmers prefer to maintain their traditional methods that have been effectively used by their fore fathers. It is a common belief among the informants that their ancestors are to be kept pleased at all times and this means practicing traditional farming which, for them, has proved to be effective in the past. As a result, this calls for an empirical research to be carried out at the grass roots level to explore the dynamics that influence the status quo on the ground. This study was conducted to help agricultural change to be implemented in small-scale farming for the benefit of agricultural production. The focus was on a local irrigation scheme that is self funded. Data was gathered using an ethnographic research design. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2013
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- Date Issued: 2013-01
The development of a putative microbial product for use in crop production
- Authors: Gumede, Halalisani
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Agricultural productivity , Agriculture -- Economic aspects , Microbial products , Bacterial diseases of plants , Biological pest control agents , Lettuce -- Diseases and pests , Crops -- Nutrition , Bacillus (Bacteria) , Phytopathogenic microorganisms -- Control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3945 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004004 , Agricultural productivity , Agriculture -- Economic aspects , Microbial products , Bacterial diseases of plants , Biological pest control agents , Lettuce -- Diseases and pests , Crops -- Nutrition , Bacillus (Bacteria) , Phytopathogenic microorganisms -- Control
- Description: The challenges faced by the agricultural sector especially around improving production yields using environmentally friendly solutions have received market attention. Biological intervention can range from application of biological products to enhance the nutritional value of crops or to control plant pathogens. Biostart, a biological product that demonstrated growth enhancement when applied in lettuce crops is currently in the market. The product is comprised of a consortium of bacterial isolates (Bacillus licheniformis, Brevibacillus laterosporus and Bacillus laterosporus) but the contribution of the individual isolates to growth enhancement had not been elucidated. Green house experiments on lettuce seedlings with individual and mixed treatments were commissioned to determine such contribution. There was either no or marginal growth enhancement observed in the experiments. The results showed that the product was effective as a consortium and not as individual isolates. Further isolation and screening for potential Bacilli with antifungal properties was undertaken. An isolate identified as Bacillus subtilis that demonstrated inhibition against a wide spectrum of fungi, and especially the phytopathogenic Verticillium dahliae and Fusarium oxysporum, was successfully identified. The isolate was cryo-preserved and cultivated to significant levels at bench scale. A characterized comparison of different putative products with known systematic fungicide showed potential application even of heat treated products. The product showed control V. dahliae when tested in green houses with potatoes and tomatoes as test crops. This isolate has been targeted for further development as a biological control product.
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- Date Issued: 2008