The objective of this study was to determine factors affecting smallholder cattle farmers’ participation in high-value cattle markets in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District, South Africa. A total of 109 smallholder cattle farmers were randomly selected and interviewed by using structured questionnaire. Descriptive and probit regression analysis were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science. The results revealed that the majority of the farmers: were males, married, not formally educated, had less than 10years of cattle farming experience, did not participate in the most rewarding channels, used informal markets, received higher prices from the cattle markets nearer and regularly used. The statistically significant variables found to influence the cattle farmers’ participation in the high value formal markets from the probit regression analyses were number of heifers (Z=2.742: Sig. 0.006), keep farm-records (Z=2.611: Sig. 0.009), years in cattle farming (Z=-2.451: Sig. 0.014), and slaughtering cattle and selling as carcass (Z=-1.899: Sig. 0.054)
Enormous Literature indicates that agriculture remains a source of livelihood for about 86% of rural people and generates job opportunities for approximately 1.3 billion small-scale farmers and landless workers. Over the past couple of years, the South African government has been offering varied support to households that are engaged in small-scale farming to improve their livelihoods, income and food security. Although the various rounds of the General Households Survey (GHS) gathered information on the type of agricultural support received by the farmers about their food production, agricultural income and food security status, there is still limited pragmatic evidence on the extent to which programme is yielding the intended results. The main aim of the study was to use GHS data spanning the period 2013 to 2016 to assess how government agricultural development support influences the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in South Africa. Using both descriptive analyses with Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Logistics estimations, the result of the study indicates that the proportion of households who have access to the agricultural development support have decreased marginally by two percent from 16% in 2013 to 14% in 2016. The study also reveals that agriculture development assistance given by the South African government is effective in reducing food insecurity, improving agricultural production and income of the beneficiary small-scale farmers. Following the observed marked gender, racial and geographical differences in households’ access to the agricultural development support, the Ministry of Agriculture and its allied ministries and departments responsible for the implementation of the agricultural development support programmes must streamline policies to account for the lack of support to farmers in general. Addressing such differences is necessary to ensure that the programme achieves its intended overall objectives.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine the effects of socio-economic factors of land redistribution for agricultural development project beneficiaries on savings in the North West Province, South Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
A binary logistic regression model was employed to determine the effects of socio-economic factors of project beneficiaries on their savings.
Findings
The results show that the average number of trainings attended by the beneficiaries, the proportion of youth per project and the average net farm income of the project positively and significantly influence the level of savings by the beneficiaries. About 62 percent of the beneficiaries did not have savings; thus, only 38 percent of beneficiaries had savings. Of the 38 percent who had savings, the majority (77 percent) had an annual net farm income of less than R1,000. Only 2 percent of the projects had an annual net farm income of more than R10,000.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of this study are valuable to policymakers dealing with the issue of land reform and could shed some light on how land redistribution can achieve its intended purposes. These findings should be granted serious consideration when formulating policies aimed at improving savings within collective groups.
Practical implications
The findings of this study have revealed the importance of training and participation of youth in influencing savings. As well, the findings imply that an organization or household with a health income have a higher propensity of saving.
Social implications
The research findings point out to the importance of saving. With savings, a household is in a better position to deal with situations that arises in case of emergency.
Originality/value
This paper is among the few studies to analyze the determinants of savings at a group or project level. Most studies are done at household or individual level.
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