Comparison of two Agricultural Irrigation Schemes in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Abstract

The study compared two smallholder agricultural irrigation schemes in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Random selection was adopted and a total of 120 households were chosen from the two study sites. The descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for data interpretation and analysis. In Zanyokwe and Shiloh schemes: findings reveal that farm experience (β=-.077) and (β=-118), size of farmland (β=9.970) and (β.013), permission to occupy (β=.970) and (β-439), farm resources (β=-1.430) and (β=1.993), water for irrigation (β=1.299) and β=2.197), access to market information (β=.768) and β=-807), and production output (β=-1.390) and β=-2.330) were significant variables influencing the choice to continue farming on both schemes. The major constraints of beneficiaries were low farm income, inadequate land size, and inadequate farm assets. The study concluded that motivation and involvement of farmers in policy decision making remains critical for success. It is therefore, recommended that training to prepare farmers with multiple skills in sustainable agriculture is paramount.

Agro-Investments among Small Farm Business Entrepreneurs in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution: A Case in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

“…This suggests that as farm size increases, the log odds of the perception of small farm business entrepreneurs on agro-investment in the fourth industrial revolution, provided all other variables are kept constant, decreases by 0.457. These findings on farm size are negated by those in a study undertaken by Agholor (2014) on the analysis of decision-making in smallholder irrigation practice in Shiloh and Zanyokwe irrigation schemes in Central Eastern Cape, South Africa. University of Fort Hare, Alice.…”

Evaluating Inspiring Factors and Obstacles in the Start-Up of Owned Agri-Preneurial Businesses: Underlying Evidence from South Africa

“…Value affirmation assists in reinforcing individual integrity, an assurance of self-worth in an investment environment, and the ability to take independence decision. Individuals with low self-esteem are seldom able to make proactive decisions (Agholor 2019). Although the affirmation value did not indicate a positive relationship for agri-preneurial investment decision making, it is worth noting that self-affirmation assists entrepreneurs to conquer some business hurdles (Table 13).…”

“…According to the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen 1991), intention foretells human behavior, and is contingent on the belief held by an individual towards an identifiable behavior. Additionally, studies (Agholor 2019;Forouzanfar et al 2016) have observed that some socio-demographic variables were associated with the adoption behavior of farmers in the use of innovative practices. The purpose of the psychological theory of entrepreneurship is to illustrate the behavioral factors that provoke or inspire individuals to become entrepreneurs (Zimmerman and Chu 2013), focusing on the rationale for achievement, pride of ownership, disposition, and willingness to take risk (Kerr et al 2018).…”