How Efficient Are African Smallholders? A Case Study in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

Abstract

Onc of tllCaims of the South Africa" govcrnmcnt is to crcatchigher incomeopportunitiesfor the previously disadvantagedblack community. In agriculture, this would involve reestablishingand supporting diverseforms of successful blackagriculture. The main objective of this paper is to debatethe issue of opportunity cost assumptions in the calculation of comparativeadvantageindicatorsfor smallholders.This study revealsthat thesefarmers can produceefficiently, evenwhen subjectedto opportunity cost assumptionsthat apply to their traditionally white commercialcounterparts. Given additional prospectsfor strong linkages with the rest of the rural economy,speedyimplementationof public investmentprogrammes is warrantedsoas to level theplaying field in theagricultural and rural economy

Do Smallholder Farmers Need Nutrition Education? A Case Study from KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

“…The concept of smallholder or small-scale farming has been usually regarded as "non-productive, non-commercial, subsistence farming... [which] contributes very little to the economy as a whole and the to the welfare and livelihoods of rural dwellers" (Kirsten & van Zyl 1998). But, studies have demonstrated that small-scale farming can be profitable and viable (Ngqangweni et al, 2001). Smallholder farmers are classified as subsistence farmers and emerging farmers.…”

Agricultural production in Greater Sekhukhune: the future for food security in a poverty node of South Africa?

“…As a result, food security is largely about direct or indirect access to cash to purchase food. The majority of income of rural households is accrued in the form of employment, remittances from migrant workers and from welfare payments (Ngqangweni et al, 2001;Seekings, 2000).…”