Value‐added weather advisories for small‐scale farmers in South Africa delivered via mobile apps †

Background: Resource-poor small-scale farmers often cannot afford the high prices of chemical insecticides to control pests on crops; as a result, some use botanical insecticides. Aim: The aim of the study was to document ethnobotanical pest control methods used by rural small-scale farmers to control pests of cabbage in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Setting: 217 rural small-scale crop-producing farmers from 14 towns in the Amathole, Joe Gqabi, Alfred Nzo, Chris Hani and OR Tambo Districts participated in the study. Methods: Questionnaires were administered to consenting farmers between July and November in 2012, using the convenience and stratified purposive sampling techniques. Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. Results: The majority of farmers using botanical insecticides were females above the age of 60 years. The farmers identified 23 plants, which they use in their pest control strategies against seven pests of cabbage. The annual herb Tagetes minuta L. (Asteraceae) was cited as the most commonly used herb by 47% of the respondents, followed by Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (Chenopodiceae), Aloe ferox Mills. (Asphodelaceae) and Nicotiana tabacum L. (Solanaceae). Various plant parts were used in combinations or alone in the preparation of formulations mainly against aphids, cutworms and the diamondback moth. Conclusion: The plants, plant parts, combinations and formulations used by farmers in their cabbage pest control strategies need to be scientifically authenticated for efficacy.

Effect of Irrigation on Poverty among Small-Scale Farmers in Limpopo Province of South Africa

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v3n3p190 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Majory Ongie Meliko ◽

Stephen A. Oni

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Small Scale ◽

Small Scale Farmers

Socio-economic determinants of small-scale farmers’ fruit trees leaf litter utilization for soil fertility management in a sub-tropical environment: The case of Mpumalanga, South Africa

African Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.5897/ajar11.1330 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 6 (32) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

N. R. Murovhi

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Leaf Litter ◽

Fruit Trees ◽

Tropical Environment ◽

Small Scale ◽

Soil Fertility Management ◽

Economic Determinants ◽

Fertility Management ◽

Small Scale Farmers

Transactional Costs Inhibiting Sustainable Entrepreneurial Agrarian Growth: Reflective Evidence from Small scale Farmers (SSFs) in South Africa

Journal of Human Ecology ◽

10.1080/09709274.2016.11906990 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 54 (2) ◽

pp. 87-100

Author(s):

Job Dubihlela ◽

Charles Park

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Small Scale ◽

Small Scale Farmers ◽

Transactional Costs

Small-scale Farming and Access to Market: Challenges and Opportunities in South Africa

Journal La Sociale ◽

10.37899/journal-la-sociale.v2i5.491 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (5) ◽

pp. 50-63

Author(s):

Confidence Ndlovu ◽

Mandla Masuku

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Food Security ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Household Income ◽

Crop Production ◽

Arable Land ◽

Policy Formulation ◽

Small Scale ◽

Limited Access ◽

Small Scale Farmers

The paper has aimed to explore the effectiveness of small-scale farmers in improving household income and food security, particularly looking at the barriers to market access in rural areas. This study was undertaken in rural areas of Kanyamazane, Clau-Clau and Nyongane, South Africa, where small-scale producers depend on low-risk and low-return markets to generate household income from production, thus ensuring food security. To achieve the aim of this study, a qualitative approach was used to provide in-depth interpretation of the perspectives, experiences, and behavioural patterns of the small-scale farmers faced with market related issues. Small-scale farmers, agricultural extension officers, and municipal officials were purposefully selected to share their views, perceptions, and experiences on the effectiveness in accessing markets. The findings revealed that there was limited access to formal markets by small-scale farmers because of limited knowledge and capacity to meet market requirements. The study confirmed that a lack of marketing skills, institutional support services, and limited access to arable land, have directly negative effects on achieving livelihood outcomes. This study recommends a sustainable crop production method which reduces the costs of farming resources, such as pesticide and fertilizer, through organic methods to ensure food safety and enhanced nutrient quality. This study further encourages inclusive rural development, where small-scale producers are treated as stakeholders in agricultural policy formulation to enable access to financial resources and increase in production through the formation of cooperatives.

Impact of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (J.E. Smith) on small-scale maize farmers and its control strategies in the Limpopo province, South Africa

Jàmbá Journal of Disaster Risk Studies ◽

10.4102/jamba.v13i1.1016 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mankwana C. Makgoba ◽

Phumudzo P. Tshikhudo ◽

Livhuwani R. Nnzeru ◽

Rudzani A. Makhado

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Spodoptera Frugiperda ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Fall Armyworm ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Control Measures ◽

Small Scale ◽

Local Market ◽

Cropping Season ◽

Small Scale Farmers

South Africa experienced major outbreaks of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), causing direct damage by feeding on both vegetative and reproductive parts of host plant. The study was conducted to determine the level of impact of fall armyworm on small-scale maize famers after the outbreak of fall armyworm and their control strategies at Ga-Mashashane and Mankweng villages in the Limpopo province. Semi-structured questionnaire was designed to gather information on the damage caused by fall armyworm, economic impact on the local market and control measures on fall armyworm. Using a snowball sampling procedure, 63 small-scale maize farmers from the two villages of the Limpopo province, South Africa, were randomly selected for this study. The results showed that all participants could correctly identify the fall armyworm and reported it as the most important maize pest during 2016–2017 cropping season. The maize yield loss experienced by affected farmers in the 2016–2017 cropping season was slightly lower as compared with the 2015–2016 harvest. These farmers used pesticides as a control measure for fall armyworm. Fall armyworm has become a major pest in South Africa and the tackling of fall armyworm by small-scale farmers and averting yield losses is thus critical. This study contributes to the knowledge on fall armyworm management by small-scale farmers, which is essential to enhancing food security.