Drought Adaptation Measures and Risk Tolerance of Commercial, Small-Scale and Subsistence Maize Farmers in the Free State and North West Province of South Africa

2013 ◽  
pp. 143-165
Author(s):  
W. Durand
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Risk Tolerance ◽  
Free State ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Drought Adaptation ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
North West ◽  
North West Province

An Exploratory Study in to the Benefits and Challenges Facing Small-Scale Farmers in the Taung Irrigation Scheme, North West Province, South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-39
Author(s):  
Gabriel Ekobi ◽  
Lovelyne Mboh
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Institutional Structure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Irrigation Scheme ◽  
North West ◽  
North West Province ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Made In

This study examined the benefits and challenges small-scale farmers faced in the Taung irrigation scheme. Irrigation schemes have been identified as the backbone in promoting agriculture in South Africa. Nevertheless, literature have shown that very few studies have been conducted on the benefits and challenges facing small-scale farmers in irrigation schemes, there is a need to supplement this gap. The findings contend that Taung irrigation scheme enabled small-scale framers to generate income. Income made in the scheme permitted small-scale farmers to purchase gardening tools such as watering cans, cattle ploughs and hoes to improve productivity. The scheme also provides a platform for farmers to produce more food therefore, a reduction in poverty incidence in the area. However, challenges such as lack of market, absence of institutional structure, farming capital, transport and loss of harvest through theft are affecting farmers on the scheme. Institutional structure is needed since it allows small-scale farmers to make decision regarding management of the scheme.

scholarly journals Participatory rural appraisal to investigate constraints in reporting cattle mortalities in the Odi district of North West Province, South Africa

2005 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
C.N. Makgatho ◽  
C.M.E. McCrindle ◽  
J.H. Owen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Causes Of Death ◽  
Participatory Rural Appraisal ◽  
The State ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Veterinary Services ◽  
North West ◽  
Animal Diseases ◽  
North West Province ◽  
Rural Appraisal

Mortalities in cattle can have severe financial implications for small scale and communal farmers in South Africa. They could also be a measurable indicator for surveillance of animal diseases, such as those listed by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), or diseases included in the regulations of the South African Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act 35 of 1984). In order to prevent further mortalities and for accurate surveillance and monitoring of diseases, it is important that farmers participate in the determination of causes of mortality in their cattle. This paper reports on constraints of the reporting diseases to the state veterinary services, the study area being Odi district, in the North West Province. The method that was followed was based on participatory rural appraisal. The selected cattle owners participated in every phase. They were the ones who first spoke to veterinary services about ways to decrease the diseases and mortalities of their cattle. A questionnaire to verify the facts complemented the survey. A total number of 60 farmers were randomly selected from 12 villages. One farmer withdrew, leaving 59 farmers. Most of the farmers in the study were men (n = 55). The area of study was communal and the farming system traditional and extensive. It was suspected that there was a communication problem and this was proven by the results of the research, as 23 farmers were not even aware that mortalities have to be reported by law. The real problem was that causes of death were not being diagnosed because farmers were not aware that a necropsy could give information on the causes of death. Farmers were keen to receive training in elementary necropsy techniques so as to be able to discuss the cause of death of cattle with the state veterinarian.

scholarly journals Irrigation Water Value at Small-scale Schemes: Evidence from the North West Province, South Africa

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Speelman ◽  
S. Farolfi ◽  
S. Perret ◽  
L. D'haese ◽  
M. D'haese
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Water Value ◽  
North West Province

scholarly journals Optimal feeding systems for small-scale dairy herds in the North West Province, South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Patience Manzana ◽  
Cheryl M.E. McCrindle ◽  
P. Julius Sebei ◽  
Leon Prozesky
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
The Body ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Situational Analysis ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
North West ◽  
North West Province ◽  
Feeding Systems ◽  
Small Scale Dairy

Land redistribution was legislated in 1994; it was designed to resolve historical imbalances inland ownership in South Africa. Between 2002 and 2006, a longitudinal observational studywas conducted with 15 purposively selected small-scale dairy farmers in a land redistributionproject in Central North West Province. Four farmers left the project over the period. For thepurposes of this study, a small-scale dairy farm was defined as a farm that produces less than500 L of milk a day, irrespective of the number of cows or size of the farm. The study wasconducted in three phases. In the first phase, situational analysis using participatory ruralappraisal (PRA) and observation was used to outline the extent of the constraints and designappropriate interventions. Feeds that were used were tested and evaluated. In the secondphase, three different feeding systems were designed from the data obtained from PRA. Thesewere: (1) A semi-intensive farm-based ration using available crops, pastures and crop residueswith minimal rations purchased. (2) An intensive, zero-grazing dairy system using a totalmixed ration. (3) A traditional, extensive or dual-purpose system, where the calf drank fromthe cow until weaning and milking was done only once a day. In the third phase, adoptionwas monitored. By July 2006, all remaining farmers had changed to commercially formulatedrations or licks and the body condition score of the cows had improved. It was concluded thatveterinary extension based on PRA and a holistic systems approach was a good option forsuch complex problems. Mentoring by commercial dairy farmers, veterinary and extensionservices appeared to be viable. Further research should be done to optimise the traditionalmodel of dairy farming, as this was relatively profitable, had a lower risk and was less labourintensive.

scholarly journals Ixodid ticks on indigenous goats owned by small-scale farmers in four communal grazing areas in South Africa

2002 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N.R. Bryson ◽  
G.A. Tice ◽  
I.G. Horak ◽  
C.G. Stewart ◽  
B.A.J. Du Plessis
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Ixodid Tick ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
North West ◽  
North West Province ◽  
Indigenous Goats ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Indigenous goats belonging to small-scale farmers in 4 communal grazing areas in South Africa were sampled for ixodid ticks during the period September 1991 to May 1993. Three of these areas were in the North West Province (Rietgat, Madinyane and Bethany), and one in Mpumalanga Province (Geluk). No tick control was practised unless requested by the owners. Seven ixodid tick species, of which the majority were immature ticks, were collected from the goats in North West Province. Amblyomma hebraeum was the most numerous of these, followed by Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. Substantially more ticks were collected from goats at Rietgat than at the Madinyane and Bethany grazing areas. Five tick species were collected at Geluk and R. evertsi evertsi comprised more than 95 % of the total population. At Rietgat and Geluk A. hebraeum nymphs were present on goats throughout the year, while most R appendiculatus nymphs were collected during September and October 1991 and most adults during January and February 1992. At both Rietgat and Geluk most immature R. evertsi evertsi were collected from spring to late summer, while adults were present throughout the year.

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