scholarly journals Technical Efficiency of African Indigenous Vegetable Production in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 778-786
Author(s):  
V. S. Mulaudzi ◽  
A.S. Oyekale ◽  
P. Ndou
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Indigenous Vegetables ◽  
Vhembe District

AbstractAfrican indigenous vegetables (AIVs) have long been known in South African rural communities as essential food that is being consumed with starchy staples, and their consumption has increased over the past few decades. There is now a growing interest and awareness of AIVs due to their nutritional benefits and outstanding potential to generate farm incomes. However, several factors are militating against their production along the supply chains of value addition. This study analysed the technical efficiency of AIVs production in Vhembe district of Limpopo province. The data were collected from 114 AIVs farmers through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data analysis was carried out using Stochastic Frontier model via the Cobb-Douglas production function. The results revealed that the average age and years of farming experiences of the farmers were 59.6 and 30.9 years respectively. About 84% of the farmers lacked access to formal credit, while 92% had access to extension services. Elasticity values of land area cultivated, fertiliser, seeds, labour and tractor days in relation to AIV production were 0.4441, 0.1749, 0.1311, 0.2663 and 0.2360 respectively. Furthermore, the results revealed that average technical efficiency in the production of indigenous vegetables was 0.79%. The variables that significantly influenced technical inefficiency were years of schooling, extension services, gender and access to the irrigation system. In conclusion, production of AIV exhibits decreasing returns to scale. However, promotion of AIV production and efficiency requires consideration of gender issues in accessing resources, educational attainments of farmers, access to irrigation services and proper reorientation of the components of agricultural extension services delivery in order to benefit AIV farmers.

scholarly journals Effect of Extension Training on Technical Efficiency of Maize Farmers in Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone of Oyo State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 210-217
Author(s):  
Akintonde J. Oluwole ◽  
Akintaro O. Segun ◽  
Rahman S. Bayonle
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Interview Schedule ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Multistage Sampling ◽  
Selection Of

The efficiency of any entrepreneur is a function of personal production skill, knowledge and experience acquired over time and exposure via training in the field of his or her enterprise focus. It is on this premise that this study examined the effect of extension training on technical efficiency of maize farmers in Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone, Oyo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was adopted for the selection of One-hundred and Eighty-One (181) maize farmers, while structured and validated interview schedule was used to obtain necessary information from the sampled respondents. Data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The mean age of sampled farmers was 48 years and majority (80.1%) of the farmers was male. The farmers with extension contact have access to different extension trainings on maize production in the study area. The average household sizes were 7 and 8, with the average farm sizes of 1.423ha and 1.417ha for both contact and non-contact maize farmers respectively. Those farmers with extension contact were found to be technically efficient than non-contact farmers. Significant relationship existed between some selected socio-economic characteristics of both sampled maize farmers and their maize output. The study therefore suggests the need to create more awareness on the roles of extension services on crop production among farmers and the authorities concern with extension service delivery should improve on the frequency of extension contact in order to encourage farmers' participation in extension activities in the study area and rural communities in Nigeria at large. Keywords: Extension training, technical efficiency, contact and non-contact maize farmers.

scholarly journals Tourism policy and environmental impacts in Musina municipality: lessons from a case study of failure

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Azwindini Isaac Ramaano
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Development Policy ◽  
Tourism Development ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Vhembe District

Purpose Musina municipality is one of the driest regions in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It is, like many rural communities within the country, a low-income area. Nonetheless, being embedded within the tourism-orientated landscape of the Vhembe district in Limpopo, it possesses the potential for community-based tourism. This study aims to review the perception and application of tourism development policy in the Municipality using primary and secondary data. The study discovered poor enforcement of tourism development policy paired with a substandard knowledge of sustainable and responsible tourism principles. Consequently, the negative environmental impacts of tourism activities had exacerbated. The study recommends a need for improved policy implementation and strategies to advance local communities’ livelihoods while also managing natural resources.

scholarly journals Factors influencing the uptake of contraception services by Vatsonga adolescents in rural communities of Vhembe District in Limpopo Province, South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel T. Lebese ◽  
Sonto M. Maputle ◽  
Dorah U. Ramathuba ◽  
Lunic B. Khoza
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Health Beliefs ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Comprehensive Knowledge ◽  
Data Saturation ◽  
Open Coding ◽  
Vhembe District

The aim of the study was to determine the factors that influence the uptake of contraception services by adolescents in the Vhembe district of Limpopo Province, South Africa. A qualitative research method which is explorative, descriptive and contextual in nature was used to investigate the phenomenon from the adolescents’ perspective. The target population comprised of adolescents residing in one of the six villages of Vhembe District. Data was collected through six focus group discussions until data saturation was achieved. Data was analysed using an open coding method. The findings revealed that adolescents are aware of the availability of contraceptive services. However, they lack a comprehensive knowledge about contraception and contraceptives, which led to negative attitudes towards using the services. Cultural health beliefs and attitudes were also identified as a barrier to the uptake and use of contraceptives. Recommendations were made on interventions to increase the uptake of contraception services amongst adolescents.Die doel met die studie was om te bepaal watter faktore beïnvloed adolessente in die Vembe distrik van Limpopo Provinsie, Suid Afrika se besluit om voorbehoedmiddels te gebruik. ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode wat eksploratief, beskrywend en kontekstueel van aard is, is gebruik om die fenomeen vanuit die perspektief van die adolessent te ondersoek. Data is ingewin deur ses fokusgroepbesprekings todat ’n punt van dataversadiging bereik is. Data is met behulp van oop kodeering geanaliseer. Bevindinge het getoon dat die adolessente wel bewus is van die beskikbaarheid van voorbehoeddienste, alhoewel hulle kennis van voorbehoeding en voorbehoedmiddels gebrekkig is, en dit het tot ’n negatiewe houding jeens die gebruik van die dienste gelei. Kulturele en kulturele gesondheidsgelowe gelowe en houdings is ook geidentifiseer as ’n hindernis tot die gebruik van voorbehoedmiddels. Aanbevelings is gemaak ten opsigte van intervensies om die gebruik van voorbehoeddienste onder adolessente te bevorder.

scholarly journals Analysis of technical efficiency of small-scale commercial farmers in Vhembe district

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-104
Author(s):  
M. Muzekenyi ◽  
J. Zuwarimwe ◽  
B.M. Kilonzo
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Stochastic Frontier Analysis ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Stochastic Production Frontier ◽  
Frontier Analysis ◽  
Commercial Farming ◽  
The Government ◽  
Vhembe District

Small-scale commercial farmers are regarded as the strategic avenue to achieve meaningful development in rural areas of South Africa.  The government acknowledged that the inclusion of small-scale commercial farming in its development strategies. The paper aims to measure the efficiency of small-scale commercial farming enterprises in Vhembe District in Limpopo Province. Quantitative data were collected from 217 small-scale commercial farmers using structured questionnaires. The data were standardized using a farming enterprise budget system and analysed using the maximum likelihood and stochastic frontier analysis. The results revealed that aggregate output was positive and significantly influenced by age, education level, farm experience, farm labour, and government grants. However, the projected stochastic production frontier model combined with the efficiency parameters showed that labour and credit computed a negative effect on technical efficiency. The results indicated that the average level of technical efficiency ranged between 20% and 96% with a mean of 54%. This indicates that there is potential to increase production among small-scale commercial farmers in the study area by 46 % through efficient use of existing resources. As such, the local government should provide necessary supports such as formal agriculture training, access to credit and information to increase productivity.

scholarly journals The Impact of Agricultural Extension Service in Improving Vegetable Production in the West Coast Region of the Gambia

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 156
Author(s):  
Lamin K M Fatty ◽  
Prof. Idu Ogbe Ode
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Agricultural Extension Service ◽  
Production Technologies ◽  
The Impact

The study attempts to look at the role of Agricultural Extension Services in the improvement of vegetable production. Six vegetables schemes in Western Region of the Gambia for agricultural extension support and non- agricultural extension services support schemes were selected. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select sixty women producers for all the six garden schemes and three Agricultural Extension Agents. Majority of the respondents highlighted inadequate water/irrigation facilities, high cost of farm inputs/implements and, pests and diseases as the major constraints to production especially the non- vegetable support schemes. Occasional glut of vegetables in the market, in adequate transport, inadequate storage facilities and limited marketing outlets were marketing constraints which have adversely affected their production and income level. The authorities and Ministry of Agriculture should double efforts to enhance the number and capacity of Agricultural Extension Services for the successful dissemination of production technologies to non- vegetable support schemes, so that production and income can be improved.

scholarly journals Institutional Factors Affecting Farmers’ Decision to Adapt to Climate Change

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Mpho Tshikororo ◽  
Phineas Khazamula Chauke ◽  
Jethro Zuwarimwe
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Institutional Factors ◽  
Cluster Sampling ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Extension Services

Adaptation to climate change has become the global focal point especially in recent years. Researchers have defined adaptation to climate change as an effective way for farmers to survive in the face of the scourge. This paper investigated how institutional factors plays a role in farmers’ decision to adapt to climate change. The population of the study was emerging farmers drawn from five districts of the Limpopo province of South Africa. The study used a two-stage cluster sampling technique to select a sample size of 206 emerging farmers. The dependent variable of the study was farmers’ decision to adapt to climate change while the explanatory variables consisted of institutional factors such as access to extension services, farmers’ organisation, membership and access to climate change information. Binary Logistic Regression model was used to determine emerging farmers’ decision to adapt to climate change in Limpopo province. The results showed that institutional factors such as access to both weather information and extension services together with special training on climate change adaptation significantly influenced farmers’ decision to adapt. Therefore, the study recommended participation of different stakeholders to provide institutional support to farmers and thus enhance their extent to adaptation.

scholarly journals Views of utilizing sustainable tourism to improve community sustenance: a case study of the impoverished rural communities of Musina Municipality

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Azwindini Isaac Ramaano
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Sustainable Tourism ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Questionnaire Surveys ◽  
Vhembe District ◽  
Tourism Community

PurposeThis study assesses the “possibilities of utilizing sustainable tourism to improve community sustenance in Musina Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa.”Design/methodology/approachTherefore, to competently discern the implications of tourism in Musina Municipality, data got accumulated by questionnaire surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, document reviews and field observations. Thus, Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet and Cross-Tabulation Analysis provided both quantitative and qualitative data analyses.FindingsThe study identified immense tourism potentials attached to low tourism influences and privileges on the local community's advancement. The relationships and contributory factors pointing to the present and latent tourism situations in Musina Municipality got critiqued. The study inferred that the Musina Municipality is well enriched with tourism potentials and necessitates a fitting tourism plan to profits the locals.Originality/valueMusina Municipality is one of the driest districts in the remote North of Limpopo Province, South Africa. It is aggregated by meager livelihoods of rural communities, as do most rural communities abroad. However, the Municipality exemplifies some of the numerous tourism-based areas in the Vhembe District of Limpopo. The undertakings of tourism, community sustenance and sustainable promotion have been more proceeding to the lead. However, diverse investigations neglect to efficiently estimate the fundamental points and the complete functions of multiple forms of tourism in community development within many rural expanses.

scholarly journals Agriculture extension service delivery in a semi-arid rural area in South Africa: The case study of Thorndale in the Limpopo province

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (59) ◽  
pp. 8034-8057
Author(s):  
DA Akpalu ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Extension Service ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Extension Services

Poverty, geographical isolation and being poorly served by agricultural workers, education, health, transport, communication and other services characterise the rural environment in most developing countries. Agricultural productivity and its associated agricultural extension services are important to the livelihood activities of rural communities. As a result rural communities require access to productive services information on input supply, new technologies, early warning systems for drought (pests and diseases), credit, and market prices. Agricultural extension service has been identified as an important part of the intended transformation of the agricultural sector. In South Africa, farmers consider the effectiveness of extension services in relation to receiving technological information and advice for purposes of crop and livestock production. The paper discusses the role of agricultural extension services in agricultural production in Thorndale, situated in the Savannah biome of the Bushbuckridge region in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. A questionnaire survey was used in the collection of data. The results indicated that the majority of the farmers do not have access to the services of extension officers. Yet, some farmers have infrequent contacts with extension officers and information, and the magnitude of extension services have been restricted to verbal instructions rather than demonstrative, innovative and hands on practical guidance to farmers. The majority of the respondents approximately 97% are farmers who engage in agricultural production, consisted of small-scale approximately 97% and commercial 3% farmers. The approximately 38% of households who have had contacts with extension officers indicated that the advice and assistance they received entailed farming practices such as buying seeds needed for crop production and storage of the produce harvested for eventualities such as drought or famine. Others include nursery making, correct crop spacing and fertilizer application, planting, transplanting, herbicide application, timely planting and early weeding. The study concluded that extension officers need to visit and guide rural farmers regularly with improved farming technologies and services. Further, capacity development and logistical assistance should be strengthened towards improving the current extension services to the rural communities.

scholarly journals Effect of COVID-19 on the Marketing of Eggs: Case of Egg Layer Projects during the Pandemic in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (1-3) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Nesengani
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Local Market ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
College Of Agriculture ◽  
The Government ◽  
Vhembe District

ABSTRACT The government of South Africa assisted beneficiaries with the establishment of projects to help alleviate poverty and create jobs in the country. Several projects were established amongst them: broiler production, vegetable production, and egg layer production. The focus of this study is on egg layer production. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on the marketing of eggs in the Vhembe district of Limpopo province, South Africa. In this study, the research design, which involved investigating the effect of COVID-19 on the marketing of eggs during the pandemic in the Vhembe district, using qualitative and explorative research was employed. The study employed focus group discussions where 7 members of the project from a total of 3 projects were interviewed. Egg layer projects have experienced a market loss of eggs during the past three months, structured interviews were also carried out with 1 extension officer in the college of agriculture who is responsible for conducting training and monitoring of such projects. The coded data were then analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS version 22). The egg layer projects were facing the low market return of egg sales because of competition with commercial farmers who bring the stock to the local market. In conclusion, it is presumed that the results of this study would lead to informed decisions by the department of agriculture in terms of arranging markets and making sure that the commercial farmers do not compete with the projects in terms of prices of eggs.

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