Spatio-temporal patterns and movement analysis of pigs from smallholder farms and implications for African swine fever spread, Limpopo province, South Africa

Infectious and zoonotic disease outbreaks have been linked to increasing volumes of legal and illegal trade. Spatio-temporal and trade network analyses have been used to evaluate the risks associated with these challenges elsewhere, but few details are available for the pig sector in South Africa. Regarding pig diseases, Limpopo province is important as the greater part of the province falls within the African swine fever control area. Emerging small-scale pig farmers in Limpopo perceived pig production as an important means of improving their livelihood and an alternative investment. They engage in trading and marketing their products with a potential risk to animal health, because the preferred markets often facilitate potential longdistance spread and disease dispersal over broad geographic areas. In this study, we explored the interconnectedness of smallholder pig farmers in Limpopo, determined the weaknesses and critical control points, and projected interventions that policy makers can implement to reduce the risks to pig health. The geo-coordinates of surveyed farms were used to draw maps, links and networks. Predictive risks to pigs were determined through the analyses of trade networks, and the relationship to previous outbreaks of African swine fever was postulated. Auction points were identified as high-risk areas for the spread of animal diseases. Veterinary authorities should prioritise focused surveillance and diagnostic efforts in Limpopo. Early disease detection and prompt eradication should be targeted and messages promoting enhanced biosecurity to smallholder farmers are advocated. The system may also benefit from the restructuring of marketing and auction networks. Since geographic factors and networks can rapidly facilitate pig disease dispersal over large areas, a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the complexities that exist around the animal disease epidemiology becomes mandatory.

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Efficiency indices and indicators of poor performance among emerging small-scale pig farmers in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research ◽

10.4102/ojvr.v81i1.774 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 81 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Japhta M. Mokoele ◽

B. Tom Spencer ◽

Leo A.M.G. Van Leengoed ◽

Folorunso O. Fasina

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Market Access ◽

Animal Health ◽

Poor Performance ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Disease Spread ◽

Small Scale ◽

Efficient Production ◽

Animal Agriculture ◽

Animal Populations

Limpopo is a very important area for pig production in terms of animal populations and contributions to transboundary animal disease spread. Emerging small-scale pig farmers (ESSPF) are being encouraged to establish operations and spread in South Africa; however, for these farmers to perform optimally, they need to understand the basics of animal agriculture and contribute to enhancing biosecurity and efficient production systems. In the present study, the limitations to efficient production amongst ESSPF were evaluated and some improvements were suggested. It was found that the ESSPF are dominated by males and include a large percentage of older persons. A total of 26.54% of these farmers have post-matriculation qualifications. Undefined and indigenous breeds still dominate their animal genetics. The animal health technicians are the preferred channels by which farmers report diseases to the authorities (52.47%) and only one out of five (20.37%) will preferably report a disease situation direct to a veterinarian. These farmers do not vaccinate their stock, and knowledge of biosecurity is poor. Antimicrobials, especially tetracyclines, are abused. Animals that are slaughtered within the community or sold at local sale points, pension pay stations and auction markets are likely candidates for disease spread. It is recommended that the younger generations are retained and incentivised in animal agriculture. Improved training on management, health, biosecurity and better market access must be provided for the ESSPF, whilst efforts should made to consolidate these farmers into small cooperatives. The current government agricultural support system will need to be reworked to benefit the resource-poor farmers. Collaborative efforts in disease reporting and management among veterinarians, animal health technicians and extension officers will become necessary. Finally, the creation of a progressive quality grading system for ESSPF should be planned by the industry and this should be attached to a reward system that will encourage these farmers to target good farming practice.

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Requirements for sustainable operation and maintenance of rural small-scale water infrastructure in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Water SA ◽

10.4314/wsa.v45i2.16 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 45 (2 April) ◽

Author(s):

MS Selala ◽

A Senzanje ◽

K Dhavu

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Service Provision ◽

Social Dynamics ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Small Scale ◽

Water Infrastructure ◽

Operation And Maintenance ◽

Sustainable Operation

This study assessed the presence of key requirements for sustainable O&M and rehabilitation of rural small-scale water infrastructure in Makhudutamaga Municipality in South Africa. The study found a significant correlation between the requirements for sustainable O&M and rehabilitation of rural small-scale water infrastructure and continuity of service provision (p < 0.001) by the small-scale water infrastructure as well as functionality (p < 0.001) of the small-scale water infrastructure hardware. The study concludes that the presence of the key requirements varies as a function of social dynamics of communities and the presence of these requirements has an impact on the functionality and continuity of the small-scale water infrastructure hardware.

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Investigation Of The Impact Of Networking Among Tenants In The Seda Limpopo Jewellery Incubator In South Africa

Balkan Region Conference on Engineering and Business Education ◽

10.2478/cplbu-2014-0005 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 23-26

Author(s):

Forbes Chiromo ◽

Goodwell Muyengwa ◽

Joseph Makuvaza

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Raw Material ◽

Small Scale ◽

Metal Fabrication ◽

The Government ◽

Set Up ◽

Training Programmes ◽

The Impact ◽

Structured Questionnaire

AbstractThis study investigates the extent to which tenants in a jewellery incubator in the Limpopo Province of South Africa network. Since 1994 SEDA has set up more than 31 incubation centres in furniture making, construction, chemicals, jewellery, ICT, metal fabrication, agriculture and small scale mining. This study was done through a survey conducted on tenants in the SEDA Limpopo Jewellery Incubator (SLJI). Information was obtained through a structured questionnaire. The study revealed how tenants benefit from networking around exhibitions and collective purchasing of raw material. Through the Incubator institutional mechanisms, the study explains how tenants share expertise, experiences, technology and resources. Unfortunately the tenants do not initiate the own networking programmes. They lose out on benefits associated with collective effort in other areas such as advertisements, lobbying the government for industrial stands, organising an newsletter, hiring of consultants, and organising joint training programmes. Lastly the study identified opportunities that the tenants could collectively exploit in order strengthen and sustain their businesses.

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Perceptions of Climate Change and Drivers of Insect Pest Outbreaks in Vegetable Crops in Limpopo Province of South Africa

Climate ◽

10.3390/cli8020027 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 27 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mutondwa Masindi Phophi ◽

Paramu Mafongoya ◽

Shenelle Lottering

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Africa ◽

Insect Pests ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Bivariate Analysis ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Dry Spells ◽

Pest Outbreaks

Vegetable production is a source of income for smallholder farmers in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Vegetable production is constrained by the negative impacts of climate change and pests. This study assessed farmers’ awareness of climate change, farmers’ knowledge of insect pests and factors that influence insect pests’ prevalence. The data were collected using quantitative and qualitative methods. The data were subjected to descriptive and bivariate analysis. About 84.5% of smallholder farmers were aware of climate change. Late rainfall (24.4%), long dry spells (15%) and increased drought frequency (19.4%) were highlighted as dominant indicators of climate change by farmers. Aphids (22.2%), Bagrada hilaris (12.5%) and Spodoptera frugiperda (10.2%) were the most prevalent insect pests within the Vhembe District. Warmer winters, dry spells and high temperatures were perceived by farmers to influence insect pests’ prevalence within the district. It can be concluded that farmers are aware of climate change and climatic factors influencing pest prevalence within the district. Pest risk maps are needed to improve the preparedness of the government and farmers in controlling insect pests under changing climates.

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Adapting to the Impacts of Drought by Smallholder Farmers in Sekhukhune District in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v7n2p115 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Sylvester Mpandeli ◽

Edward Nesamvuni ◽

Phokele Maponya

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Limpopo Province

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Overview of the perceived risk of transboundary pig diseases in South Africa

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association ◽

10.4102/jsava.v86i1.1197 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 86 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Japhta M. Mokoele ◽

Leana Janse van Rensburg ◽

Shanie Van Lochem ◽

Heinz Bodenstein ◽

Jacolette Du Plessis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Emergency Preparedness ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Animal Health ◽

African Swine Fever ◽

Health Service Delivery ◽

Scenario Tree ◽

Surveillance Systems ◽

Veterinary Services ◽

African Region

Pig production is one of the most important animal agricultural activities in South Africa, and plays a definite role in providing food security for certain population groups in the country. As with all animal production systems, it is subject to the risk of outbreak of transboundary diseases. In the present overview, evaluations of the perceived risk of selected transboundary animal diseases of pigs, as collated from the willing participants from the provincial veterinary services of South Africa, are presented. A scenario tree revealed that infected but undetected pigs were the greatest perceived threat. The provincial veterinary services, according to participants in the study, face certain difficulties, including the reporting of disease and the flow of disease information amongst farmers. Perceived strengths in surveillance and disease monitoring include the swiftness of sample despatch to the national testing laboratory, as well as the ease of flow of information between the provincial and national agricultural authorities. The four factors were identified that were perceived to most influence animal health-service delivery: transport, access, livestock policy and resources. African swine fever was perceived to be the most important pig disease in South Africa. Because the decentralisation of veterinary services in South Africa was identified as a potential weakness, it is recommended that national and provincial veterinary services need to work together and interdependently to achieve centrally controlled surveillance systems. Regionally-coordinated surveillance activities for certain transboundary diseases were identified as needing priority for the southern African region. It is proposed that an emergency preparedness document be made available and regularly revised according to the potential risks identified on a continuous basis for South Africa.

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