scholarly journals Value Chain-Induced Constraints Limiting Scale of Conservation Agriculture in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Johann von Loeper ◽  
Scott Drimie ◽  
James Blignaut
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Conservation Agriculture

scholarly journals Analysing challenges facing smallholder farmers and conservation agriculture in South Africa: A system dynamics approach

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 747-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Von Loeper ◽  
Josephine Musango ◽  
Alan Brent ◽  
Scott Drimie
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
System Dynamics ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Access To Credit

Smallholder farmers in South Africa find it challenging to participate in the modern economy. Most of these farmers have limited access to credit and insurance, and to markets in which to sell their produce. This paper reviews ethnographic research data and argues that smallholder farmers struggle to take part in modern agricultural value chains in South Africa. System dynamics modelling is used to understand the dynamics relating to agricultural value-chain participants, and to determine whether the ethnographic research data is sufficient to answer the question as to which value-chain participants potentially have the largest impact on smallholder farmers. The modelling results show that banks may have the potential to trigger an impact on smallholder farmers’ productivity that could then attract other value-chain industries to take part in efforts to support these farmers. Smallholder farmers could become a long-term viable and sustainable option for increasing food security in South Africa. However, this study has its limitations. The data used from existing ethnographic research, conducted by way of semi-structured interviews with valuechain participants, is limited and is not able to answer questions such as: (i) how much each industry is prepared to engage with smallholder farmers in the event of other industries being prepared to do the same; and (ii) how long it will take each industry to react to a willingness to engage. Ongoing research is required to extend the interviewee base and data in order to answer these questions and for the model to be completed and used for policy guidance.

Conservation agriculture innovation systems build climate resilience for smallholder farmers in South Africa.

2022 ◽  
pp. 345-360
Author(s):  
Erna Kruger ◽  
Hendrik Smith ◽  
Phumzile Ngcobo ◽  
Mazwi Dlamini ◽  
Temakholo Mathebula
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Learning Groups ◽  
Successful Model ◽  
Smart Agriculture

Abstract Introduction of Conservation Agriculture (CA) and associated climate-resilient agriculture practices within an innovation system approach, and using farmer-level experimentation and learning groups as the primary learning and social empowerment processes, has created a sustainable and expanding farming alternative for smallholders that is improving their resilience to climate change substantially. Through a knowledge co-creation process, smallholder farmers in the programme have adapted and incorporated a wide range of practices into their farming system, including minimum soil disturbance, close spacing, improved varieties, judicious use of fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides, crop diversification, intercropping and crop rotation as well as fodder production and livestock integration. They have organized themselves into learning groups, local savings and loan associations, water committees, farmer centres and cooperatives and in so doing have created innovation platforms for local value chain development. They have built ongoing relationships with other smallholders, NGOs, academic institutions, government extension services and agribusiness suppliers, and have promoted CA tirelessly within their local communities and social networks. To date, this is the most successful model for implementation of CA in smallholder farming in South Africa and, through networking and upscaling activities, is being promoted nationally as a strategic approach to smallholder adaptation and mitigation programming, in line with the Africa climate smart agriculture (CSA) Vision 25×25 (NEPAD, Malabo, June 2014).

scholarly journals The competitive status of the South African Wheat Industry

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 651-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Van der Merwe ◽  
Philippus Cloete ◽  
Herman Van Schalkwyk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
South African ◽  
Wheat Flour ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
The South ◽  
Wheat Market ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Trade Partners

This article investigates the competitiveness of the South African wheat industry and compares it to its major trade partners. Since 1997, the wheat-to-bread value chain has been characterised by concentration of ownership and regulation. This led to concerns that the local wheat market is losing international competitiveness. The competitive status of the wheat industry, and its sub-sectors, is determined through the estimation of the relative trade advantage (RTA). The results revealed declining competitiveness of local wheat producers. Compared to the major global wheat producers, such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany and the USA, South Africa’s unprocessed wheat industry is uncompetitive. At the same time, South Africa has a competitive advantage in semi-processed wheat, especially wheat flour. The institutional environment enables the importation of raw wheat at lower prices and exports processed wheat flour competitively to the rest of Africa.

scholarly journals Game On! Understanding the Emerging Game Meat Value Chain in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindokuhle Khumalo Khumalo ◽  
Melanie Sommerville Sommerville ◽  
Shirley Brooks Brooks ◽  
Tariro Kamuti Kamuti
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Game Meat

A history of conservation agriculture in South Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
JA Strauss ◽  
PA Swanepoel ◽  
H Smith ◽  
EH Smit
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
History Of

Value Chains and Industrial Development in South Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 374-395
Author(s):  
Mike Morris ◽  
Justin Barnes ◽  
David Kaplan
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Automotive Industry ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
African Region ◽  
Skill Intensity ◽  
Import And Export ◽  
Managerial Capabilities

This chapter focuses on the dynamics of global value chains (GVC) engagement and industrial development in South Africa through two case studies—the automotive and textiles/apparel sectors. The further industrialization and development of South Africa and of the Southern African region will depend heavily on further developing their engagement in GVCs and simultaneously upgrading their capacities into higher valued and more skill and intensive activities. The automotive industry is import and export intensive, offering the potential for technological advancement, increasing skill intensity and upgrading, and positive economic spillovers. Apparel is domestic market oriented, sourcing domestically, regionally in Southern Africa, and from Asia. It is an example of a low technology, labour intensive industry, exhibiting lower levels of managerial capabilities and skills. It is challenged by raising capabilities to meet new value chain requirements and extending the supplier base to increase value addition (and by implication employment) in the economy.

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