Browsing by Author "Mashaya, Rufaro Talent"

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    Factors influencing the degree of smallholder farmer’s market participation : the case study of uMkhanyakude and Zululand districts, KwaZulu Natal Province of South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03) Mashaya, Rufaro Talent; Greyling, Jan; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Agricultural Economics.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : This study uses a multiple regression model to analyse the factors affecting the level of market participation of smallholder farmers in the two districts, uMkhanyakude, and Zululand, in the KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa. The data was collected from a total of 229 commercially orientated smallholder farms from the two districts using a questionnaire-based household survey. Multi-stage sampling was used in selecting the smallholder farmers, whereas purposive sampling was used at provincial and district level to select the study area. The study revealed that participants have a low crop market participation of 33 percent, a very low livestock market participation of nine percent, and overall market participation of 39 percent. Channels for marketing were investigated in relation to market participation. Marketing channels for livestock had no significant difference and effect on the level of market participation. For crops, marketing channels had a substantial difference given a statistically significant effect. The smallholder farmers who mostly sold their output to their neighbour and/or local traders had a lower market participation rate compared to those who sold their crop products to a cooperative. It was found that age and field size had a statistically significant impact on the level of market participation. Age exhibited a negative relationship with market participation and field size had a positive relationship with market participation. Income was found to have a statistically insignificant impact on market participation. Based on the findings highlighted above, it is recommended that effective policy interventions that create and sustain an enabling environment that encourages greater market participation should be put in place. Since market participation in the area is influenced by cooperative membership, age and field size, efforts should be directed to increasing land portions or sizes for younger smallholder farmers. Policies that encourage the establishment of cooperatives should also be put in place.