Emerging from Below? Understanding the Livelihood Trajectories of Smallholder Livestock Farmers in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Date
2021-02-23
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
In the context of current agrarian reform efforts in South Africa, this paper analyses the
livelihood trajectories of ‘emergent’ farmers in Eastern Cape Province. We apply a rural livelihoods
framework to 60 emergent cattle farmers to understand the different capitals they have drawn upon
in transitioning to their current class positions and associated vulnerability. The analysis shows that,
for the majority of farmers, no real ‘transition’ from subsistence farming has occurred. However, they
draw limited resilience from increased livestock holdings, continued reliance on social grants and
connections with communal villages. A transition into small-scale commercial farming is apparent for
a small number of farmers through the deployment of financial, human and social capitals. However,
in following these trajectories, most of these farmers have been made more vulnerable to shocks
and stresses than previously. We suggest that key to mitigating this vulnerability will be access to
low-risk financial capital, more targeted support, and strategies to support farmers that might not
transition from subsistence production.
Description
CITATION: Gwiriri, L.C.; Bennett, J.; Mapiye, C.; Burbi, S. Emerging from Below? Understanding the Livelihood Trajectories of Smallholder Livestock Farmers in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Land 2021, 10, 226. doi.10.3390/land10020226
The original publication is available at: mdpi.com
The original publication is available at: mdpi.com
Keywords
Livelihood strategies, Agrarian reform policy, Livelihood capitals, Resilience, Vulnerability
Citation
Gwiriri, L.C.; Bennett, J.; Mapiye, C.; Burbi, S. Emerging from Below? Understanding the Livelihood Trajectories of Smallholder Livestock Farmers in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Land 2021, 10, 226. doi.10.3390/land10020226