An evaluation of social sustainability practices in an agri-based private company in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ferreira, Anton William
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food law and legislation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Private plot agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee rights -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee attitude surveys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Communication in personnel management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/122920 , vital:35371
- Description: The concept of sustainability has received considerable attention over the last few decades (Scoones, 2007). International awareness and demands for sustainable development have pushed the sustainable narrative into the forefront of developmental goals. The Brundtland Report of 1987, released by the United Nations entitled “Our Common Future” resulted in the classic modern definition of sustainable development. Agriculture is the primary source of food, shelter and fibre for the world and therefore has a leading role to play in the realisation of a sustainable future (Van Calker, Berentsen, Giesen and Huirne, 2005). Most sustainability research in agriculture has adopted a particular scale and dimension, leading to a host of definitions and methodologies for its assessment (Hayati, 2017, Janker and Mann, 2018, Latruffe, Diazabakana, Bockstaller, Desjeux and Finn, 2016, Smith and McDonald, 1998). Different approaches to assessing sustainable agriculture have developed in hand with various conceptual methods resulting in a lack of a common understanding of what sustainable agriculture means (Janker and Mann, 2018, Smith and McDonald, 1998). Agriculture has a leading role to play in sustainable development in the South African context; however, commercial agriculture in South Africa has been associated with human rights violations as well as unsustainable social practices and exploitation of employees (Mather, 2007, Muller, Vermeulen and Glasbergen, 2012b). This research was conducted in an agri-processing company that had expanded rapidly and been experiencing high absenteeism and increased conflict in the work environment in an attempt to identify how many of the chosen indicators of on-farm internal social sustainability were present in the company. The literature review helped to contextualise the subject of sustainability, agricultural sustainability, agricultural social sustainability and various methods for assessing agricultural sustainability. The subject of agriculture social sustainability within the South African context was expanded upon, and a framework was selected from the literature to develop the aims of this research. The Barrientos and Visser (2013) framework had been utilised in evaluating social sustainability in the South African agricultural context before, and when compared with relevant literature was deemed appropriate for this research. Through the use of a case study approach, thirty employees were interviewed on a one on one basis with close ended questions. Data was collected through the use of an odd-numbered Likert scale and simple descriptive statistics were used to answer questions regarding which socially sustainable on-farm internal indicators, identified in the literature and in the chosen framework, occurred in the company in question. The research looked to further critically evaluate the aspects of social sustainability that were implemented by the company and discuss the challenges relating to those identified indicators that were not implemented. Finally, the research made recommendations to improve the on-farm internal social sustainability of the company in question. The results of this research showed that out of the ten indicators of on-farm internal social sustainability that were relevant in the framework, five were present in the company in question and five were absent. Those indicators that were present were: contracts, wages, benefits, communication with management and adequate representation. Indicators that were not present included health and safety, employee wellbeing, the level of discrimination, the level of harsh treatment and employee decision making. It was apparent from the results that there are many challenges to implementing on-farm internal socially sustainable policies and practices in the company. Chief amongst these challenges was communication with employees concerning policies that have been implemented and the information that is available to the employees regarding these policies. The company at the centre of this research should ensure that policies are put in place that helps to convey information to employees and ensure that the policies are implemented efficiently and effectively. It was recommended that the company initiate a Human Resources division that would be responsible for communication and the implementation of policies to increase on-farm internal social sustainability. By increasing social sustainability in the workplace, the company should be able to increase its efficiencies and effectiveness in a competitive global market. The researcher is aware that the findings of this research are not generalizable and are specific to the company in question both in terms of scale and location. Further research is needed to determine the impact of individual indicators and the weighting of each indicator in a specific environment. Further research should be conducted in a company that is in a similar industry and has similar staff demographics to the company at the centre of this research, as the scale of measure will influence the results.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ferreira, Anton William
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food law and legislation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Private plot agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee rights -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee attitude surveys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Communication in personnel management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/122920 , vital:35371
- Description: The concept of sustainability has received considerable attention over the last few decades (Scoones, 2007). International awareness and demands for sustainable development have pushed the sustainable narrative into the forefront of developmental goals. The Brundtland Report of 1987, released by the United Nations entitled “Our Common Future” resulted in the classic modern definition of sustainable development. Agriculture is the primary source of food, shelter and fibre for the world and therefore has a leading role to play in the realisation of a sustainable future (Van Calker, Berentsen, Giesen and Huirne, 2005). Most sustainability research in agriculture has adopted a particular scale and dimension, leading to a host of definitions and methodologies for its assessment (Hayati, 2017, Janker and Mann, 2018, Latruffe, Diazabakana, Bockstaller, Desjeux and Finn, 2016, Smith and McDonald, 1998). Different approaches to assessing sustainable agriculture have developed in hand with various conceptual methods resulting in a lack of a common understanding of what sustainable agriculture means (Janker and Mann, 2018, Smith and McDonald, 1998). Agriculture has a leading role to play in sustainable development in the South African context; however, commercial agriculture in South Africa has been associated with human rights violations as well as unsustainable social practices and exploitation of employees (Mather, 2007, Muller, Vermeulen and Glasbergen, 2012b). This research was conducted in an agri-processing company that had expanded rapidly and been experiencing high absenteeism and increased conflict in the work environment in an attempt to identify how many of the chosen indicators of on-farm internal social sustainability were present in the company. The literature review helped to contextualise the subject of sustainability, agricultural sustainability, agricultural social sustainability and various methods for assessing agricultural sustainability. The subject of agriculture social sustainability within the South African context was expanded upon, and a framework was selected from the literature to develop the aims of this research. The Barrientos and Visser (2013) framework had been utilised in evaluating social sustainability in the South African agricultural context before, and when compared with relevant literature was deemed appropriate for this research. Through the use of a case study approach, thirty employees were interviewed on a one on one basis with close ended questions. Data was collected through the use of an odd-numbered Likert scale and simple descriptive statistics were used to answer questions regarding which socially sustainable on-farm internal indicators, identified in the literature and in the chosen framework, occurred in the company in question. The research looked to further critically evaluate the aspects of social sustainability that were implemented by the company and discuss the challenges relating to those identified indicators that were not implemented. Finally, the research made recommendations to improve the on-farm internal social sustainability of the company in question. The results of this research showed that out of the ten indicators of on-farm internal social sustainability that were relevant in the framework, five were present in the company in question and five were absent. Those indicators that were present were: contracts, wages, benefits, communication with management and adequate representation. Indicators that were not present included health and safety, employee wellbeing, the level of discrimination, the level of harsh treatment and employee decision making. It was apparent from the results that there are many challenges to implementing on-farm internal socially sustainable policies and practices in the company. Chief amongst these challenges was communication with employees concerning policies that have been implemented and the information that is available to the employees regarding these policies. The company at the centre of this research should ensure that policies are put in place that helps to convey information to employees and ensure that the policies are implemented efficiently and effectively. It was recommended that the company initiate a Human Resources division that would be responsible for communication and the implementation of policies to increase on-farm internal social sustainability. By increasing social sustainability in the workplace, the company should be able to increase its efficiencies and effectiveness in a competitive global market. The researcher is aware that the findings of this research are not generalizable and are specific to the company in question both in terms of scale and location. Further research is needed to determine the impact of individual indicators and the weighting of each indicator in a specific environment. Further research should be conducted in a company that is in a similar industry and has similar staff demographics to the company at the centre of this research, as the scale of measure will influence the results.
- Full Text:
Evaluation and identification of critical success factors in the running of successful food security projects within the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, in the Amahlhathi local municipality
- Authors: Tali, Patrick
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Project management -- South Africa -- Stutterheim , Food security -- South Africa -- Stutterheim , Food supply -- South Africa -- Stutterheim
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:836 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013346
- Description: The challenges of food insecurity and the manner in which it can be addressed is a global concern. Governments throughout the world have strived for means to address global food security either through development of Millennium Development Goals or United Nations protocols. It is a major concern that the South African Government has made it its centre focus to address the challenge of food security. In the Eastern Cape, the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform has embarked on numerous food production programmes in an attempt to address this challenge. It is however noticeable that these attempts somehow did not manage to address their intended purpose. A study of literature with the aim of identifying critical success factors was done. The critical success factors identified and explored were, project management, establishing a clear mission and project objectives, addressing challenges and opportunities of social, environmental and economical sustainability, addressing physiological needs of the beneficiaries, involving the youth and community, role of extension services, training and capacity development, create local partnership and on-going monitoring and evaluation. The factors were then explored through a study of projects from the food production programme in Amahlathi Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province. A multiple case study wherein a purposive selection of four food security projects selected from two food security programmes was conducted. A structured questionnaire was used to source the information from all members of the selected projects to evaluate the existence of the critical factors. The main aim was to test whether these factors, if they existed in these projects, contributed to their existence. The findings reveal that none of the identified factors existed in the selected projects and though not proven, the non-existence of these factors has resulted in these projects being in survival mode instead of a sustainable state. A recommendation is made of a further study focusing on a bigger sample wherein these factors could be tested. The study could assist in developing a formal model for the running of these projects successfully.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tali, Patrick
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Project management -- South Africa -- Stutterheim , Food security -- South Africa -- Stutterheim , Food supply -- South Africa -- Stutterheim
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:836 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013346
- Description: The challenges of food insecurity and the manner in which it can be addressed is a global concern. Governments throughout the world have strived for means to address global food security either through development of Millennium Development Goals or United Nations protocols. It is a major concern that the South African Government has made it its centre focus to address the challenge of food security. In the Eastern Cape, the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform has embarked on numerous food production programmes in an attempt to address this challenge. It is however noticeable that these attempts somehow did not manage to address their intended purpose. A study of literature with the aim of identifying critical success factors was done. The critical success factors identified and explored were, project management, establishing a clear mission and project objectives, addressing challenges and opportunities of social, environmental and economical sustainability, addressing physiological needs of the beneficiaries, involving the youth and community, role of extension services, training and capacity development, create local partnership and on-going monitoring and evaluation. The factors were then explored through a study of projects from the food production programme in Amahlathi Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province. A multiple case study wherein a purposive selection of four food security projects selected from two food security programmes was conducted. A structured questionnaire was used to source the information from all members of the selected projects to evaluate the existence of the critical factors. The main aim was to test whether these factors, if they existed in these projects, contributed to their existence. The findings reveal that none of the identified factors existed in the selected projects and though not proven, the non-existence of these factors has resulted in these projects being in survival mode instead of a sustainable state. A recommendation is made of a further study focusing on a bigger sample wherein these factors could be tested. The study could assist in developing a formal model for the running of these projects successfully.
- Full Text:
Is land tenure a significant variable for promoting agricultural productivity in rural villages?: the case study of Nonkcampa Village in the Buffalo City Municipality, Province of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Gqokoma, Daniel Atwell
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Buffalo City (South Africa) , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land tenure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3313 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003101 , Buffalo City (South Africa) , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land tenure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The research explored the causal relationship between the communal land tenure and the stagnant agricultural productivity in rural villages. It is assumed that there is covariance between the communal land tenure and the stagnant agricultural productivity. The communal land tenure deprived the villagers of the land ownership rights to mortgage their landholdings to secure agricultural credit from financial institutions, or to advance them as own contributions to obtain Government-provided grants under the ILRAD. Under such circumstances, the villagers could not raise the level of agricultural productivity. The Permit to Occupy (PTO) certificates, issued to the landholders, provided for usufruct rights only i.e. right to occupy and use an allotment. The related research was conducted at Nonkcampa village. The metatheory, “Positivism” and the quantitative paradigm were applied to collate and analyse the data. The research findings confirmed the correlation between the land tenure and the agricultural productivity, as the respondents claimed not to have had any access to agricultural inputs. Hence, the agricultural productivity on the arable land had stagnated.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Gqokoma, Daniel Atwell
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Buffalo City (South Africa) , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land tenure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3313 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003101 , Buffalo City (South Africa) , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land tenure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The research explored the causal relationship between the communal land tenure and the stagnant agricultural productivity in rural villages. It is assumed that there is covariance between the communal land tenure and the stagnant agricultural productivity. The communal land tenure deprived the villagers of the land ownership rights to mortgage their landholdings to secure agricultural credit from financial institutions, or to advance them as own contributions to obtain Government-provided grants under the ILRAD. Under such circumstances, the villagers could not raise the level of agricultural productivity. The Permit to Occupy (PTO) certificates, issued to the landholders, provided for usufruct rights only i.e. right to occupy and use an allotment. The related research was conducted at Nonkcampa village. The metatheory, “Positivism” and the quantitative paradigm were applied to collate and analyse the data. The research findings confirmed the correlation between the land tenure and the agricultural productivity, as the respondents claimed not to have had any access to agricultural inputs. Hence, the agricultural productivity on the arable land had stagnated.
- Full Text:
A decade of changes Eastern Cape white commercial farmers' discourses of democracy
- Authors: Böhmke, Werner
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Farmers -- Psychology , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Democracy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political culture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social psychology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2934 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002443 , Farmers -- Psychology , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Democracy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political culture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social psychology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This paper deals with an analysis of the discursive accounts of Eastern Cape white commercial farmers on the subject of Democracy. Drawing on the theoretical perspectives of Social Constructionism and Discourse Analysis – which view individuals’ accounts of their realities as produced and informed by their particular social and historical context – the paper seeks to provide an analysis of the content of, and rhetorical strategies within the participants’ accounts and explanations. Such accounts of the social, historical and political circumstances in which Eastern Cape commercial farmers find themselves are thought to provide valuable insights into the manner in which the process of democratisation has been received by members of the agricultural sector. Data collection was conducted via brief, audio taped, semi-structured interviews. The participants were all white men and women, living in a commercial farming region of the Eastern Cape Province. Responses to the interviews were subjected to the Discourse Analytical procedure advanced by Ian Parker. Analyses reveal that participants are critical of the notion of democracy; utilize specific rhetorical and argumentation strategies; make use of notions and techniques of ‘Othering’; and subscribe to a colonial / patriarchal ideology which attempts to idealize pre-democratic South Africa. These findings illustrate what is in many ways still an ongoing political and ideological struggle in the rural regions of the country.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Böhmke, Werner
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Farmers -- Psychology , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Democracy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political culture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social psychology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2934 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002443 , Farmers -- Psychology , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Democracy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political culture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social psychology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This paper deals with an analysis of the discursive accounts of Eastern Cape white commercial farmers on the subject of Democracy. Drawing on the theoretical perspectives of Social Constructionism and Discourse Analysis – which view individuals’ accounts of their realities as produced and informed by their particular social and historical context – the paper seeks to provide an analysis of the content of, and rhetorical strategies within the participants’ accounts and explanations. Such accounts of the social, historical and political circumstances in which Eastern Cape commercial farmers find themselves are thought to provide valuable insights into the manner in which the process of democratisation has been received by members of the agricultural sector. Data collection was conducted via brief, audio taped, semi-structured interviews. The participants were all white men and women, living in a commercial farming region of the Eastern Cape Province. Responses to the interviews were subjected to the Discourse Analytical procedure advanced by Ian Parker. Analyses reveal that participants are critical of the notion of democracy; utilize specific rhetorical and argumentation strategies; make use of notions and techniques of ‘Othering’; and subscribe to a colonial / patriarchal ideology which attempts to idealize pre-democratic South Africa. These findings illustrate what is in many ways still an ongoing political and ideological struggle in the rural regions of the country.
- Full Text:
A contribution to cabbage pest management by subsistence and small-scale farmers in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Mkize, Nolwazi
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Cabbage -- Diseases and pests , Insect pests -- Integrated control -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5659 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005342 , Cabbage -- Diseases and pests , Insect pests -- Integrated control -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The interaction between farmers, agricultural scientists and extension workers is sometimes overlooked in agricultural entomology. In an attempt to respond to this reality this study examines some foundation of this interaction in relation to the pest management practices of subsistence and small-scale farmers and also highlights the problems that might arise in the implementation of IPM. Problems involving pests occurrence; language barriers; beliefs, knowledge and perception about insects, and visual literacy are examined. The thesis has a two-fold focus, firstly the study of pests on cabbages of subsistence farmers in Grahamstown and secondly a broader focus on other aspects such as cultural entomology, perception of insects and visual literacy specifically in relation to Xhosa speaking people in the Eastern Cape. The most important crop for emergent farmers in the Eastern Cape are cabbages, which have a variety of pests of which diamondback moths and are the most important. Traditional pest management practices tend to influence the development of IPM programmes adopted by these farmers. Eastern Cape farmers apply periodic cropping systems, which had an effect on the population densities of diamondback moth (DBM), other lepidopteran pests and their parasitoids. Considering the maximum population densities of DBM, which were 0.2 - 2.9 larvae/plant, there were no major pest problems. The availability of parasitoids, even in highly disturbed and patchy environments, showed good potential for biological control. Since some extension officers cannot speak the local farmers’ language, a dictionary of insect names was formulated in their language (isiXhosa) to assist communication. Response-frequency distribution analysis showed that the dictionary is essentially complete. The literal translations of some names show that isiXhosa speakers often relate insects to people, or to their habitat or classify them according to their behaviour. Farmers from eight sites in the Eastern Cape were interviewed regarding their knowledge and perception of insect pests and their control thereof. To some extent, farmers still rely on cultural control and have beliefs about insects that reflected both reality and superstition. There is no difference between the Ciskei and Transkei regions regarding insect-related beliefs. Farmers generally lack an understanding of insect ecology. There is a need for farmers to be taught about insects to assist with the implementation of IPM. Leftover pesticides from commercial farms or detergents are sometimes used to manage the pests. When training illiterate or semi-literate farmers, it is important to understand their media literacy so as to design useful graphic and object training media. Generally farmers showed that they either understand graphic or object media depending on the features of the insects being looked at. These findings are discussed with regard to the potential development of IPM training material for subsistence and small-scale farmers in a community.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mkize, Nolwazi
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Cabbage -- Diseases and pests , Insect pests -- Integrated control -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5659 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005342 , Cabbage -- Diseases and pests , Insect pests -- Integrated control -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The interaction between farmers, agricultural scientists and extension workers is sometimes overlooked in agricultural entomology. In an attempt to respond to this reality this study examines some foundation of this interaction in relation to the pest management practices of subsistence and small-scale farmers and also highlights the problems that might arise in the implementation of IPM. Problems involving pests occurrence; language barriers; beliefs, knowledge and perception about insects, and visual literacy are examined. The thesis has a two-fold focus, firstly the study of pests on cabbages of subsistence farmers in Grahamstown and secondly a broader focus on other aspects such as cultural entomology, perception of insects and visual literacy specifically in relation to Xhosa speaking people in the Eastern Cape. The most important crop for emergent farmers in the Eastern Cape are cabbages, which have a variety of pests of which diamondback moths and are the most important. Traditional pest management practices tend to influence the development of IPM programmes adopted by these farmers. Eastern Cape farmers apply periodic cropping systems, which had an effect on the population densities of diamondback moth (DBM), other lepidopteran pests and their parasitoids. Considering the maximum population densities of DBM, which were 0.2 - 2.9 larvae/plant, there were no major pest problems. The availability of parasitoids, even in highly disturbed and patchy environments, showed good potential for biological control. Since some extension officers cannot speak the local farmers’ language, a dictionary of insect names was formulated in their language (isiXhosa) to assist communication. Response-frequency distribution analysis showed that the dictionary is essentially complete. The literal translations of some names show that isiXhosa speakers often relate insects to people, or to their habitat or classify them according to their behaviour. Farmers from eight sites in the Eastern Cape were interviewed regarding their knowledge and perception of insect pests and their control thereof. To some extent, farmers still rely on cultural control and have beliefs about insects that reflected both reality and superstition. There is no difference between the Ciskei and Transkei regions regarding insect-related beliefs. Farmers generally lack an understanding of insect ecology. There is a need for farmers to be taught about insects to assist with the implementation of IPM. Leftover pesticides from commercial farms or detergents are sometimes used to manage the pests. When training illiterate or semi-literate farmers, it is important to understand their media literacy so as to design useful graphic and object training media. Generally farmers showed that they either understand graphic or object media depending on the features of the insects being looked at. These findings are discussed with regard to the potential development of IPM training material for subsistence and small-scale farmers in a community.
- Full Text:
The image of agriculture in two Ciskeian communities
- Authors: Webb, Nigel L
- Date: 1980
- Subjects: Urban agriculture -- Eastern Cape , Land use, Urban -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Urban agriculture
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:4791 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001891
- Description: Agriculture is a complex cultural institution. This is particularly the case when studying subsistence conditions in a tribal system, because aspects requiring investigation include social, religious, political and economic factors (Dalton, 1967). These factors represent an extremely broad sphere of inquiry and the large number of relevant aspects has been the cause of problems plaguing attempts to develop subsistence agriculture (Grigg, 1973). The purpose of this study is to outline an environmental perception approach to agriculture and explore the contribution that the approach could make to agricultural improvement. As such it represents a pilot study which attempts to introduce behavioural science research into agricultural development. Foster (et all (1965) outline three research foci in this respect; the socio-cultural-psychological system of the recipient people (farmers), the system of the innovating organization, and the interaction of the two. This study deals with the first focus outlined by Foster, and aims to make a statement about the image that two semi-subsistence communities have of their agricultural system. In other words, how their agricultural system appears to them.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Webb, Nigel L
- Date: 1980
- Subjects: Urban agriculture -- Eastern Cape , Land use, Urban -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Urban agriculture
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:4791 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001891
- Description: Agriculture is a complex cultural institution. This is particularly the case when studying subsistence conditions in a tribal system, because aspects requiring investigation include social, religious, political and economic factors (Dalton, 1967). These factors represent an extremely broad sphere of inquiry and the large number of relevant aspects has been the cause of problems plaguing attempts to develop subsistence agriculture (Grigg, 1973). The purpose of this study is to outline an environmental perception approach to agriculture and explore the contribution that the approach could make to agricultural improvement. As such it represents a pilot study which attempts to introduce behavioural science research into agricultural development. Foster (et all (1965) outline three research foci in this respect; the socio-cultural-psychological system of the recipient people (farmers), the system of the innovating organization, and the interaction of the two. This study deals with the first focus outlined by Foster, and aims to make a statement about the image that two semi-subsistence communities have of their agricultural system. In other words, how their agricultural system appears to them.
- Full Text:
A sample survey of farming types in the divisions of Albany and Bathurst
- Authors: Davies, R J
- Date: 1955
- Subjects: Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4885 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014733
- Description: [From Introduction]. It is the purpose of this thesis to examine some of the broad relationships which exist between different land use types and farming practises on the one hand and the geographical environment on the other. The enquiry is confined to the study of a number of farm units which have been selected within the area enclosed by the District of Albany and Bathurst situated in the south-East coastal belt of the Cape Province. The procedure adapted conforms broadly to that of a project carried out in South America by R.S. Platt of the University of Chicago and embodied in hls book "Latin America, Countryside and United Regions." Platt's project, he notes, consists of a collection of "small field studies in a frame of complex generalisations." It does not aim to give a complete geographical account of the regions he selected for investigation, but is an attempt to enlarge geograpical understanding of the respective areas.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Davies, R J
- Date: 1955
- Subjects: Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4885 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014733
- Description: [From Introduction]. It is the purpose of this thesis to examine some of the broad relationships which exist between different land use types and farming practises on the one hand and the geographical environment on the other. The enquiry is confined to the study of a number of farm units which have been selected within the area enclosed by the District of Albany and Bathurst situated in the south-East coastal belt of the Cape Province. The procedure adapted conforms broadly to that of a project carried out in South America by R.S. Platt of the University of Chicago and embodied in hls book "Latin America, Countryside and United Regions." Platt's project, he notes, consists of a collection of "small field studies in a frame of complex generalisations." It does not aim to give a complete geographical account of the regions he selected for investigation, but is an attempt to enlarge geograpical understanding of the respective areas.
- Full Text:
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »