Mainstreaming small-scale farmers in Qwaqwa, Free State Province, South Africa

Abstract

English: Small-scale farming has always been heavily debated within the agricultural sector all over the world, and Qwaqwa farmers are no exceptions, because they are constantly faced by numerous challenges. Prior to the incorporation of homelands into South Africa, farmers received assistance and as a result they developed a dependency syndrome. Poor management capability, lack of farming skills, lack of information, poor quality of products, poor management and leadership skills, poor access to markets, poor infrastructure, etc. were found to be the constraining factors that contribute to the poor performance of smallscale farmers. It is therefore part of the strategy to overcome these constraints by mainstreaming small-scale farmers into the economy of South Africa. However, these farmers need to overcome many obstacles during the process of being mainstreamed into the economy. Using primary data gathered from the small-scale farmers in Qwaqwa, this study highlights and points out issues and factors that constrain these farmers. The investigation focuses on the role that is played by both government and the private sector, and their contribution to the small-scale farming community with regard to assisting these farmers to improve their farming abilities and their integration into the economy. The methodology applied in the study involves cluster analysis, principal component analysis and logistic regression analysis. As expected, several components have significant influence on the success of small-scale farmers, whereas others are tested as being insignificant. Those that have significant influence include production capability, financial skills, physical access to markets, optimal resource use and experience gained and scale of operation. Even though only one component was found to be insignificant, managerial skills, it is still regarded as playing a crucial and an important role in determining the success of small-scale farmers. In conclusion, both government and private sector have a significant role to play in the development of these farmers. The study concludes that assisting smallscale farmers to improve their living standards, thereby mainstreaming them into the economy, will contribute significantly towards their farming success. It is also important that farmers liaise with media within their regions as part of accessing crucial information that will help them in achieving good results. Apart from media, farmers should also make use of other sources such as cooperatives, technical assistants (extension officers), buyers and supermarkets. These components clearly show that institutions have a crucial role to play in terms of influencing the development of farmers and assist them to achieve good results. Intervention from government will also play a crucial role. The latter observation therefore stress the need to revisit the policies and frameworks that are much talked about, but rarely implemented nor put into practice. The adoption and implementation of advanced policies is of crucial importance in supporting the small-scale farmers on the farm, as well as beyond the farm gate.

Afrikaans: Kleinskaal boerdery word voordurend wêreldwyd binne die lanbou sektor gedebatteer. Dit is ook die geval met die kleinskaal boere van Qwaqwa wat voortdurend talle uitdagings die hoof moet bied. In die tydperk voordat die tuislande by Suid-Afrika ingesluit is het boere deurgaans regerings-bystand gekry en gevolglik ‘n afhanklikheidsindroom ontwikkel. Daar is bevind dat beperkte bestuurskapasiteit, gebrek aan boerdery vaardighede, gebrek aan inligting, swak gehalte van produkte, swak bestuurs en leierseienskappe, swak toegang tot markte, gebrekkige infrastruktuur, ens, die beperkende faktore is wat bydra tot swak prestasie van kleinskaal boerderye. Dit vorm daarom deel van die strategie om hierdie beperkings te oorkom, naamlik om die kleinboere by die hoofstroom van die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie te laat aansluit. Dit is egter so dat hierdie kleinboere menige struikelblok sal moet oorkom gedurende die proses om hulle by die hoofstroom ekonomie in te trek. Deur gebruik te maak van basis data verkry van kleinskaal boere in Qwaqwa kon hierdie studie die aangeleenthede en faktore wat die boere beperk identifiseer en benedruk. Die ondersoek fokus op die rol wat beide die privaatsektor en die regering speel, asook hul bydrae tot die kleinskaal boerdery gemeenskap met betrekking tot ondersteuning van die boere en hul integrasie in die groter landsekonomie. Die metodiek wat in die studie toegepas word behels trosontlending, hoof komponent-ontleding en logistiese regressie-ontleding. Soos te wagte kan wees sal verskeie komponente ‘n betekenisvolle invloed uitoefen ten opsigte van die sukses van kleinskaal boere, terwyl ander komponente niebetekenisvol toets. Diegene wat ‘n beduidende invloed sluit ‘n vermoë, finansiële vaardighede, fisiese toegang tot markte, optimale gebruik van hulpbronne en ervaring opgedoen en skaal. van die operasie Selfs al het net een komponent is onbeduidend is, bestuursvaardighede, is dit nog steeds beskou as die speel 'n belangrike en 'n belangrike rol in die bepaling van die sukses van kleinskaalse boere. Ten slotte, beide die regering en die privaatsektor het ‘n betekenisvolle rol te speel in die ontwikkeling van hierdie boere. Die afleiding wat in die studie gemaak word is dat die verbetering van hierdie boere se lewenstandaarde en hul insluiting by die hoofstroom ekonomie, sal meebring dat daar ‘n betekenisvolle bydrae tot hul boerdery sukses teweeg gebring word. Dit is ook belangrik dat boere met die media in hul omgewing sal saamwerk om sodoende krities belangrike inligting te bekom was sal help om goeie resultate te behaal. Afgesien van die media moet boere ook gebruik maak van ander bronne soos kooperasies, tegniese ondersteunings dienste (deur voorligtings-assitente), kopers en supermarke. Die voorafgaande faktore wys duidelik daarop dat verskillende instellings ‘n belangrike rol vervul in terme van die beinvloeding van die ontwikkeling van boere en om hulle by te staan in die bereiking van goeie resultate. Tussenkoms deur die regering sal ook ‘n krities belangrike rol speel. Laasgenoemde waarneming beklemtoon ook die noodsaaklikheid vir ‘n herondersoek van beleid en raamwerke waaroor baie gepraat word, maar wat nooit in die praktyk toegepas word nie. Die aanvaarding en implimentering van gevorderde beleidmaatreëls is van uiterste belang in die ondersteuning van kleinskaal boere binne, sowel as buite die plaasowgewing.